Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

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20 glass of lemonade, which was partly spilled. “Lucky mortals, we,” Evelyn man¬ aged to get out between bites of the j much favored pickle. About fifteen minutes passed in jokes and smothered laughter. “I think it is more fun to eat at miuiiight, like this than—•” But tne sentence was never fin¬ ished; for the dooi opened suddenly, and Mi s By d or made their number swell to nine. Eight sheepish faces, when they found courage to look up, encountered not what they had expected—a stern look, but wonder of wonders, a smile on such an occasion. Why, Hazel; what in tlio world did you mean when you asked me to come to your room at 10 p. m. sharp, if T loved you?” This was too much for Hazel, who gazed dumbfounded at the girls, silently beseeching them to help her; but they knew nothing of the strange conundrum. Miss Ryder was beginning to think that some mistake had been made, and consequently produced a slip of paper on which was written: “Come to my room at 10 p. m. sharp, if you love me.” On seeing this Hazel immediately ! exclaimed, “I wrote that note to Ethel d.Jinrj study hour this evening.” Miss Ryder explained that she had found it upon her own desk, and had supposed that it was for her. “How in the world did it get there?” was the general question, when Hazel suddenly remembered that she had not delivered it to Ethel (already evi¬ dent, and that it Trust have been picked up and put on the desk. There were eight i stonished coun¬ tenances when Miss Ryder asked if ih v were not string to pass around the lunch. She explained that she did not intend that this evening’s mistake should registered on the book of public events; and before the feast was disposed of the at first be¬ wildered crowd were possessors of the knowledge ihat tho seeming cold¬ ness was the ■»e?ult of the fact that Miss Ryder LeTeved that eight cer¬ tain people hao an extreme dislike for her. .Mixed up facts and jumbled fancies were straightened cut, and next morn¬ ing the song of the Lucky Eight was sung with a spirit which, as Ethel explained it, contained “narry a touch of ill luck” R.W.M., ’OS. A Young Apprentice on the Oregon. When President McKinley issued the call for twenty-five thousand vol¬ unteers to defend United States prop¬ erty in Cuba, there was on board the Independence, stationed at Mare Is¬ land, a young apprentice named Rob¬ ert McCraig, who, with his fellow ap¬ prentices, was tiring of the monoton¬ ous routine of training-ship duty, and longed for the excitement of active service. Once in each month there was tar-

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!9 it’s aloofness. At times her heart seems as cold as an iceberg, and she is then unapproachable. ,, “The conversation is rapidly near¬ ing the Frigid Zone, and we’ll be trav¬ eling with it if we don’t stop imme¬ diately. Come on girls, tennis for to¬ day, the Frigid Zone trip indefinite¬ ly postponed,” and the eight followed Hazel with a laugh. Tho sets were formed, and the girls entered into the game with unusual zest. After an hour’s sport the girls walked slowly toward the gymnasium, giving their places at the courts to others who were waiting to play. “We certainly are the lucky eight, girls.” Eveleyn Blane had been re¬ viewing in her mind the many pranks and escapades in which her comrades and herself had escaped detection, and hence the remarks, “Yes, our title surely fits us,” said Ethel. Our only ill luck appears in connection with the cold treatment we receive from Miss Ryder. Guess we ' re fated to that much bad luck.” They new entered the gymnasium, and likewise the discovery had been made that the subject of their conver¬ sation had not yet left that building. She was standing in the rear, a tall, dark complexioned person, with com¬ manding bearing and exceedingly firm features. There was much in her to admire, yet the fear ever lurked that the advances would be met with re¬ pulse The half hour left before 3:30 the time for study and practice) spent on the bars and rings, but with only half the freedom there would have been, had it not been for the gaze of a certain pair of eyes. The result seemed the same with the girls who were in the gymnasium when the eight came in. As they ceased their exercises and left the building they seemed to be in a happier framo of mind, and Ha¬ zel was suggesting that it had been years since they had had a midnight fea -it in her room, and that she and the fates decreed the feast must take pi ece that very night. Accordingly, nasty plans were made as to just how much dessert was to be taken from their dinner table, and smuggled into its place of hiding. Settlement was made to the satisfaction of all, and they then proceeded to dress for din¬ ner. The dinner hour passed, uneventful to all save the eight, who, though well versed in the art of smuggling sweets, were even at a loss as to when their eyes were going to stop twinkling with this poorly concealed mirth. Chapel and study hour passed slowly to the waiting ones; but 8:30 brought a social half hour, and gave ample time for a. last lit¬ tle conference, and a great deal of mirth. The Lucky Eight were prompt to scatter to their rooms when the re¬ tiring bell struck, and at “lights out” (9:30) they were apparently wrap¬ ped in deepest slumber. Ten o’clock, however, saw figures to the number of about seven creep into the room of Hazel Moore, not on any mischief bent but simply because they thought they had heard her call; and ’twould never do to let her life be endangered. Seven figures grouped themselves about the hostess, who dispensed eat¬ ables in a most gracious and iryviting manner, barring the two pieces of pie which, fell on the floor, and the

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21 get practice, and by the practice ob¬ tained cn board the training ship. Robert became a fairly good shot with the 4-inch rapid firing gun. Thus it was that when orders came from Cap¬ tain Clark of the U. S. S. Oregon to dispatch immediately the best marks¬ man of a 4-inch rapid firing gun, Rob¬ ert was chosen, and obeyed with dis trust, slightly mingled with joy, not as yet having been informed of the nature of the orders. When Robert appeared before the commander he was told that he was to go, at once, to the Oregon as assistant gunner to gun No. 10. Soon having packed his few be¬ longings, which composed a sailor’s wardrobe, into his little sea chest, he was on his way to the Oregon, then lying off the Union Iron Works. As Robert viewed the mighty engine of warfare, he thought, “What a pity to send such a beautiful vessel into the spot where she was liable to be shattered and sunk by hostile shells.” Upon arriving he was presented to the chief gunner, Alfred McManus, as loyal an American as ever fired a gun from an American battleship, who in turn, introduced him to the other men stationed .at. that gun. It did not take long for Robert to become thoroughly acquainted with his duties under Mc¬ Manus, and then, again, commenced the monotonous routine. At length came the orders from the navy department at Washington, to sail immediately for Santiago Be Cuba with all speed. Soon all prepar¬ ations were made, and amid the toot¬ ing of hundreds of whistles and sound¬ ing of many gongs, the Oregon steam¬ ed up the bay, ana escorted by tugs and smaller vessels which accompan¬ ied her to the heads, she bade good¬ bye to the Golden Gate and left the sunny shores of California for the tropical regions; and from thence around the Horn, up to her destin¬ ation, “with her sister ships in the east.” All went on smoothly for a. time, rill, one day, an incident happened which disturbed the serenity of Rob¬ ert’s mess. One morning the quarter¬ master discovered that a brace of pearl-handled revolvers were missing from the chest which he kept in the wardroom, adjoining his own states- room. The evening before, Robert was suddenly taken ill, and in the night he arose to procure medicine from his chest. At roll call that morn¬ ing the captain informed the men of the discovery of the loss, and closely questioned every man as to what he knew of the affair. As Captain Clark passed down the line he came to o ne, John Ericson, who hesitated, imper¬ ceptibly to other than an acute ob¬ server, in his answers. (But as he stoutly denied having any knowledge of the matter, and as there was no proof that he was the man, the mat¬ ter was apparently dropped. The captain, however, was informed by whom it was newer ascertained, that Robert McCraig had been heard and seen moving about his hammock on the night in which the revoli ers w r ere stolen. On being summoned to the commander’s cabin, and questioned concerning the stolen articles, he told the following story as to the cause of his being seen moving about in the night. “About two o’clock I awoke, ex¬ periencing a queer sensation in my head and attributed the cause to an