Grants Pass High School - Toka Yearbook (Grants Pass, OR)

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(Taka 7 Tommy chattered till sleep closed his lips. The moon came up over the piues, and the stream of light through the window revealed a smile of boyish happiness on his face. The cloak of wealth fell from the millionaire as he gazed into the face of the soundly sleeping lad. He tucked the cover around the boy, and turned over gently lest he disturb him. When the Colonel awoke it was broad day. Through the open window came the squealing of pigs, the bawling of calves, and the clutter of industrious hens. Tommy was up and scrambling industriously around the room. He moved the trunk from the wall and the stand from the corner, looking under and behind them as if in search of something. He raised the window blinds and rubbed his hands along the casing. He picked up the goat rug and combed his fingers through the long mohair. He crawled under the bed and rubbed exploring hands over the rag carpet. The Colonel sat up and wondered. Finally he interrupted the boy’s explorations with the question: “What’s the matter, Tommy, lost something? His mind went back to the days when his boy heart was all but broken through the loss of a favorite marble or jack knife. “Snake’s got out,” Tommy replied simply. With an activity that was marvelous for one of his age and avoirdupois, the Colonel leaped straight up, and stood in the middle of the bed. He was become of the startling suspicion that the reptile was between the sheets. “Has he been out long?” the Colonel asked. “Don’t know,” the boy replied. “Been out most all night, I expect— can’t find him anywhere.” The Colonel felt a peculiar quiver under his feet. He emitted a smothered howl and leaped to one corner of the bed. “I believe he’s under tne covering,” he exclaimed. “I felt him wiggle.” “That was just a spring in the mattress,” consoled the lad. He isn’t in the bed—he couldn’t climb the posts—they’re too slippery.” This information brought great relief to the Colonel. It was not altogether satisfactory, however, in that it was not very definite. If the snake was not in the bed it was somewhere in the room. “Will you please hand me my trousers. Tommy; they’re hanging over there on that chair. My coat and jacket are there, too.” Tommy paused midway of the room with the millionaire’s wardrobe dragging the floor. “I was Just thinking,” he remarked. “What was you thinking. Tommy?” “That he might have crawled into your pockets. Snakes are queer about crawling into places.” If the boy had told the Colonel his clothes were loaded with dynamite he could not have given the rich man a more severe shock. “Take them back,” Colonel Miller implored, when the lad held them over the bed. “Take them to the window and shake them—search the pockets—do anything to ascertain if the snake is in them.” Tommy dragged the clothes over to the window and began a systematic search of the pockets. He went first through the trousers, even thrusting his arm through the legs, that no possible hiding place would be overlooked. Then he took up the jacket and searched it, inside and out.

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6 £Etir (Inka “These are what I capture ’em with,” the boy explained. They followed the trail down the hill to a marsh, and waded waist-high through the reeds and cat-tails. “This is a good place for snakes, Tommy advised. At that moment the Colonel gave a backward leap and fixed his eyes on a clump of reeds in front of him. The boy investigated and saw the tail of a red-and-green snake disappear in the bush. “That’s a beauty,” cried the boy. “He’s the one we’re looking for. You hold the can till I’m ready for it.” A little dubiously, and fearful of results, the Colonel took the can. Tommy beat the reeds with the longer stick, and in a little while the snake slid out. When its full length was in the open, the boy dexterously thrust the fork over its lithe body and pressed it firmly to the ground. After the snake had wriggled itself tired, the boy stuck the fork of the shorter stick over its neck. “Now, bring the can,” lie commanded. “Take off the lid and set the open end near the snake’s head.” The Colonel did as directed. The boy gently raised the sticks and the snake drew its whole length into the can. The lid was quickly clapped on. “There,” he cried triumphantly, tucking the can under his jacket and leading the way up the trail toward the house. Well done,” declared the Colonel. “You captured him very cleverly. But what use have you for snakes?” “Don’t have any use for them,” Tommy admitted. “Just study their stripes a while and turn ’em loose down In the garden.” Tommy made no report of his capture to his father or mother, and the millionaire forgot the reptile in his hearty supper around the farm board. When It came time to retire, the boy magnanimously offered one-half of his bed to the stranded motorist, an offer that the Colonel was obliged to accept. Before getting in bed Tommy inspected a cage-like box that set on the floor under the window. “This wire netting is a little loose,” he remarked in an evident tone of alarm, “but I think it will keep him in. He will sleep tonight, anyway.” Curiosity prompted the Colonel to take a peep into the cage. He stepped quickly back, a shudder creeping up and down his spine. What he saw was nothing more than the captive snake peacefully coiled in one corner of the box. “Aren’t you afraid he will get out?” he asked. “Oh, no. He can’t get out of there,” the boy assured. “I’ve had lots of ’em in there and none ever got out. The netting wasn’t as loose as it is now, but snakes can’t push very hard, so I think this one’s safe.” Tommy’s confident tone gave the Colonel a sense of greater security. The two climbed into bed, and the snake was soon forgotten. The small boy’s prattle continued till long after the light was put out. He told the Colonel how many goats were In his father’s flock, and explained why goats are better than sheep on a mountain farm. He drifted from goats to cattle and from cattle to horses, and gave the millionaire a cure for “blind staggers.”

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0 (Sly? auka ‘ My, but you have a lot of pockets,” the lad declared enviously, as he finished the jacket and took up the coat. ‘‘You have overlooked an inside one,” the Colonel advised as he closely and critically followed the operation from his point of vantage. ‘‘And now are you sure the snake isn’t in the clothes?” the millionaire asked anxiously. ‘‘Sure,” Tommy replied. The Colonel received his clothes and slipped them on cautiously. Then he ventured to the floor. At his request the boy made a careful inspection of his shoes, after which he put them on. Both made a careful search of the room. Upon the Colonel’s suggestion, Tommy took the quilts and blankets from the bed and shook them out of the window. While the boy was thus engaged his older brother passed below on the way to the barn. This older brother knew that something was wrong—otherwise Tommy would not be shaking the bed clothes through the window at six in the morning. He feared the distinguished guest had spent a restless night because of having ventured too near the pig sty or the dog kennel. He came up close under the window and threw aloft the wuispered inquiry: “Fleas, Tommy?” Tommy shook his head negatively, and the older brother disappeared. After searching every crack and corner. Tommy and the millionaire gave up in despair. The snake was gone—had disappeared completely. The boy’s father called from the cow lot, and the lad bolted swiftly downstairs. The Colonel followed more slowly. When he reached the foot of the narrow stairs he was startled by cries of terror from the kitchen. In a moment Tommy’s sister dashed through the door, screaming wildly: A snake! A snake! There’s a big snake in the kitchen!” The Colonel tried to console her with the assurance that the reptile would do no harm—that it was no doubt only a timid little garter snake which had crept into the house to find a safe retreat from the cats. Tommy heard his sister’s screams and understood at once. He returned quickly to the house, armed with his two forked sticks and the baking powder can. “Where is the snake?” he inquired innocently. “Under the cupboard, the girl directed. The boy went boldly in, followed by the Colonel. Sure enough there it was—twelve inches of red-and-green striped tail protuding from under the cupboard. “You’ll have to hold the can again,” Tommy instructed. Then he thrust the fork of the long stick over the snake’s body, and stuck the shorter one over its nevk. When it had ceased wriggling, tne Colonel laid the open can near its head and it slid quickly in. The boy clapped on the cover and was off toward the garden, eager to give the captive Its freedom. After breakfast Tommy was called before the family court, where the judge and head of the household presided with a long hickory; but the big-hearted Colonel pleaded eloquently in the boy’s behalf, and punishment wfas indefinitely postponed.