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

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4 THE TOKA more.” ‘‘Oh, well, Sophomores are sometimes very nice,” said the girl. Edward Percival Gray was highly flattered and his embarassment caused him to blush to the tips of his ears. This girl was a mystery, and wasn’t she nice? He had seen her every day, and she was— “I thought you boys on the team all had complete suits at the b 'ild-ing!” “Stub’s” divinity said inquiringly, and he stammered: “O—er— these are just some little things that I forgot to bring to school.” (Gracious—what was he going to do if she kept asking such questions. He wished he had left the old pennant at home anyway. What if she should And out that he had it? Edward Percival’s ears fairly tingled at the thought of his punishment, if the Juniors found out the plan. “Stub” entered the building and made a quick dive for the dressing room. He found Wayne sitting on a box, mending his headgear, and that worthy merely looked up as his classmate came in. “Be careful,” he said, Clifford Seawell’s been hanging around, and it makes a noise like Junior to me.” “Stub” very quietly deposited his blue and gold burden in his locker, and that done, sat down to discuss alternately football and pennant, according to the audience he had. The bell’s ringing Anally put an end to conversation and with a few hurried directions as to Are escapes and unlocked windows. Wayne left Edward Percival Gray trying to catch the attention of the pretty Junior. In the middle of the afternoon Stub” was gazing around the room, and as his eye rested on a miniature Junior pennant of green and orange, he inwardly chuckled over the fact that instead of it, the blue and gold would float from the flag staff, or, if the weather were contrary, it would at least be attached to the staff. That night just after dark, Wayne met Stub” on an unfrequented street, and the two hurried to the school house, to find that they were, fortunately, the first there. Stub” went down to the dressing room, while Wayne kept watch, and after fumbling for some time in the dark, drew out a bundle of felt. Not daring to light a match, for he did not know where a Junior might be peering in upon him, he stuffed the pen- nant in his coat and raced up the stairs to Wayne, who reported that he saw three or four shadows on the hill. “We weren’t much too soon,” he said, hurry up, we’ll have to do it alone. Tracy’s out of commission, and we’ll have to make a good long fight, to keep this thing up there. I’ll go and put it up, if you make sure that all the doors and windows are fast—they can hardly get up any other way. Oh, if we only had a few more. I tell you; when you’ve fastened everything, go to the office and telephone some of the other kids, if the door isn’t locked.” Wayne hurried up to the roof and Stub” was soon certain of the fact that everything was safely shut, but found the office door locked. How Wayne fastened the pennant of the Sophomores 1914, he never knew’, but after three hours vigil and occasional fright, he and his companion decided to watch quietly from the inside, and for several hours longer they kept It up. after raiding the kitchen” (which had happily been left unlocked! for something to keep them from threatened starvation. While they were consuming the scant supply of edibles the place

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The Toka November, 191 I. (Utp ffennaitt” 7 I’LL and drizzly. It was hardly the sort of a day for the greatest fit efTorts to rouse the Sophomores to action were in vain. But at last, enthusiasm in the world to prevail, and Wayne Allen felt that his the attention of a half dozen boys was secured, and he began to talk excitedly, keeping the group out of sight of the other students. See here, he began, the Juniors are planning to put up their pennant tonight. I overheard a supposedly private conversation, and we’ve got to get ahead of them. If I'll put our pennant up, who will volunteer to stay and watch it with me?” ' I will. answered ‘‘Stub” Gray, his sturdy little figure expanding with importance. ' So il I,” said Tracy Grasvenor, quietly. He never made any great show of his actions, but Wayne heaved a sigh of thankful relief, as his quiet response came. •I'll get the pennant and bring it here,” said ‘ Stub.” ‘‘then we can easily get It out this evening and—” A Junior girl walked by and “Stub’s” sentence was choked in his throat, but the girl apparently took no notice of them, although young Gray would gladly have been her doormat. The last bell was ringing and the boys scattered, “Stub” almost bursting with the importance of his mission. Happily for his pride Wayne Allen did not know him very well, or the young gentleman’s willingness to help might have been under-valued. At noon Stub” carefully rolled up the 1914 pennant and put it into a bundle of football paraphernalia, and very carelessly indeed was tying the string of his burden, when down the street came that pretty little Junior! “Stub” almost over exerted himself while getting out of the front gate, and with his bundle under his arm, and his cap in hand, he humbly asked permission to walk by the side of his lady. “What on earth have you in that bundle?” questioned “Stub’s” idol. Just some football togs, he replied with infinite carelessness. The girl laughed. “I believe you boys never think of anything but football, do you?” she said. “Did you make the team?” “Oh, yes, I managed to,” grinned “Stub,” “even if I am only a Sopho-

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THE TOKA 5 afforded, Wayne saw fit to relax dignities, and began to tease his class-mate. Who’s the pretty little Junior you’re so fond of, Gray?” aBked that important young personage, nonchalantly, turning from his discussion of a pear. Oh, she’s the sister of that Junior kid who plays left end on the team.” “Junior! careful here, don’t get us into trouble.” Oh, no. Say, I left that key of my locker lying on the shelf this noon, but 1 went down first period and got it. It’s a wonder the pennant was left.” “Yes. it Is. I wonder if we’re safe in leaving now. They won’t be apt to come back this early In the morning, and the pennant is safely up, I guess,” said Wayne, stretching. We’ll get out some way and leave no way for them to get in.” So the boys went out of the building, leaving no traces behind them, save the plundered kitchen. The clouds had cleared away, and the wind was blowing, and through the starlight the boys could see a dark shape floating from the staff. Satisfied with their night’s work, the two retired to disturbed sleep, for pickles and fruit, at two o’clock in the morning are conducive to nothing but night-mares. Next morning when Edward Perclval Gray awoke, it was fifteen minutes till nine. He raced up to the school house, merely satisfied himself with a hasty glance to be sure that something was still fast to the flagstaff and dashed upstairs. To his surprise he was greeted with roars of laughter. He was bewildered until Wayne Allen thrust a note into his hand. He read it as he passed to a class; and as he did so, he gave a howl of anguish. “Perhaps next time you’ll be a little bit careful about what class the girl s brother belongs to, and a little more careful to see that your locker key’s in your pocket so no substituting can be done.” “Stub” paused, still unenlightened, and to satisfy himself, went outside to see if the pennant were still up. To his horror he now understood. Some one had skillfully substituted the green and orange for the blue and gold, and all his intriguing was to protect—the Junior pennant! —R. C. ’14.