Lompoc High School - La Purisima Yearbook (Lompoc, CA)

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The L. U. H. S. LOMPOC UNION HIGH scHooL moved for half an hour, and his gaze was fixed abstractedly on the back log in the fire. A door behind him opened silently, and a little old lady slipped into the room. She went over to the figure by the fire and curtsied. Mr. George just came and wishes to see you, sir. No movement in the chair, but a gruff voice growled, All right, let him come in here. The little lady curtsied again, and went out. A few minutes later, the door opened, less quickly, and a tall, handsome man of about thirty came in. He went directly to the figure by the fire, and stood for a moment, as if expecting a word of greeting. None came, however, so he sat down in a chair opposite the old man, and, leaning forward said, The verdict is guilty, and Tom is sentenced to life at Sydney. ' For the first time, the figure seemed to notice his visitor. The growl came forth again. As we expected. Yes, sir. None other could have been given. He leaves, under guard, for London tonight. He will leave London on the Queen Mary for Australia next Monday. You have learned the plans well. The other's glance left the old man's face, and sought the fire. That is my business. We will reserve the other seats in the stage, and, between here and London, we will overpower the guard. Then we will disappear, and you and your son, disguised, of course, can take passage for France next Sunday. The other replied in a calm voice, The verdict is just. Tom will go to Sydney, and we shall attempt no rescue. The other jumped as if shot. But, sir, you, yourself, thought up the scheme, and I merely fitted it to circumstances. We sllall escape easily. Nothing-in No, nothing will interfere with Tom's journey to Sydney. Do not argue. my friend. Tom himself said he was guilty. Let justice take its course. The other man slumped in his chair, and the fire flickered feebly and went out. V -Donald Cherry, '24. MAX What are you going out for in track, Max? Dorothy asked. Oh, I don't think I'll go out this year, drawled Max, I don't care much about it. I don't get any kick out of running my fool head off against the bare chance of a little old letter or a piece of metal. In other words you're just plain lazy, flared Dorothy. Max Hunter, you make me sick! Anyone who is as big and strong as you are ought to be kicked for lying around doing nothing except vamp the girls and invent new dance steps. Oh, my gosh, Dot, I've heard that line swung out before-I don'tl I don't care! she cried. I'd be ashamed. Everyone is disgusted with you. None of the boys like you, and the girls-most of them simply don't realize how lazy you really are. They like you because you can dance, and that's all. I like you, Max, because I know you could do something if you really would get out and do it, but you won't. You know you'd be a dandy miler, and you could make a showing in the tri-county if you'd start in and train. Oh, for heaven's sake! Everybody preaches at me everywhere I go. I wish they'd mind their own business once in a while. Max turned rudely, I guess if I want to dance I'll dance, and if I don't happen to want to chase around in track I won't-see? All right, Dorothy's chin went up. I reckon if you feel that way about it it's useless to waste breath on you. Goodbyef' llfil

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I.oMPoe UNION HIGH scnooi. The L. U. H. S directed a disgusted look at his friend, who paid no attention to it whatsoever. Go on, tell us: the agony is awful, even if you are hugs, interrupted an impatient listener. All right. Wvell, Cole, here, couldn't resist the temptation, so he fell head- long in love with Queen Elizabeth. Gee! he sure had it had-but not any worse than she did, though! I wish you could have been there! Yes, I do, too, broke in Cole, with a knowing look at Philip, you surely Inissed a time of your lives in not seeing the antics of our friend, Phil, when he tumbled for Cleopatra! He got so familiar he got to calling her Patty. A burst of laughter greet this revelation. Philip Green, wl1at'll the fair Maisie say, when she finds it out? laughingly inquired one. Never mind: it doesn't matter now! Well, to go on with the story. Have it as you will, we both fell in love. It helped pass the time, you will admit. One day when we were leaping about, we heard off in space an awful rumble and roar. Those guys there were scared silly. They acted just like a bunch of chicks out in the rain. Cole and I were stunned at first,didn't know but what we'd soon be kicking off, you know. Well, the sound got nearer and nearer, and finally we saw it was nothing more than an earthly airplane. Say, in spite of our amours, we leaped high for joy. Everything there was of such a sameness that we had become a trifle bored. When the plane landed, we cavorted over to it, and asked the pilot if we could go home with him. He said he had to measure Spoutn Smokum, the largest volcanic cone, and then was going home after a few looks around. So we escorted him about, introduced him the best way possible to our friends-who didn't interest him in the least. So when he'd measured the volcano, he said he was ready to leave if we were. Were We ready ?-well, I should smile we were! We were as homesick as two little kids, first time away from home: how about it, Jim? glancing whimsically at his pal. You said it, Phil, we were homesick, .lim answered him, thoughtfully. Then both of them sat staring into the fire. A , Say, y' aren't still dreaming of the queen, are you? queried one facetious listener, whom .lim immediately squelched with a dour look. IfVaiting! It was Phil again, eager to be on with his story. So we were homesick and dying to get homeg but-our friends there weren't the least bit anxious for us to go. Queen Bess, for all her queenliness, almost threw a fit. Her earthly character showed itself when she thought her determination at us. Wait a minute, let me say what you're going to leave out,' interjected Cole. Cleapatra wanted Phil to stay too, but Marc Anthony was awfully eager to be rid of him-too eager, in fact for Phil's comfort. That's one reason he wanted to come homef' Maybe so, maybe so, who can tell, who can tell, chanted Phil. Anyhow when we were ready and they were ready, we climbed into the plane and started off. This A. M. we sighted Roger's Field and landed there. We're home at last, and it sure does feel good ! he finished, stretching out his long arms luxuriously. -Cecilie Glidden, 'Q-1-. lusrlcs p J The clock on the mantel-piece ticked ominously, while the fire struggled feebly to throw a cheery light through the room. It partially succeeded, for its subdued glow tinted everything in the room a murky red. In a heavily upholstered chair near the fire, sat an old man with a ruddy face and white hair, dyed slightly red by the fire. He was thinking, for he had not i15l

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LoMPoc UNION HIGH SCHOOL The L. U. H. S Dorothy was thinking hard as she went down the street. Max is a good kid, she told herself, all he needs is fl good waking up. I'm going to see if Catherine won't help me. She ought to have some good ideas. I think I'll run in and see her right now. An hour later Dorothy ran down the steps of Catherine's house. Don't forget now, Friday night at the Sophomore dance. We'll work it slick-you phone Jean and Agnes and I'll tell Margaret and Ethel and Lora, 'Bye. The Sophomore dance was one of the big events of the high school year, everyone was there, from the littlest Fresh to the biggest Senior, and everyone was at his best. The gym was gaily lighted and decorated, and the music was doing itself proud when Max stepped confidently in and made his way toward the group of girls at one end of the hall. In a very few moments he came back, stepping rather blindly and looking altogether dazed. He had been snubbed- thoroughly and deliberately snubbed! He walked across the quadrangle and oul across the lawn where he sat down behind the hedge to try and reason it out. Over and over he tried to think what he had done, but no solution came to him. After he had given it up and was about to go, he heard Dorothy's voice across the hedge. Gee, girls--it worked as far as we were concerned all right, didn't it? I did feel sorry, because Max is a good sort, but oh-he needs a jolt to wake him up. If we keep on snubbing him I'm prctty sure he'll tumble pretty soon. and then all he'll need is a track suit. .lack and Diggsy Roberts will 'tend to that part of it Monday. Come on-letis go-that music is simply tickling my toes off, and I've got the next with Dick. In the dressing room Dorothy turned to Catherine. Are you sure he was be- hind the hedge? Just saw him come out, said Catherine, as she powdered her nose. If that monologue of yours didn't bring him to, I'll miss my guess. Whatcha doin' for track this year Dick? asked Max as he stepped up on the porch of the gym. Going out for the hurdles and the two-twenty. What are you doing? Reel-:on I'll take a whirl at the mile and argue out the two-twenty with you, returned Max carelessly. -Lothele Miller, '24-. -,l.l.ll-i- TO W. W. The steps of man you tried to guide, You tried to ease the peace maid's ride, You steered this nation safe to light, You showed us how and why to fight: Your love for God was love for man, By ties of love, of hope, of peaceg And your work will never cease. Unerring riht and whole-souled truth Kept every lash of their's aloof. You did not live in vain, O Soul, Your teachings shall, must, reach their goal. -Hazel Scolari, '25. I17l