Fryeburg Academy - Academy Bell Yearbook (Fryeburg, ME)

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1,2 THE ACADEMY BELL if he hadn't, probably I should at this moment be at the ranch and would never have known you. I say! there is nothing like a case of mistaken identity to get a man a wife. He lifted her face to his and kissed her. I am afraid, Morton, you are taking things for granted and without my con- sent, smiled Hammond, as he came around the corner of the corral looking for them. But he has mine, dad, laughed Marie. Well, then I suppose I'll have to give mine, he said, extending his hand to Morton. They shook hands and looked each other squarely in the eyes. Then Hammond left them alone-the man, the girl and the moon. DoRoTHv Hows, '2U. THE CONVOY. Late in the afternoon, on one of the last days of September, 1918, the ship to which I was attached, The U. S. S. Michigan , was at her anchorage at Yorkstown, Va. Suddenly the word was passed, Secure ship for sea. Most of the crew did not know where we were bound but as I was a signalman I went to the signal bridge, looked at the log and found that a radio message from Wash- ington to the Flagship which had been transferred by semaphore to us, was an order to get underway and proceed to New York. Every man on board was glad to know that he was to have a chance to put a foot on the paved streets of dear old New York. Shortly after live P. M., the Boatswain called out Anchors away, sir , and the two large screws turned, and our ship started out of the bay. We slipped from Chesapeake Bay into the Atlantic to find that the sea was smooth for a fast run. It was about one P. M. the next day when our anchor was planted in New York har- bor just off Staten Island. The next two days our crew was divided, half went ashore on liberty, while the other half remained on board, taking on stores and black diamonds. The building of a coal bunker on the main deck enlightened us to the fact that we were to weather a long cruise. About noon on the first day of October, the usual signal came from the captain of the harbor to transfer all sick, and get ready for sea. That afternoon several troop ships stood out through the harbor, but we did not have the least idea that we were to see them safe across the Atlantic. If we had but noted, only a few hundred yards away was a torpedo boat and a cruiser getting up steam. The ship's 'bell sounded four times, which means two P. M., as the Captain of the harb0r's gig came alongside, and to the officer of the deck there was handed a sealed en- velope on the outside of which were printed the words, Proceed to three mile limit at three P. M. The hour passed very quickly and as we neared the three mile limit, we saw some troop ships lying to. When the navigator told the Captain that we had reached the limit, he opened the orders and told the officer of the deck that we were to be in charge of a convoy of seven troop ships, and that the Cruiser North Carolina and Torpedo boat No. 74 were to help keep the convoy in safety. Our convoy was put in formation with the North Carolina in the head, T. B. D. No. 74 patroling in front and the troop ships in three columns. Our ship brought up the rear, flying a convoy Hag, at our foremast, to denote that we were in charge. The first night went O. K. Sub- marine drill was called several times dur- ing the second day of our cruise, not be- cause we sighted subs, but to be ready if we should meet with such an enemy. The second night we were called to quar- ters, but it was a false alarm, No. 74 was off her course and had come up in sight off our starboard beam. Quarters were soon secured and the crew found

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' THE ACADEMY BELL 11 with me and there will be no disturbance, Texas Bill. Quickly the cowboy rose, kicked back his chair and exclaimed, I haven't taken any money! And I'm not Texas Bill. But before he had finished, the sheriff shot and the fellow dropped to the Hoor. Make a stretcher boys and take him to my home while I get the doctor and look into this little matter. When the sheriff reached home the cowboy was unconscious. The sheriff's daughter had bandaged the wound. The doctor removed the bullet, dressed the right shoulder and left. All night and all the next day the stranger remained unconsciousg about seven o'clock he opened his eyes. When he awoke his nurse explained everything that had hap- pened. She told him that she was the sheriff's daughter, Marie Hammond. The cowboy frowned and said, Well, I suppose you want to know who I really am ?', Yes, I would like to, if you wish it. Well, I am Richard Morton from the Six Star ranch, forty miles north of here. I want help, so I came down here to look for it. I found my men and then went into the saloon where your father found mef' Noticing the surprise in her face, he said, Oh, you thought that Richard Mor- ton was an older man. She nodded. Well, I am not an old man: when I was sixteen I went East to college, stayed four years, returned to Montana, then did some of the things you've heard about. The girl finished for him quickly, such as getting rid of bandits and great out- laws. He gave her a Bill Hart smile, showing two rows of white teeth, which made her his friend for life. My, he is only twenty-five and awfully good looking, she thought. He must have read her face for he Hnshed her another smile. Late in the afternoon sheriff Ham- mond came in with an angry expression on his face. Well, if Texas Bill isn't the slickest cuss, he growled. Listen 2 He opened a note and read,- Stole the money right from under your nose and will steal your daughter next. Beware! Texas Bill. Marie turned deathly pale and Mor- ton's grey eyes turned to steel. Pk :mf ak :sf Ik Pk PF It was six months later, Marie Ham- mond was riding beside Richard Morton. They had started for Six Star ranch on a visit to his mother. They came to a long stretch of road and put their horses into a gallop. When they had gone a mile, Richard drew rein close to Marie's horse. Sweetheart, I have known you only six months but could you-er well, would you marry me P 'fYes, she answered quietly. Bang! a shot rang through the air and Morton bit the dust. A horseman rode furiously from a clump of willows, a smoking gun still in his hand. He rode up to Marie and with a sneer remarked: I told yer dad I'd get you and I have. I'll just pin a note to this guyls shirt and then I guess they'll believe Texas Bill. Bang! another shot rent the air and Texas Bill dropped to the ground groan- ing. Took a shot at the wrong man that time, grinned Morton, as he rose from the ground. Oh, Dick, you're not hurt F Just touched me, sweetheart? That night about seven o'clock, Sheriff Hammond was aroused from his nap by the sound of horses coming into the yard. Running to the door he threw up his hands in amazement. Goodness, here comes Morton leading a horse with his own body tied to it. Morton told his story and when he finished said, You take care of him and we will take care of the horses. Marie and Morton turned the horses into the corral and the moon shone on the fence where they stood leaning and talking. Just imagine dad's taking you for Texas Bill. Yes, but thanks that he did, because

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THE ACADEMY BELL 13 their way back to their hzunmocks in the dark, because lights were not allowed. In the forenoon of the third day we heard the T. ll. D. No. 74 fire twice and of course our crew was called to quarters and a mine was seen off our starboard beam. In less than half a minute from the time it was sighted the crew of gun 22, a three inch battery , was being praised for its good shot. The report of a gun, a huge spray of water and there was one less German mine in the Atlantic. A few minutes after the explosion of the mine, the troop ship George Wash- ington hoisted a signal man over- board. The George Washington being last in the column left us to let the man drown or pick him up. ln the war zone it was not the custom to stop for men that fell over the side, but our Captain gave the order to swing the ship. and launch a life boat. The order was obeyed and the man rescued, but unfortunately he had drowned before we could reach him. I-Jur convoy cruised for five more days. not seeing a Submarine but exploding several mines. The day that we were to turn our convoy over to boats from Brest, France, one of our propellers worked loose and was lost. We,then turned our command over to the North Carolina, and after giving them orders turned our helm homeward. HENRY lil. l'lURl,lN, '21, Seaman Signalinan lst Class, U. S. N.