Petaluma High School - Trojans Yearbook (Petaluma, CA)

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monels, too; something good, you know, for my wife’s er birthday,” said Scarlett. So Jinks, in high good humor over a prospective haul, brought out the best diamonds in his possession. Scar¬ lett had the same difficulty as Nugent and made the same request, to take them on approval. Just then a police inspector rushed in. In a twinkling Scarlett and Nugent were handcuffed and the inspector had said: “I arrest you in tire name of the law for the robbery of Stiliger’s jewelry store. Anything you say will be used as evidence against you. I’ll trouble you, sir (turn¬ ing to Jinks), to come along and to bring those things (pointing to the parcels) as evidence of intended crime.” The terrified Jinks mutely obeyed and soon Jinks, Scar¬ lett, Nugent and the inspector were seated in the Black Maria and being driven rapidly away. Suddenly Jinks felt a crushing blow on his head and knew no more. 21 When next he awoke to consciousness he was aware of two things that it was dark, and that he had a splitting headache. He felt for his watch to see the time—it was gone. He looked at his hands—they were bereft of the costly rings that had erstwhile adorned them. Memory came rushing back and he saw that he was still in what appeared to be the Black Maria, but he was the only oc- cupent. Cautiously he made his way out. Away in the distance twinkled the lights of the city. The horses were gone. Jinks looked miserably up and down the road and then started on his lonely walk to the nearest police sta¬ tion. The sergeant was incredulous, but was finally in¬ duced to believe his story. The efforts of the police were of no avail and Scarlett, Nugent, the inspector, and the driver are probably still laughing over the thought of Jinks in the Black Maria. GLADYS CORRY, ’15.

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ffrite daptl) Ifforp a Jfall Mr. Benjamin Colquhoun sat in the morning room read¬ ing his paper and waiting impatiently for his wife and his breakfast. The door opened and Mrs. Benjamin Colqu¬ houn made her appearance. “Really, my dear,” fumed Mr. C., “I do wish you could manage to appear a little earlier. Here it is eight o ' clock and I ' ve got to be up town at nine and I haven ' t had my breakfast yet. I— “All right, Jinks, dear, never mind, I ' m here now, so you may as well begin and save time.” “Jinks” thought so, too. by the way his breakfast began to disappear. Sud¬ denly the door was pushed violently open and in walked Tommy, Mr. Benjamin Colquhoun ' s son and heir, exclaim¬ ing: r ‘Oh, I say, dad, there’s been another robbery. Stiliger ' s jewelry store, you know, right around from ours. I say, you know, you ' d better keep a few detectives around and ask the policemen to keep special watch, else ours ' ll be the next, you wait and see if it isn ' t!” “Pooh! Pooh! Nonsense, Thomas. I know how to look after my own business. I keep my eyes and ears open; I don ' t mope around with one eye shut like Old Stiliger. I flatter myself that it would take a mighty smart chap to walk over me. He ' d have to get up pretty early in the morning. Just leave it to me. Well, good-bye, I ' m off. Don ' t expect me home for luncheon.” So say¬ ing Jinks left the family circle and made his way up town. Arrived at the store he took a casual look around, then seated himself at his desk. About three o ' clock a portly clergyman came in and said he wanted to buy a wedding present, something good. Jinks brought forth a succession of diamond brooches and so on, but the clergyman couldn ' t seem to make his choice. He asked Jinks if h,e might take several and let the lady choose for herself. “Well, sir, we usually ask some security, you see.” Just then the door opened and in walked another clergyman, at sight of whom the would-be purchaser ran to him, ex¬ claiming: “My dear Scarlett, is it really you? How delighted I am to see you!” “Why, Nugent, my dear boy, how perfectly delightful,” etc., etc. “I ' m buying a wedding present for my niece and the jeweler here was just demanding security or that I estab¬ lish my identity, before he would trust me with these arti¬ cles,” said Nugent. “I ' ll identify or vouch for you, old boy!” said Scarlett. “That ' s all right, sir,” put in Mr. Colquhoun hurriedly. “I didn ' t know you were Bishop Nugent, sir. Certainly, sir, you may take the things.” “Very well; just wrap them up and I ' ll take them with me,” said Nugent. “Er, I wanted to get something in the shape of dia- 27

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ISoai to Arradg On a certain glorious afternoon, when the sun shone down from a cloudless sky and the breeze came softly laden with the perfume of wild flowers and blossoming fruit, I wandered forth in search of poppies. Leaving the outskirts of the town I tramped on and on, now pausing to gaze upward to watch the flight of some wild bird whose thrilling notes were borne to me out of the clear blue sky, now stopping to note the delicate tra¬ cery of some leaf or fern whose shadow fell across my pathway. All about me stretched fields of poppies, flaunting their golden cups before my admiring gaze. Eagerly I began to gather the long stemmed beauties, until my arms fairly ached with their load. T!ired in body I sank down under the shade of a tree and closed my eyes on the dazzling scene about me. Scarcely had I done so when a light touch fell on my arm and a low voice spoke a name. Startled, I opened my eyes to find a stranger looking down upon me. His col¬ oring, eyes, hair and dress all bespoke the Spanish gentle¬ man. Puzzled, I remained absolutely silent. Again he addressed me and by a name certainly not my own, “Why do you linger here, my dark-eyed Spanish maiden? All are gathered at the Hacienda and eagerly await your coming.” With a rare smile and a low bow he assisted me to arise. Now deeply mystified I replied, “But I am not a Spanish maiden and I know of no Hacienda. I came forth to gather poppies. See!” and I looked down at my feet, where my harvest of flowers had been. But there were no flowers there. Then brushing my hand across my eyes I looked about me. Gone were the scenes upon which I had closed my eyes. The sun, too, had dis¬ appeared and twilight had fallen. A glorious moon hung low in the heavens. The air was heavily laden with the perfume of rare flowers and shrubs. Again my companion spoke a name; this time it sounded strangely familiar. “Come,” he said, “my guests await us.” “But my dress.” “Ah!” he replied, “was ever one more beautiful?” Glancing down I was indeed struck by the beauty of my costume. Again my companion said “Come,” and I did not hesitate. Passing up the wide pathway we came to the court, where we paused a moment beside a fountain, whose waters fell in beautiful cascades. Leaning over I gazed at my reflection in the deep pool. The vision was most pleasing—a dark-eyed Spanish maiden smiled up at me from its depths. Her costume from the lace mantilla to the very soles of her daintily shod feet was perfect in every detail. Surely this was real. We passed on into the Hacienda. A stately dame came 22 ,.