Polytechnic High School - Caerulea Yearbook (Long Beach, CA)

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hotter and hotter and the hits of scanty shade they passed through now and then as they neared a ranch house. only seemed to intensify the heat. I don't aim to go much further without stopping to get a drink. Bert suddenly declared. Anyhow, l guess Jim's drowned, he continued cheerfully. There was a little fuller 'way over yonder in the Rose district got drowned last summer in one of them big ditches. They were very near the ditch now and Florence's over- wrought imagination conjured up all sorts of fearful pictures. Perhaps Jim was lying unconscious by the roadside where Flea had thrown him. Perhaps his leg was broken and he was trying to drag himself out of the burning sun. She woluld not think that he was drowned. That was too hor- rib e. A group of tall upindly gum trees stood by the ditch and from behind them came a clear, high treble, singing. Hl love to go a-roving. a-roving, a-roving. l love to go a-roving on hazy autumn clays. Could it he Jim? Yes, she could not mistake that familiar rendering of his favorite selection. There he sat, his abbreviated trousers rolled high. his lusty brawn legs dangling in the cool water. his back against the smooth trunk of the tree. singing with all the joy in his little heart. Florence's Erst impulse. after the relief of finding him safe. was to pick him up in her arms and hug him. he looked so darling and little. Instead of that she stood looking at him gravely. He glanced up with an angelic smile crinkling his dirt streaked little face. Hello, Miss Jerome.' he ventured in a common-place tone of voice. ujimf she said severely. why have you done this? uWhyt l was hiding in the weeds ready to jump out at you down by the mail box, and I heard you say that you wished something thrilling would happen. even a runaway. so I thought I'd fix one up for you. You werenlt scared. were you? Honest, I didn't mean-all Then she obeyed that impulse KATHERINE GILBERT, 'l4.

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Florence sauntered on down the road reading the rest of her letters, then. realizing how late it was getting, she quickened her pace. As she neared the achooi, something unusual seemed to have happened. The children were gath- ered in an excited knot near the door. and were talking in loud shrill voices. When they saw her. they ran down the road with fright ened faces. ail talking at once in exasperatingiy incoherent phrases. i'Oh, teacher. it'a Jim! HPiemel let me go after him. And the stirrup was broken. too. Where do you think he in? Florence calmed the children as best she could and Hnally drew from them. bit by bit, the story of the accident. Jim had boasted openly of his ability to ride Flea. his frisky iittie pony. tn the Big Ditch and back again before the bell rang. One of the older boys had dared him to try it, and before any of the chiidren could stop him, he had saddled and bridled Flea and was OH. A few minutes iater the pony. damp and panting, galloped up, the saddle empty. and one stirrup hanging loose. The first feeling that Florence experienced was one of guilt. Why had she even thought of wishing for a runaway? Providence would have punished her justly if jim were killed. Helen. take charge of school while Iim gone, please, and keep the children interested. Bert. will you saddle two of the horses and come with me? Be good youngsters now, and we'll soon have Jim back here. She spoke with a conftdence she was far from feeling. but the chiidren were reassured and waved cheerily while she and Bert. the biggest boy in school. turned their horses' heads toward the Big Ditch and rode away. Half a mile from the school house they saw a team and proaching. Florence suddenly realized that appearances were against her if it should be anyone who knew her in the capacity of school ma'am. for to be off horseback riding with the oldest boy during school hours was hardly the proper thing. A quick glance told her that the driver of the team was Bill Dodge, the most severe and unreasonable member of the school boani. This would never do, so with a hurried word of explanation to Bert, she pulled her hat far over her eyes, dug her heels into her horse 3 sides and with averted face, passed the wagon in a cloud of dust. Bert grinned appreciativeiy, and they rode on in silence. As they neared the Big Ditch with as yet no sign of Jim, Florence grew still more anxious. The sun seemed to grow mmmn

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Fantaliel IFirat Prize Upper Class Humorous PoemJ PLACE Ce1l in Freshman's Brain. TIME Vacant period. EXIT-Studious thoughts. ENTER FantasiesI Sometimes I wish't I was a man An. wan so big al !Y tan That I could strut a over the earth And make 'em all Iook smaII. Sometimes I wish't I was a g'raffe An' had a neck so long I jes could look over any 01' thing And see what's goin' on. Sometimes I wish! that I could be A great big soarin' kite Then I could simply Hip my tail Al those I linsan't like. Sometimes I wish't I didn't have A mama nor a pa To make me stay in every night And 'bide by cv'ry law. Sometimes I dearIy wish I could Jes be a stingarec Then lyd jes lay in wait for those That have been stingin' me. Sometimes I wiah't I was as handsome As that young guy Lucrce Then as I passed by Kate each time SheId gladly speak to me. Sometimes I wish't I was John D. With all his piles of cash Then 'twouId be an easy thing Fur me to make a mash. Sometimes I wish't I was the owner Of a delicatessen store 50 I could eat jes lots of sweets An' still have plenty more. SometimEHAwT that can't be the beIIl Dawgonit anyway! I guess I've let this wishin' go too far; It 5 another Hunk today. BEN DENNIE. ' I 4. lvaentl-unjp