St Stephens Academy - Academician Yearbook (Port Huron, MI)

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kid with his clothes or looks, say, he certainly come in the nick of time,” an- swered his companion whom we shall call Pat. ‘Td sort o ' like to know if he knows where old Chris. Kent lives,” said the first speaker. At the mention of his father’s name, Chris, sat up and put his ear against the wall. “We ' ll leave him in the trap until about five o ' clock, then we ' ll tell him that he’s got to watch old Kent ' s house while we open his safe. I heard it was an old fashioned one and 1 guess we can pick the lock with a hairpin in five minutes at the most.’ ' “And if he kicks about it? ’ “No danger of that, kids brought up with a silver spoon in their mouths ain ' t got much grit to spare.” Then the two crooks passed down what seem- ed to be a long hall for Chris, could hear the echo of their footsteps as they died away. “Oh ! I ' m a molly-coddle, am I ?” thought Chris., “Well, we ' ll see about it.” The first thing he did was to explore the room ; he moved noiselessly about and finally discovered an opening in the wall near a dry-goods box. He squeezed through the hole and found himself in a winding corridor. Fortunately for him no one was in sight and he soon reached the door. This led to an alley and he saw two burly men standing talking, with their backs turned to him. He crawled along on the ground, keeping close to the shack until he gained the corner, then got up and ran. Chris, had never ran so fast before, no, not even in the track races. He dodged policemen, dogs, and autos and even jumped fences until he finally came to a car line. He boarded the first car and in an hour found himself home. Just then he woke up. He was disappointed at not having been a hero, for all his adventures had been only a dream. —MARGARET A. McCARTHAR, ’22. Bergetta — “Leo, who is the highest officer in your training unit?” Trese (proudly) — “I am by four inches.” Teacher (in English) — “Edna, you have heard of Byron’s Apostrophe to the Ocean, you may tell us what an Apostrophe is?” Edna — “An Apostrophe is a comma used to show possession ; or the om mission from a word of one or more letters.” Teacher — “Have you finished your night work?” James L. — “No, I have not.” Teache r — “I am surprised and you one of the brightest in the class.”

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How Prejudice Was Conquered Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Flaherty were seated in their pleasant little sitting room at “Four Elms,” their summer cottage on San Francisco Bay. The ex- pression on Mr. Flaherty ' s face told plainly that he was irritated and that his gentle little wife, the only other occupant of the room, was the cause of his irritation. “No, Marie,” he said, “not if they were the children of my own brother, and I am surprised that, knowing my sentiments as you do, you would pro- pose such a thing. You have heard me say over and over that I would never take upon myself the responsibility of bringing up another man’s child. And you ask me to adopt two children of utter strangers.” “You did not hear me out, Al,” Mrs. Flaherty answered quietly; “I did not ask you to adopt them, but only give them care and shelter until rela- tives or friends should come to claim them. They have an aunt, a Mrs. An- drews, who is traveling in the east and she is anxious to have them ; but the illness of Mrs. Taylor was short and her death so sudden that her friends could not be notified. I promised the dying woman that I would look after the children and not permit them to be separated. She died happier because of my promise.” “That puts the matter in a different light,” said Mr. Flaherty in a re- lieved tone. “Of course, you did right to give the poor woman what comfort you could in her last moments and certainly you must keep your promise. But, where is the father?” “That is the saddest part of the sad story. Mrs. Taylor died without knowing whether her husband was living or dead. He had written to her from Los Angeles, where he had gone on account of failing health, that he was better and earning a good salary. He asked her to come on here with the children from their home in Omaha, Nebraska, and take rooms at the “Colonial,” where he would join her the first week in June. She arrived here two weeks before her death ; but she never heard a word from him. I met her the day she came to the city and called on her several times after. That is why she sent for me when she was dying.” “Where are the children?” asked Mr. Flaherty. • “At the ‘Colonial’ in care of a nurse.” “You had better bring them here at once and I will see what can be done about locating their father.” So the two children, black-eyed mischievous Dorothy, aged six, and sturdy, silent Cecil, aged three, were made welcome by Mr. and Mrs. Flaher- ty. Dorothy, by her pretty, helpful, affectionate ways soon won all hearts.