Santa Clara High School - Tocsin Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

Page 17 text:

TH E TOCSI N-1922 While Mr. and Mrs. Teller were breakfasting, Helen ran into the room breathlessly. Bobby's not in his bed, she told them, in a fright- ened tone. I have looked everywhere. He is not in the house or yard. Mr. Teller was very calm, and telling his wife not to worry, went in search of his little boy. The whole household looked everywhere, but Bobby could not be found. They' had decided that Bobby had escaped from one of the opened windows of the sleeping porch. As the screens were locked from the inside, they were easy to open. No one suspected that the quiet little Peggy knew anything about the affair. The news of Bobby's disappearance had spread rapidly and everyone was looking for the child. Mrs. Teller was a delicate woman and she was almost hysterical when Bobby could not be found. She was not superstitious nor inclined to be- lieve in the unreal, but when Mrs. Osgood came over and talked to her of the miracles performed by spiritualists, she was just in the state of mind to resolve to visit the person whom her friend recommended. She left Helen in charge of Peggy and went to New York. She found the address that her friend had given her to be an apart- ment house of the better class. As she walked up the cement steps she did not know whether to return home or to ring the bell, but hope of hearing of Bobby 's whereabouts urged her on. She rang the bell and the door was opened by a tall, blonde woman, who immediately ushered her into a prettily furnished living room. It was altogether different from what one would expect. There were none of the dark and forboding tapestries that usually adorn the mystic abodes of the spiritualists. As the blonde woman was the spiritualist herself, Mrs. Teller told her of Bobby and asked if the woman, by some spiritualistic means, could tell her where Bobby was. I feel that I can communicate with one of my spirits this evening, Mrs. Teller,', she said. If I succeed in locating it, I will send it to your home at twelve tonight. Do not be afraid, but answer any questions, if there are any asked, and do not leave your bed. You must leave the back door open, also. After receiving the street and number of the house and the location of Mrs. Teller's bedroom, she brought Mrs. Teller to the door assuring her that her son would soon be found. Mrs. Teller motored back to the little suburban town of Bridgewater and waited anxiously for the return of her husband. She learned from Helen that Peggy was playing in her playhouse. That night a little before twelve, Bobby heard a noise right outside of Peggy 's playhouse Window. He was so uncomfortable he could not Page 13

Page 16 text:

TH E TOCSIN-1922 lad always had an argument, whenever denied anything he wished, and sometimes almost stubbornly refused to obey. Mr. Teller was very sorry that this trait should be found in his little boy, and he decided he must be more stern with him. Bobby, he said, that is enough from you. You cannot go. Do you understand? Now go upstairs to bed. No. It is rather warm so tell Helen to fix the bed on the sleeping porch down here for you. Bobby bade neither his father nor mother good-night . But with head bowed, he motioned to the silent Peggy, who, obedient always, fol- lowed him into the house. Before they reached the nursery where Helen was waiting for them, Bobby grabbed Peggy by the arm. Pm not gonna stand for this any longer, Peggy, he said. I'm a great big man now, but they Cwith a motion of his hand toward the porchl think that we're babies yet. Can't go no place without them or Helen. 'Spose Helen would bring us if 'twasn't her day off. Well, Peggy, will you stan' by me forever n' ever, and not tell a soul? I'1n going away and maybe I'll be an engineer or one of those airplane guys. Oh, Bobby, gasped the wide-eyed Peggy. Please, please don't run away. What will you do at night all alone, and no place to sleep? Some bad man might steal you, and I'd never see you again. Peggy had touched Bobby 's weak spot. There was one thing that he was afraid of and that was the night in all its darkness. Peggy saw him hesitating. I'll tell you, Bob, she said, you know our secret room that we fixed in my play house in the basement? No one ever goes there and every day I'll come down and play with you and bring you cookies, and bread, an' jam. Bobby did not want to give in at first. He did not think this heroic enough. And then, went on Peggy, father will be sorry and he 'll say, 'Oh, I'm so sorry, if only I'd let Bobby go. ' There Peggy shook her head mournfully, imagining herself as her father. This delighted Bobby. To picture his father repenting his ac- tions pleased him very much. Then, when he says that, you come and tell me. Then I'll go to him and he'1l be so glad I'm not far away that he 'll let us go. The door downstairs shut and the children ran quickly into the nur- sery, for they knew their mother and father had come in. The next morning Bobby was awakened through hearing Sarah, the cook, who had gone to the chicken yard for eggs. He quickly dressed himself, took his coat and cap, and slipped quietly out of the kitchen door and into the basement. Page 12

Page 18 text:

TH E TOCSI N--1922 sleep. He was afraid of the cold darkness of the ba ement and although he slept on the old couch that Peggy had acquired for her house, a spring that was loose in it kept him in misery. All he had for a cover was an old discarded portier. He had resolved to give it up the next morning. He did not wish to spend another night here. He had also been greatly disappointed when Peggy had told him that their father had expressed no regret for his not having let Bobby go. He crept to the window and in the dim moonlight could only, with great difficulty, discern the figure of a woman donning a long white robe, or something or other, that made her look very ghostlike. Like a flash Bobby ran up into the yard, just as the figure had entered the kitchen. He followed closely behind and watched the figure go upstairs. Not knowing what to do, he waited in the sitting room. He shut the door that led into the hall, lighted the light and sat behind the big Morris chair. Restlessly Mrs. Teller waited for her husband. She wished now that she had not visited the strange woman that day. She did not know whether she believed she would have a visitor or not-but then-the door opened slowly with a slight creak and scarcely breathing she watched the spectre approach the bed. It mumbled something unintelligible and then in a clearer voice told the frightened woman that Bobby would soon re- turn. The figure then moved slowly, but paused a moment at the bureau and then left the room in all the splendor of a transparent spirit. Suddenly Mrs. Teller heard a series of bumpings, and shouts in a voice that sounded very much like Bobby's. Hey, for the luva mike, put down mother's jewelry box 'fore I knock your block off. There were sounds of commotion, the slamming of the back door, and then Bob- by eame running into his mother's room and as best he could, while she was embracing and kissing him, told her the Whole story. Mr. Teller was there to hear also, for as he had entered the yard, he had met this amazing creature, running out with his wife 's jewelry box in hand, and had caught her with the help of the men who had been help- ing him search. He had brought the woman into the house and Mrs. Tel- ler, greatly mortified, recognized her as the spiritualist whom she had visited that day. But after all, the thing that counted most, when all was explained and cleared, and the clever woman thief was in prison, was that the words of the spirit had come true, Bobby had returned. Dorothy Perry '22. Page 14