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

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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,

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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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16 THE CRIMSON RAMBLER A MERRY CHRISTMAS It had been a hard and strenuous day at the office during Christmas week, as a great deal of extra work had to be done before the holiday. Mr. Owen, our manager, was getting more and more uneasy and much harder to satisfy as the work fiowed in before us. Everybody seemed to be wishing that a Christmas holiday would never come, because the thought of the Work was so trying on the disposition. I usually took a taxi home but tonight I felt that the cool, brisk, wintry air would do my disposition wonders after so much commotion and excite- ment at the office during the day. I had to work forty-five minutes later than usual, so when I finally did get my work done, I didn't linger very long to chat with the other girls, knowing that it was getting late. I started for home with high hopes, thinking of the lovely little Christmas gifts that I had already bought for my parents and friends. But I had not gone far when I heard the cry of a seemingly hurt child come from a dark side street. I was greatly frightened, but I decided to find out what the trouble was. I ran toward the place of trouble and, much to my surprise, I perceived in the darkness a small child lying face downward on the icy pavement. I picked the half-frozen boy up into my arms and started toward my home with him. Cn the way I wondered whose child it could be. But in such a danger- ous condition as he was I realized that he would need medical attention and need it quickly. As soon as I got him into the house and had put warm clothes around him I called the doctor. VVhen he arrived and had glanced at the unconscious child he gasped, VVhy, er-how did you happen to have this child here? I was somewhat bewildered by his astonishing look and question, but I told him how I had found the child and had brought him home to doctor him. Without another word he took from his pocket a slip of newspaper and handed it to me. lt was the picture of the same little boy that was lying un- conscious before me. - Beneath the picture was an article stating that the child had been kid- napped about a week before and the parents were very near frantic over the loss of their only child. They had tried all the means they could of finding him but it had been in vain. I called the child's parents soon as possible. They rewarded me for find- ing their child. VVith the generous reward, I bought each one of my ofhce friends a Christmas gift so that they would forget about their troubles and have happiness at least as long as Christmas lasted. I If they only could have realized how trifling their office troubles had been beside the trouble of that child's parents! MARTHA V. VVESCOTT, '31, NO. 1313 Left-right! Left-right! Left-right! The sound of a steady marching came to the warden of the prison, as he sat at his desk reading his evening paper. It was the sound of the men as they marched to their cells for the night. As suddenly as it had started, it ceased. The lights were turned out and all was quiet. In cell No. 27 Dan lNfcVVright sat on the edge of his cot. The moon, as it shed its pale light in through the small iron-barred prison window, showed the boy to be in deep thought. His broad shoulders were bent forward, his