Quincy High School - Goldenrod Yearbook (Quincy, MA)

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THe Golden Rod the invalid was able to take his scat on the veranda, and while there, Miss Planturn first broached the subject of the accident, as she had not wished to arouse him to any unnecessary excitement. After listening to the narrative Bob said “I suppose there is a telegraph station within a ten mile radius, ins’t there?” ‘‘To be sure, responded Miss Planturn, “there's one over her at the “Tri- angle V.” outfit, about six miles distant. I suppose you’re worrying about that money those men made off with. How will you make up with the company anyway?” “Oh, that’s all right,” answered Bob laughing, I took precautions against just such an incident before I left New York. The real treasure box was in charge of the mail master. Too bad those fellows went to so much trouble for a box of iron fillings. I’m sure they’re welcome to it.” At this, a voice from the doorway said, ’’Good for you young man you've got a head all right. Here’s a letter for you. I wrote to your concern while you were laid up. It’s a reply to that I guess,” and Mr. Planturn walked out on the veranda. Such proved to be the case and Bob's cheeks flush- ed several times as he read the words of praise contained therein. Among the several rewards he he received was a two month’s leave of absence together with a companion and expenses, his reg- ular salary being continued. “I’m not so bad off after all,eh?”he said, as he passed the letters over to the young girl at his side. “If I only had some body to go with me. I guess I’ll just take the money and go back to work,that vacation will keep. “Well, not if I can prevent it, you won’t ” put in Miss Planturn quickly, “goodness knows you’ve earned it.” “You're the only one that can prevent it declared the young man simply, “what do you say shall we go?” “What do you mean?” asked the girl, with a quick inhalation of her breath. “I mean, Florence,”he said, looking at her stead- fastly, “that I love you; that I have loved you ever since the day on the praire, two weeks ago . Now do you understand my meaning?” he con- tinued smiling. “I think I do,” she said. “And you say-?” “Yes, she murmured, softly. Three days later amid a shower of rice and old shoes, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Weatherbee took the Overland Express at the little western station and continued on their journey. C. E. Say ward, 1910. PRIZE POEM Tune: “Fair Harvard.” Alma Mater, with loyal devotion and true, To thee we give homage today, Thy memories will linger in days yet to come We’ll bless thee forever and aye. We pause and reflect on the days that are gone As we earnestly speed toward the goal; Our hearts are now heavy with thoughts of farewell For we each must enter Life’s school. Oh may we, as forward we zealously pace Toward that last and mysterious rest Stop to think and consider how few years are left ’Ere we must be named with the blest. So let us decide to make wayfor the right To seek knowledge, love, truth, and obey Yet remember jtwas thee, Alma Mater most dear. Who first taught our blind foot steps the way. Lewis (Vi mbs. 1910.

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THe Golden Rod The next thing that the agent was conscious of was the fact that he was struggling fiercely in the arms of a short, thick set man upon whom he was able to rein a few telling blows before he was forc- ed backward and overpowered by the other two. He could feel the chill night air through his thin clothing as he heard the men muttering to themselves a snarled command, or a shocking curse. Then he had a sensation of falling from long tailed comets together with a terrible sensa- 'tion of strangling. Then all was blank. Having rid themselves of the victim of their knavery,the three men lost no time in searching for their spoils. Muttered oaths and hushed exclamations were uttered, chairs were thrown about and tables over- turned as the three men strove wildly to locate the money. Suddenly with a glad cry, Joe reached behind the desk and extracted a box nearly a foot square, marked ........Pay Master....... Robert H. Weatherbee, U. S. .M C. By this time the train was distant three miles frcm the crossing. “Here’s where we vacate,” said Slim, and stret- ching his arm he gave the signal cord three sharp yanks. Immediately the air was applied.wheels ground against brakes, passengers were thrown forward in their seats, trainmen grabbed lanterns and ran down the steps of the still moving train to peer into the night, while the desperadoes, dropping their box from rear platform,followed quickly after it. The panting engine came to a final jarring halt some hundred yards from where the men left it. but the three desperadoes had long ago been swall- owed up in the night. The train men entered the occurence merely as a loose coupling, until they found the agent missing, which was not until the next morning. CHAPTER III The next day when Bob Weatherbee opened his eyes and again t x k up the cares and worries of this world, it was a far different situation than that to which he had been accustomed. His comfortable bunk in the car was substituted by the rough sand and gravel near the road bed, his bureau and table were replaced by sagebush and buffalo grass while small sand hummocks stood wher the chairs should have been; everything seemed unnatural. Im- pressed by the silence, Bob wondered if the train had again stopped for water. He called loudly for Sambo, his colored porter, but his only answer was the yelp of a coyote skipping across the plain. A couple of little prairie dogs, sitting on their haunhes in the sun dodged back within their retreat. Then silence again reigned supreme. The next time that memory returned to Bob, he heard someone approaching; could it Ik the porter? No, for no porter had a voice like that. The sound came nearer - stopped - it seemed at his very side. The dazed man opened his eyes and beheld a young girl clad in the rough riding habit of the ranch. She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen; her eyes were tender and full of compassion, and she had such a captivating smile! Ah! it was the smile that did it. Bob seemed as if in a trance, unable to look away from this creation of loveliness. In one hand the girl held a waterpail, in the other she grasped the reins of a bg bay horse. At last, the sight of the girl, his natural surroundings, the strangeness and still- ness of it all, brought Bob back to his senses with a start. He remembered the shooting.the fight with the thick-set man, the cries of his companions, then- oblivion. He started to raise himself on his elbow,but fell back again with a low moan. Where- upon his fair companion knelt at his side saying:-- ' I'm so glad to see you are better. I thought you were gone that time, sure.” “You are very kind,” murmured Bob. “Now just lie quiet for a spell,” she continued, not heeding the interruption, “while I go fetch Pa and the buckboard along with some liniment. Now don’t try to move, please.” • And she hurried away. Movc;not he. He would lie there indefinitely if it was not more than to keep the memory of her before him. At any rate he felt too weak to protest, so he patiently waited for Pa and the buckboard and,— but here Bob’s mind again became a blank CHAPTER IV Two weeks later Bob Weatherbee was reposing on a comfortable bed in the ranch of Mr. Samuel Plan turn. During all of his sickness, Florence Plan turn had taken the best possible care of her patient, sitting with him in his delirium and min- istering to his every need. In a few day.

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The Golden Rod Sometimes Marriage Proves A Failure Part I The Double X Ranch lay idle under the merci- less rays of a scorching Arizona sun. It was the middle of August and all the ranchmen lay stretched out in the shade, fanning themselves with the broad sombreros and trying in vain to keep cool. Only one man appeared to be busy, he was the largest of the group, a great strapping six footer. Steve, as he was called,sat a little apart from the others, industriously trying to thread a needle with which to do a little neccessary repairing on his ragged shirt. His clumsy efforts attracted the attention of the other men who jokingly suggested that he ought to get married and save himself the neccessity of doing such trivial duties. Big Steve Allison received all their banter good naturedly and continued his task. Sometime later. Steve opened the Daily Ga- zette”, the only paper of which the town of Little Creek could boast. As the ranchman glanced carelessly through the columns, his attention was attracted to an item in the rather limited advertising section. Wanted—a good faithful husband. A spin- ster with a small fortune is desirous to marry; any man who is in need of a good wife will find that she can more than fill the bill. Ed. F. Gazette Office. “Oh, what a chance,” murmured Steve. How much easier, and certainly more cheerful.life would be with a help-mate!” Whereupon,he went into the shack.threw down the paper, found a piece of paper, and wrote the following answer:- “Dear Miss. I’m yer man. Am much in need of a woman like you describe verself to be. I ain’t much fer good looks but I’m strong and affectionate and will undoubtedly prove satisfactory. Take Bill Niles’ stage next Thursday at Cooney’s Cross- road and I’ll be ther. don’t fergit yer dust and bring a preacher. Steve Allison Double X Ranch. The ranchmen outside observing their comrade’s unusual excitement, had sent Shiftless Mike” to reconnoitre. The spy, seeing the newspaper on the table, picked it up and read the advertisement. Ah! this was the cause of Steve’s excitement; here were black marks where soiled fingers had traced lines . Here was an apportunity for some real live excitement. Rushing out to his friends, Mike read the “ad to them. The men put their heads together and decided to wait developments. Soon Steve appeared and casually remarked that he was going on a short ride; as he strode off to unhitch his pony, a bit of white something protruded from beneath his belt. The men chuck- led to themselves for this tell-tale spoke louder than words. Five minutes after Steve had dropped his letter in the box at the Four Corners, two miles distant, eight cowboys rode gaily up to the box and there from took the letter. Part II. Thursday morning at length dawned; Steve was visibly nervous. Oh. the joy of anticipation! And he had had his full share of it during the week. In a short time he would break the news of his happiness to his companions. How they would envy him! Soon the rest of the men appeared on the scene Steve delayed no longer but disclosed the secret of his unwonted gaiety to them. The men appeared to be greatly surprised and offered t heir hearties congratulations. The stage was due at three in the afternoon but by one, Steve came rushing out of the door, trying in vain to fasten his collar. All fell to and after some hard work on the men’s part and much discomfiture on Steve’s the collar was finally fastened. Then leaving one of the number to keep thet bride groom to-be company, the rest pretended to see some cattle which had broken loose on a hummock not far distant. The cowboys,leaving the two alone, made for their ponies while Shiftless Mike” slyly picked up a big bundle which had been concealed behind thecattle pen and threw it on his saddle bow. After a short gallop across the prairie the men soon entered the wood about three miles up. “Long