Lowell High School - Red and White Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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Tflgflo '1'heLOWELL The Millionaires HENVQ' panted Martin Hanks, when by dint of hard climbing, fi he had reached the top of the Sierran ridge and sunk down upon an inviting rock. He proceeded to remove his heavy boots and stroke his calloused feet tenderly with appropriate oaths as he l---- -l touched each tender spot. Then he took out his pipe, lighted it, and scanned the panorama of mountains and valleys. Let's anchor here, he called back to Big jim Grimes, who was toiling up the slope with Betsy, the old pack horse. When Big jim arrived, he grunted assent, and tied Betsy to a tree. His great size and mighty bulk seemed to tower even in this place, although there was a droop to his great shoulders and his feet dragged heavily. Why, the devil, did we ever start on this fool trip F he wailed, picking up a small trunk of a tree that had broken off and setting it atop two adjacent rocks to form a seat. Wot yer beeiin' about? It was one of your dumfoozled notions. Thought we'd find gold! Huh! The devil, himself, knows I'd give my big toe to be back on the 'Bill Burke,' scuddin' fore a wind with some ham and eggs under my beltfl Big Jim had the advantage of his companion in size, but Hanks was known among the seamen as Little Husky, and his reputation commanded respect even from Big jim Grimes, who contented himself by roaring, Aw! stow that! Grimes refreshed himself from his canteen, and, after removing his boots, squirmed up onto his improvised seat. The wood was rotted, and it deposited him, accompanied by a deluge of profanity, upon the sandy bed of a long-dried stream. Still swearing horribly, he rose to find Hanks almost sprawling in hysterics. Jim sat where he had fallen, dumfounded at his partner's unfeeling joy, then he snatched for a rock, whereupon Little Husky took to his heels and climbed a tree. Peering back through the branches, Mart saw a strange sight. Big jim was on his hands and knees peering at the sand into which he had fallen. Then he bellowed an ear-splitting whoop, jumped up, threw his ragged cap into the air and danced wildly about until his tangled feet tripped him up. Then he sank down upon the sand and yelled loudly, Hanks, you consarned son of a sea cook, come here ! But the smaller man returned warily, possessing himself of a stout stick and a rock on the way. When he saw Jim's helpless position, he threw his heavy artillery and caution to the winds. Thinking of broken legs, Little Husky attempted to recall First Aid Hints, and jumped down to where Big jim grovelled in the sand, to find himself pounced upon by the giant, who shook him by the shoulders and kicked him and beat him upon the back, cry- ing, We're rich! We're millionaires! Holy Sufferin, Mackerel! Look! he

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for June 1922 T099 where the place was in the book. Moreover, he didn't care. The class was so surprised that no one spoke for fully two minutes. For two days Quin merely existed. He was happy when he was in the same class as she and miserable when he was not. On the third day june asked him about another problem. His knowledge of 'fmathu took on a greater glory in his eyes. In the middle of his explanation he observed how her eyelashes curled and how red her mouth was. He became muddled and was compelled to start over again. He went slowly this time, so as to keep her longer. When she said that she must be an awful bore and that he must think her terribly stupid, he replied that he could explain things to a pretty girl like her all year and was quite abashed at his own audacity. During the noon hour he accosted one of his boy friends. Daniel, he asked hesitantly, his face Bushing a dull red, how,-how would you make a- a girl-1-like you? Well, what has struck you F 'queried his friend. Then, rising to the oc- casion, for this was one subject on which any boy likes to air his knowledge, he said: Well, you must be an athlete. You must try for the football team, espe- cially. Then learn to dance and say nice things to 'em, and lo! how they fall! -Say, Quin this curiosity overwhelming himj, is she pretty? Who is she P No amount of cajoling could make Quin, however, divulge her identity. Quin took his friend's advice seriously. He did nothing by halves. That afternoon, and thereafter for many afternoons, he reported to the gymnasium regularly. His fond mother was almost prostrated when he came home with a broken wrist, received while playing basket-ball. These were days of many sur- prises for Mr. and Mrs. Long. Their home was quiet no longer. In the evenings Quin was learning to dance, and he required the presence of some of his friends nightly. The stately old grand piano lost its dignity through jazz. With athletics engaging his attention, Quin's record in scholarship fell scandalously. He no longer wished to be a professor. His ambition now was to be a civil engineer. He ceased his study of Greek, so that he might take ukulele lessons. His parents thought his mind had been affected. Perhaps they were right. , A His strenuous endeavor in athletics bore fruit. He made the baseball team, and June Bliss' smile after he had made a home run more than compensated for his failure in Latin. He aspired to a place on the football team later on. June Bliss, with her sunny smile and forget-me-not eyes, was his first girl She was replaced by a petite brunette, and she by still another. The Fates had been triumphant. The downfall of the model son had been accomplished. With the wisdom of the ages, they knew that one little blonde with a baby stare could wreck a kingdom, and still more easily a potential professor. But such is life and such it will be, ad iniinitum. -Florine Olivieri.

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for june 1922 Tdefll added seriously, see that, and that, and that, and he pointed to a number of yellow sparkling flakes in the sand. Why it's- Then Martin Hanks fell upon his knees and gasped incredulously. UW-what? G-gold? By golly! You bet your sweet life it's gold! They embraced. They danced. They howled. They stopped and looked again and forgot to curse, for joy. Big jim's slower wits settled first, and he unpacked from Betsy's load an old tin basin and carried it until they came to another stream and tried to wash out the stuff. Neither of the men had seen much gold in all their lives, but they succeeded, after three hard weeks of washing, in getting enough of the precious stuff together to fill half a whiskey flask full of their wonder- ful find. That night they talked things over. Day after tomorrow me an' you hits for the bay and the 'Bill Burkef Wot ll We do-with the salvage ? demanded Jim. P- Take the stuff to the Mint and get it changed, replied the other. They both sat and smoked for a long time and each dreamed his dream of riches. Finally, Grimes said: A You know, Mart, I heerd once, that up in Alasky, when a boy finds some gold on a place he claims it, or somethin'g anyway it becomes his'n. Why couldn't we do that F Mart Hanks was silent for a moment. -lumpin' Jellyfish! he cried, that's where you hit me 'tween the eyes with an idee. We'll claim that stream bed as our'n and sell chunks of it to our mateysf' Mart, said Big jim, gravely, I takes back all I ever had agin' you. An', ef I remember right, the 'Bill Burke' won't be touchin' in 'Frisco for fourteen days. Two weeks later they arrived in San Francisco, weary and exhausted, but happy in the acquisition of long-dreamed-of wealth. They had tramped all the way there, the conductor on the train being unable to accept anything but the currency of the realm. Two hours after they crossed on the ferry, their feet touched the deck of the Bill Burke. That night, in the forecastle, the heroes of the ship recounted their ad- ventures for the tenth time, until every man in the crew planned desertion. They gambled the shirts off their backs for the flask, and, finally, when they turned in, Mart sneaked out on deck, tied a rope to it, and let the precious bottle hang overboard to prevent its being stolen. Next morning they swaggered down the gang plank like turkeycocks under the envious eyes of the rest of the crew, swaggered across the Embarcadero, swaggered to a car, and swaggered up to the Mint, the precious bottle in Big jim's possession. It seemed ages before they stood before the little barred window, their Golden Gate to the calm harbor of Prosperity.