Rangeley High School - Tattler Yearbook (Rangeley, ME)

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14 THE TATTLER making wild threats as to what he would do to her father and his horses. George Rich- mond had. laughed at these threats, and he looked at his daughter lovingly whenever she made known her fears. I surely wouldn't let you ride in the race, Sunny, if I didn't know what a rider you are, and then, too, you are so much lighter than the boys. But you be careful, Sunny, don't let the others get too close. But then, there's not much danger of that, he would laugh- ingly add. His fears for his daughter would sometimes overrule his fear of losing the race, but not for long, for he would remem- ber Sarchadon, strong, noble, but gentle. As Alice, garbed in her boyish riding suit, stood by Sarchadon's head betore the race, her father came to wish her good luck. Then ther trumpet sounded for the line-up. As Alice rode into line, she looked over the beautiful racers about her. She almost in- stantly noticed a great, black stallion that was making trouble near her. He was rear- ing and kicking at the horses about him. His rider seemed to have some difliculty in handling him. A wild stallion, Alice reflected. Then the gun was fired and there was a rush of galloping hoofs. Sarchadon took the lead, his great, power- ful strides carrying him a few rods ahead of the others. His muscles rippled under his glossy, grey skin, and his silver mane and tail glistened in the sunlight. His even hoof beats were like music to A1ice's ears, until she heard the wild, piercing scream of a horse close upon her. She turned and saw the black demon bearing down on her -his eyes wild and red, and foaming at the mouth. She knew that he was trying to run Sarchadon down-to kill him. Alice bent low over Sarchadon's neck, but he had already quickened his pace, for he had heard the challenge, and was answering it by running as he had never run before. The wind made the tears come to A1ice's eyes as she race along the home stretch She looked back again. The black horse was only three feet away. He was gaining! His lips curled back, his teeth gleamed white, his nostrils were iiery red, and his eyes were wild. As Alice looked, the horse reared and plunged at her. Sarchadon, responding to her touch, swerved to one side and thundered in over the finishing line just as the black horse leaped high into the air, and fell dead-killed by his mad exertions. A1ice's father caught Sarchadon's bridle, pulled him to a stop, and Alice fell sobbing into his arms. The thoroughly frightened, but unhurt, rider of the black horse was surrounded by several angry cowboys, who forced him to reveal the plot of Buck. The latter had planned to have his wild stallion kill Sar- cadon, and then win the race. But Alice's skillful riding, together with the swiftness of Sarchadon, and the timely death of the black horse, had foiled him. D. E. H. '27 lo, A MAGICAL HAIR TONIC In the town of Sundae lived an Irish bar- ber, Pat Lofferty, who was known far and wide for the hair tonic which he used and sold. He had great faith! in this hair tonic, and never lost a chance to talk of it. He vertzized it in the papers as the best, and called it the Mystic Magic Hair Invigorator. Some people said he made it himself, while others believed he bought it of some city merchant. As we have no means to ascer- tain which was correct, we will leave it to our imagination. There also lived, in this town, a little hunch-backed cow boy, whose name was Snooks Heldon. He always found time, no matter how busy, to voice his opinions on whatever any of his fellow-citizens in- tended to do. Whether young or old, male or female, it was all the same. Yet every- one liked him: the Irish barber in particu- lar. One morning a huge, giant of a man, and a string of pack mules came down the street toward the livery stable. He was dressed in rough, but whole clothes, a pair of cow- hide boots, and a sombero. His hair was back, and hung to his shoulders. As he reached the stable, a well-known voice called, How are yer, Buck? Bucky Evans turned on his heel and confronted an apparently empty street. As he turned back to the stable, he heard a second call, and looking again, he espied the smiling

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THE TATTLER 13 story of George Warring's murder, and of his confession, saying that it had been com- mitted because of jealousy. It was a long story and very cruel, but he was hardly listening, he was so overcome with h2LDDi' ness. Was Carl Newman in jail? No, he had committed suicide a short time after confessing. Looking at the girl he suddenly realized that she reminded him of someone. Ah, he had itg His lost daughter, who many years ago he has sent bitterly out of the home be- cause she had married a man far beneath her rank. Could it be possible that this was her child? He had seen in the papers about the child's birth. ' Do you know anything about your par- ents? he suddenly asked. Bitterly she replied, Just the usual story of a rich and handsome girl marrying a man whom she dearly loved. Her father, angry to think that his only child should marry beneath her rank, disinheriting her. The girl growing old before her time and dying in poverty, her husband dying from grief. Suddenly she pointed an accusing finger at him and said, You were the cause of all my poor mother's grief and unhappi- ness. The old man bowed his head and mutter- ed something unintelligible. The girl, knowing how much he had suf- fered, spoke softly, saying, Mother told me to go to you because she knew that you would be sorry after she had gone. I-Ie took her gently into his arms and said, Please let God make me worthy of her trust, my Dorothy. M. J. S. '27 .lol A RACE FOR LIFE Life? What was life to him, why he had his own to look out for? With contemptuous, blazing, hate-filled eyes, he looked down on a huddled heap of senseless humanity. He looked at the smoke blackened sky, becoming' yet blacker by the nearncss of the consuming flames that were creeping closer, ever closer, sweeping on toward farther and better con- quests. Again he looked at that helpless figure. Both he, Greenman, and that man, Cole his enemy, had been assigned to the same fire station, but when they had S9611 that awful omen of destruction, they had been obliged to ilee for their lives. Now knocked senseless by a bad fall, Cole lay unconscious of all. A thought flashed through Greenman's mind. It might have been he instead of Cole lying there! Good God! What a death! Two miles! Could he make it? Not hesitating, he threw Cole across his shoulders and hurried on. Great beads of sweat broke out on his brow. He panted-he swore--sometimes he sank down helpless, only to struggle up and on again. Oh God! Would he ever get there? The fire seemed to claim all. His ieet moved like lead-but still he kept going. Again he sank, this time unmovable. But he was safe. His destination was reached where helping hands relieved him. A A. R. J. '27 .l-0.1-. SARCHADON'S RACE Alice Richmond was the daughter of George Richmond, the owner of Bar Six ranch. Her father was widely known for his love for his world famous horses, and his love for his daughter. Old Man Rich- mond had reason to be proud of his daugh- ter, for she was the possessor of a wild beauty that was fascinating. She had beautiful, long, golden hair, dark, lustrous brown eyes, a round, roguish face, and a beautiful complexion. Alice was said to be the best woman rider in Texas. It was the day of the race-the great day set apart by her father, long ago, to race all of their horses against any others who wished to compete with them. Old Man Richmond had invited the Indian Chiefs and their braves to enter their horses and mustangs in the race. The day was cool- just right for a race. Alice was going to ride Sarchadon, the fastest horse in Texas. Her only misgiving was that someone would, at the last minute, enter a horse that was faster than her own. Salone Buck had a grudge against her father because of a cattle deal that had occured long ago. H0 had never lost an opportunity to pay him back, and he had kept Alice in fear for her father's life. She had heard that Buck was entering some fast horses, and that he was

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THE TATTLER 15 visage of Snooks, appraising him from a nearby window. Snooks came out and started asking ques- tions. Why was Buck in town? Where had he been? When would he leave town? To which Buck answered witheringly. I should think your tongue would wear out! For my part I almost wish it would. This did not make any impression on Snooks , however. He only talked the more. Suddenly he asked Buck why he didn't get his hair cut. Buck answered that he was going to if he could lind anyone to cut it. Go to Pat Lafferty's shop. He's a dandy barber! Say, but he has a nice hair tonic! Smells like a posy garden, offered Snooks . I guess I will pay him a visit before I leave, Buck answered good-na- turedly. Adios, and he sauntered off. Business was rather lax that morning in the Irishman's shop, and poor Pat was rather despondent when Buck entered. Faith, and yez have been some time in the mountains, haven't yez? he inquired while performing his task. About six months, was the casual repIy. Six months! Well, no wonder! the Irishman exclaimed. After cutting Buck's hair, Pat anuointed his head with his hair tonic and pronounced the job done. Buck paid the bill and was soon traveling back into the mountains. That afternoon Lucky Evans, Buck's twin brother, came riding into Sundae. He rlidn't had a haircut for a long time either, so he made his way to the barber shop. He opened the door and then looked puzzled at the amazed look which crossed the barber's face. Faith, and are yez back again? asked that astonished son' of Erin. I only cut yez hair this morning and here yez are back again with hair as long as before. Sure, an won't yez let me have yez picture to advertise me hair tonic.? Lucky didn't know what to make' ot itg but he tried to explain that he hadn't been in town for some time, but it did no good. He let him have his picture before and after the hair-cut, and then left the shop. After he was gone Pat paced the floor try- ing to solve the mystery. His tonic must be better than he thought. The parrot watch- ed him all the while. Suddenly she said in clear tones. Oh master, pray don't look so puzzled, As though you were a dog just muzzled. For many, many big twin brothers Have even fooled their loving mothers. It took some time for the Irishman to un- derstand what Polly meant. When he did, he laughed. But all the same I'll advertise n1y tonic wit.h the pictures and the story. Nobody will know the difference, he said. . M. G. '29 Toi. HANS TELLS ABOUT HIS TRIP T0 FARMINGTON FAIR I States of Younited September 30, 1925 Ma dere Fritz: I now take oop mo pencil and rite u wit pen and ink. I'se a go'in to tell ya aboot my treep to Farmton Fare. I'se gits oop at fifteen minutes in front of seex o'clock, starts Lizzie and started. That is I tried to start-Lizzie didn't want too goes anywhere wit out eny breakfaste. So's i geeves her some hay and oats und den i cranked er oop und wented. I'se wented all rite til i'se gut all most ter madrid und me ingin stuped on me. I'se gut out und leeft- ed oop de hood und sum ile comes out und squirted in ma left i. The ile were hot und made me jooinp sum. Weel i'se poot sum noo spark plogs in de ole ting und still she wood not went. I'se peeked in de tin can under de seet und it were m t. Und i'se dint have eny more gas so i thot i were stuck fo shore. But i'se deecided ter fool Lizzie. I wented ter a hoose a. leetle Way off und gutoop de leetle tin can under de sect. De Lizzie thot eet were gas she were gittin und she started off ogin. I'se gut ter Farmton all rite und' were goin oop ter see der sites when a fellar says ter me only a quater for you'se carr here, so i tells him he can hav it fer that so i'se leeves Lizzie wit. heem und vent ter c de sites. De fust ting me i catched were de dancin girls. Say fritze you'se oot tuv seen dem gals but i says me Lizzie can kick bettern dat. Wal i'se left dem dancing gals und vent over ter a great beeg Wheel' dat told me it were a Fairys Wheel. So i says to me self, Hans yous just naturally gut ter go oop und see de Fairys. So i'se bot a teeket und vent