Oakfield Alabama High School - Oracle Yearbook (Oakfield, NY)

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ng. V H .ysvf G .-.. Family tradition told of great wealth hidden in a Louisiana - . . t th time of the Civil War.. -The precise location of this treasure was iiiitlisoivn aes e map Ocatmg its hldmg place had disappeared Just before the war Several attempts had been made to find the treasure but none had succeeded. Dire necessity now demanded another search. -Next day found Professor Delton very busy in a shady clearing of a swamp, setting up a tent and establishing his camp. In fact, he was so very busy and intent on his work that he did not hear the soft thud of falling packages some distance away and was not aware of the presence of Colonel Blythe in this very swamp where he expected to work unmolested. u But someone else heard them and that someone scowled darkly and his slight, bent negro form shook with apprehension. Who could have broken the solitude of his hiding place? Whoever it was wouldn't get him, torture him and make him a slave againg he would kill them first. As night fell over the great swamp two campfires burned cheerfully but so dense were the trees and bushes that the two campers were totally unaware of the presence of the other, while the place where a third fire should have burned was ominously dark and still. The hours passed ong supressed excitement and witchery prevailed the swamp. Not a star twinkled in all the sky, the trees rustled high up but not a breeze reached the earth. Neither the Colonel nor Professor slept but passed the night in wishing for the daylight so that each could start his search. I Finally the shadows lifted and the welcoming chirp of many birds was heard, and the verdant woods immerging from its sleep sparkled with the fresh dew. The Colonel and Professor set out after an early breakfast, one to search for gold, the other for a precious flower. ' Neither was successful, and, returning home in the late afternoon, unex- pectedly came upon each other. So jealous was each one of his quest and his great belief in it that he immediately concluded that the other was after the same treasure. Had not the northern newspapers been full of the Professor's search and had not all the south heard of the famous Blythe gold? So certain was each that the other's presence meant evil that only hostile glances were exchanged. Professor Delton was so tired after the events of that first day that he de- cided to spend the following day in camp, but the Colonel set out even more eagerly than on the day before. . h to a little clearing where va small hut stood. Al- th uAliJoaiii1a2Zdn heedgxznrilnined to enter and find who lived, there and to get ,a O g t Hdwever he found no one in the hut and, never doubting but that bite to ea . - . - e the owner present, determined to look around him- heigvmgdesiz v:.eifg1,gll3 iiizrhe decided to examine its contents first. To his dis- se ' . te nf it held ngthing but a scrap of paper. He was about to thrust it. appom me 11' e es caught the word Blythe . Who, upon seeing his own name, back When ls y circumstance, could resist examining further? especially in such a strange Twenty-nine

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0 Houses What do houses harbor? A heartache,-a lover? No one knows As he walks along What things lie behind those walls. Maybe an artist, A teacher, A dancer, Or even a student, Writer, Or worker, All with their joys, Heartaches, - And troubles. I But the gay-colored houses as I pass along Show it not Nor add a sound To the midnight- air. Helen Haxton, Eng. II. l Soiuntlliiceirml Adventure NE glaring, hot dusty afternoon, a small, rickety Louisiana train pulled up to a tiny platform, and, although exhausted after its journey, whistled shrilly in two rather short puffs and jerked to a stand-still, awakening the only person visible. A young man, obviously a gentleman by his dress, stepped from the one passenger car, carrying two brief-cases, and a small satchel. Then the train puffed on again leaving the two men looking curiously at one another. My name is Delton, could you tell me how to get to the nearest store? inquired the stranger, a tall, young looking man with stooping shoulders and an academic, city-worn air. I want to get some camping equipment and provi- sions. The native yawned, stretched, and having supplied the necessary informa- tion, immediately proceeded to fall asleep again. Seeing that it was uselessto obtain further help, the stranger started down the dusty road. which he had been shown. If I can only find that orchid the name of Professor Delton will find its place in scientific circles. ' On the same afternoon, another person was traveling along a road. A light wagon, drawn by an ancient looking horse, moved slowly in the hot sun. Piled in the back were various bundles one of which like af tent, rolled up. In the wagon was seated a tired, discouraged but looking gentleman. This gentleman was no less a Blythe, known the country round for his enormous in fact, the motive for the Colonel's journey. His the point where it was a case of either paying his debt fun' down plantation which the Blythes had owned for was unthinkable, some miraculous means ml1S be former, and the Colonel thought he had found. 'Diventy-eiglgt, X

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' 0 Imagine the Colonel's amazement to find that this unimportant appearing scrap of paper was the map which would disclose the hiding place of the gold. Sud- denly, as he was trying to think how the map could have gotten there, he remem- bered how,as a boy, he had seen a certain slave severely beaten for disobedience. how this slave had cried out in his anguish that he would get even sometime, and that about a week later he had disappeared. This slave must have stolen the map, knowing its great value to the Blythes, and hidden in the swamp ever since. Realizing his dangerous position, Colonel Blythe hastily withdrew, taking the precious map with him. He resolved to obtain the treasure that very after- noon after a hasty dinner at camp, and then get out of the swamp before the negro should discover his loss. Meantime Professor Delton had decided that his fatigue had vanished and determined to continue his hunt. He had hardly been gone an hour when he came upon the Colonel creeping swiftly but stealthily along. Something about his excited,manner convinced Delton that he had made an important discovery and thereupon decided to follow the Colonel at a safe distance. A little further on the Colonel stopped before a huge rock and, after look- ing around, nervously. suddenly stooped and thrust his arm inside a deep niche close to the ground.. Looking up at this moment Delton was not a little startled to see a dark form creeping up behind the unsuspecting Colonel. The negro held a knife in his grasp and just as he was about to stab the Colonel, Professor Delton rushed out of his hiding place, and, with a sharp blow from a club which he carried to ward off snakes, knocked the negro to the ground. Startled by the noise, Colonel Blythe whirled around. As the significance of the situation dawned upon him, the Colonel silently grasped the right hand of his supposed enemy. I hope you'll accept half of this gold , he said, just as though he hadn't suspected Delton of wanting it all. ' Gold.? Who wants gold! exploded Delton whose nerves had the best of him by this time. I want one of the most beautiful things in God's universe, a new species of the orchid, not gold ! and he excitedly described this wondrous flower to an amazed Colonel. t Why, I saw just such a flower near that negro's hut. It's probably there ye .rs But what about the negrog what should they do with him? Perplexed, they turned to regard. that unfortunate being only to find that he had disappeared. Should they try to find him and take him back to civilization? I think , said Professor Delton, that I'll get that Hower and then go back to the city, much as I'd like to stay here and enjoy the peace that pervades this swamp , he added yearningly. Let's leave the poor fellow here. To bring him back to civilization would mean sure death to him, That night two forms quietly left the swamp, one with EOM, the other with the flower which would bring him fame, while to a poor, fQrg01S12e11, black U19-H was left all the wealth anyone could wish for, the peaceful beallty the swam?- Rutn HaekIenf.Ene, III- -Thirty - . A