Standish High School - Crimson Rambler Yearbook (Standish, ME)

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14 THE CRIMSON RAMBLER UTOPIA The sun was just setting over the distant hills as a lone rider topped one of the little hillocks. What wonderful scenery: a perfect picture, an ideal place for a little town or a ranchg a dam to stop that beautiful river which flows below. These thoughts were running through the mind of jim Stark, the lone rider. Stark was of Western type and with his sun-tanned face, blue eyes that looked from under dark eyebrows, and a well-built body, he looked like a young man of strong abilities. He had been classed by his folks and neighbors as a thriftless, lazy, good-for-nothing young man. jim didn't really like to settle down, he liked to roam around by himself. He had had many jobs dur- ing the cattle roundups but never had stayed on one longer than necessary. He was on his way to the Concho Rodeo when the thought came to his mind that he would like to settle down and be somebody instead of wandering aroundg therefore he put these things out of his mind and proceeded to the rodeo. It seemed at this rodeo that luck found him. First, he had taken many parts in the rodeo and won a considerable amount of money. Next, when on his way from the fields, he came face to face with a stylish, elderly gentleman. The man kept his sharp eyes on jim, and jim, in turn, stared at the stranger. Do you in any way happen to know john McDyke ? was the unexpected question. Yes, was the curt reply he got from Stark. Why do you ask, stranger P went on the cowboy. Well, replied the man slowly, 'fyou look something like john McDyke and I was kinda curious. john McDyke is my uncle, jim said, looking sharply at the stranger to see if it had any effect on him. Well, I'll be darned, was the excited answer, you're just the young man I'm looking for. Come with me-l heard you followed up these rodeos. Have much luck today, hombre? was the rapid talk of the stranger. I'll introduce myself, he went on, as they proceeded down the street. I'm Lawyer Burns of Argon City. I'm james Stark of Orin City, replied the cowboy, still wondering what the lawyer was going to do and why he was interested in his Uncle john. By this time they had reached the office of the lawyer. Sit down, Stark, said the lawyer, gently motioning to a chair, while he took another. You told me you were john McDyke's nephew, he said slowly. Did you ever see your uncle ? Only once, replied Stark. That was when I was a youngster and he visited our ranch at Orin City, he kept on, still wondering why he answered the lawyer's questions so freely. -xr i Did you know he was dead, young man ? asked the lawyer with a great deal of emphasis. No, was the quick reply. VVell, john McDyke died at Dead1nan's Bluff two months ago, leaving a will. ' Stark began to sit up and take notice, because he had been Uncle john's pet when he had made the one and only visit at the Stark Ranch.

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lllllllllll X : 11, P ps.. W 'Wil 5 ' Utopia ....................... LITERARY ARTICLES Eddie Wlhittier .-X Merry k,l11'lStl1l1lS ........................... . v Ro. 1313 ................................................. The Complaint of an Empty Purse ........ The Dance of the Dolls .X Real Cihost ......................... .'Xnita's Plan ..... .... pk German Uniform .. .... . A Firm Friendship A Mysterious Murder The Hermit .................. -H er Reward .................... The lleauty of Nature ..... .TX Midnight Frolic ......... lleing Thankful .......... The llronze Idol ................ The Senior Class of '31 ....... u ' ' 'Ihe Little If ............. Classified ................... Independence Day ....... R adio ........................ Y outh .................... W'inter ............. Be Happy ........ Our Spring ............ The Outlaw ............... The Fatal YVords ........ lnventions ................. llouses ................... Truth ? ................ lily the Radio ........ Standish High ...... Martha NVescott .. Winona NYarren Edith Rich Pearl Rackliff Esther Wfilson .. Eleanor Dresser Dorothy Ryall Norman Lindquist . Laurel llurnham Marjorie Ryall lleryl Hawkes .. .... Roland Lewis. . ...... . Jean Morrison, llarhara Higgins, Fred Vendexter Esther Wlilson Martha VVescott Gerald Harmon .. Richard Higgins lleryl Hawkes . Wfilfred Paine, LeRoy Lombard, Edith Rich Gerald Harmon Eddie VV'hittier Pearl Rackliff llarhara Higgins Beryl Hawkes Rufus Dow, .. NVinona XVarren Bertha Frost 9 v v 1 1

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THE CRIMSON RAMBLER 15 The will left everything to you, Stark, under one condition, went on the lawyer, trying not to notice the young man's bulging eyes. alle had heard, as many others have, of your shiftiess ways but you were always the apple of his eye since you were a youngster so he left everything to you. Now listen, Stark, this condition might be hard for you to comply with, but you must do so before I turn over a cent to you, continued the old lawyer sternly. Wl1at is that condition, Mr. Burns ? asked the cowboy nervously. That condition, Stark, is that you settle down and make somebody of yourself and make good use of the money he leaves. VVhat do you think of it? the lawyer asked, looking sharply at the young cowboy opposite him. NVell-er-I don't know, I've a little money Ilve got from the rodeo, but that's all I have, he managed to stammer. Do you wish to settle down ? was the next question shot at him. At this question Stark told the old lawyer about his dreams and the thoughts that had gone through his mind on his journey, looking up to see how the lawyer took his explanation. - When Stark had finished, the lawyer knew he was sincere and grasped the young man's hand, replying, That's the spirit, young man, I know you'll make good. As youlre short of money, I'll tell you what l'll do,', he went on hurriedly, I will back you up in this plan and then when you inherit the money you can pay me back. Thanks very much for the offer, Mr. Burns, but what if I don't make good ? I know you will, Stark, because you have the makings of a successful person, he replied, sizing the young man up. - Thanks, Mr. Burns, and l'll surely take you up on your proposition, replied Stark, with a sincere look. It has been tive years since Stark left Lawyer Burns's office and went on his fortune-seeking job of building up his hopes. Things have certainly changedg the beautiful river and valleys that gave Stark his ambitions have changed. Across the beautiful river is a large gray dam from which large cities and the surrounding country obtain their power and watery down the valley one sees a city with itsgchurch, schoolhouse, paved streets and many other improvements and institutions which represent a prosperous place. The people are mostly garbed in cattlemen's clothes, some are dressed better. On going down the street of this town one will see a large building with a sign, Stark's Hotel, another with Stark's Department Store, and many other small signs with Stark's name and other prominent men of the town. Many wonder why the Stark name is over so many of the largest buildings. Why? Because James Stark had turned from the thriftless, good- for-nothing young man his folks had known to a very ambitious and thrifty man. His ambition planned and built this city which he called Utopia. Stark had thought of this name because everything in his little city was so peaceful and perfect. The laws were enforced with the greatest ability, everyone had a friendly way toward each other. Why shouldn't he call it Utopia? Everything was perfect. E. XV., '31,