Strong High School - Mussul Unsquit Yearbook (Strong, ME)

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20 THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT After all explanations, two happier people could not be found elsewhere. For all their suffering their love was all the more precious. They were unconscious of the time until they saw Gladys' and Jack's friends coming in opposite directions in search of the lost ones. It certainly was a wonderful reunion, classmates and loved ones. Jack would not go any further on his trip but would go to Gladys' home. Gladys did not go any further and as her friends did not want to go without her, there was a party of twelve returned to Pleasantdale that night. Jack later told his friends that he indeed had found the lost treasure he went to look for little thinking that he would find the precious one he unconsciously lost two sad years ago. Gladys looked up to Marjorie and ex- plained to her how she had wronged her, thinking she had won Jack's affections by being with him that day on the hill when they were rehearsing their part in the drama. Two better friends could not be found anywhere after that. Each summer they made a trip to that memorable Stanley Hill adjoining Stanley College, which had unknowingly caused so much sadness and gladness to Gladys John- son and Jack Spaulding, now Mr. and Mrs. Jack Spaulding. Orra Welch, '24. 0UTLAW'S CAVE EG was riding along an old woods- road, one bright June morning, comfortably seated on Julius, her horse, and wondering about the story her father had told her the night before, while they sat at the supper table, and trying to decide whether or not that story had anything to do with his trip to the village today. Julius was picking his own way and when Meg came to her senses she suddenly thought that this was the road that led to Out- law's Cave, as she called it, where,,when a small girl, she used to play she was leader of a band of outlaws. She had not visited this cave since she had been going east to school, and as she had nothing better to do, determined to go there, this morning. So tightening her grip on the reins she started Julius on a trot. Meg's real name was Marjorie Barrotte, only child of William Barrotte, known to the public as Clover-Seed Bill. Her mother died when she was a small child, and ever since she could remember she had lived with her father and Topsy, the cook, in a. cute little cottage not far from the Ranco at Wild Rose Ranch, until three years ago when she had been sent east for an educa- tion. She had come home the day before, and that night at supper her father had told her the story she had begged for so long, about her mother, which seemed to her more like a fairy tale than a true story. In the olden days, there had lived, in the nearby town, a beautiful girl named Margie Gardner. She was the town belle, loved by many, and liked by all. Also in the town there were two young men, William Barrotte and Robert Blaine, friends yet rivals. Both liked the girl. After a long time Willie won Margie's love, and they lived at Wild Rose Ranch, until she died. Robert never forgave William for this. He ran away and no one heard from him for years, then he showed up as a leader of an outlaw party, which made more or less trouble for the village people, especially Barrotte. Then he again disappeared. No one had heard from him since. Meg was thinking of this story when she neared the cave. She jumped off her horse and taking from the saddle pocket a flash- light, entered Outlaw's Cave . Julius al- ways waited whenever left alone until Meg returned. She went into the cave. Here she saw an old spoon and there part of a broken dish half buried in the dirt. She went to the end of the cave, finding everything looking the same, with the exception of a few natural changes.

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 19 another. Gladys remained in the same spot long after the others had gone, wishing she could die, right then, her heart was broken. She returned to the dormitory a changed girl resolving not to say anything to ,Tack but to avoid meeting or talking with him. The girls all noticed it but none of them said anything to herg she no longer joined the girls in fun. Immediately after graduation she left for home. Three days later with her parents she went abroad to see different places of interest but really hoping she would forget her love for one who proved so false. Here she was sitting under the same tree that must also heard those words that caused so much heartache. Jack noticed that Gladys avoided meeting him, but he was so busy with rehearsals that he could not manage to speak to her and learn what had happened. As soon as he could after the exercises he hurried to Gladys but she was gone. Didn't she leave me some sort of message F' he asked the girls. But there was no message for him. Jack was terribly hurt by this action of l1is darling's. He determined to go to her as soon as he got home. He wrote to her, telling he was coming to see l1er, but his letter came back. Imagine his surprise when on going to her home he was told that Gladys with her parents had sailed abroad two days before. He resolved to find her and learn what had happened to cause her to act so towards hi1n. His heart was broken. He sailed on the very next steamer, hoping to see her somewhere. He looked everywhere but all in vain. After spending a year abroad he took up his practice of law. His parents were sur- prised to think the girl they were to call daughter should go without leaving one word to the boy they idolized. During the following year he made a great success at law and would some day be one of the best lawyers. But he was not happy, for he could find no trace of his loved one. Meanwhile Gladys had traveled every- where trying to interest herself in all the sights and forget. But day by day she grew thinner and paler and very seldom did she join in social gayeties. They remained abroad for a year and a half and then re- turned home. Her parents wanted to call jack to account for his supposed falseness but Gladys would not hear of it. She re- mained quietly at home, drooping visibly day by day. Her classmates tried their best to get her to join them on many of their trips but in vain. It was a surprise to them when Gladys accepted this invitation. The same day Jack with a few of his classmates started on a trip and came once more to visit the place they all enjoyed when attending the college. jack said he was going to climb to the top of the hill and see if he could find any lost treasure amongst the trees and rocks, or perhaps he might find some gold. They all laughingly wished him luck and Jack started. Many times he had walked up this same hill with Gladys by his side, planning so much for the future, but what did the future hold for him now? He could see nothing to bright- en his life, without his beloved. And so he walked with thoughts of Gladys and mem- ories of the different places where they used to sit and plan. He was tired before he reached the top and thought he would sit beneath the big tree yonder and rest. He was lost in thought and so did not see any- one there until he came to the tree and saw the one he had looked for so long. Gladys ! Jack ! They were in each other's arms, all thoughts of the past forgotten in that one moment of joy. Then Jack said, Gladys, tell me what happened. Why have you hidden yourself from me all this time? Then came the explanations of all she heard and how she felt about the words she heard him say to another. jack explained to her the meaning of those words she over- heard, and told her how he had followed her everywhere in hopes of finding her, but all in vain.

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THE MUSSUL UNSQUIT 21 She moved the rock, under which the out- law box had been kept, wl1ich contained all of the stolen possessions, glass beads, shells, colored and odd shaped rocks. She opened the box, but instead of seeing those childish treasures she saw watches, beads, rings and many similiar things. VVhat did this mean? Vlfas sl1e dream- ing? She pinched herself to make sure she was not, then tried to think. Her father's story came back to her. VVas there a con- nection? There was. Probably Bob Blaine and his gang were at it again. She decided to replace everything, go back to the ranch and appear as if nothing had happened, un- til her father returned that night. It would be best to tell him about it for Blaine might be hatching mischief against her father. She replaced the box, returned to the open again and mounting Julius, started home. They were just eating dinner when she reached the ranch, so with an invitation she stayed. That afternoon Meg assisted Topsyls work about the cottage as well as the raneo. ller father did not return that night, but she decided that his business had delayed him and he would come the next day. The next day came but Clover-Seed Bill did not. Meg was not the only one that was worried, for Conrad Dixon, assistant boss of the ranch, sent two of the boys to the village to find out what they could. That night he had a long talk with Meg. He told her that Blaine and his gang were at work again. Detectives were on their track, un- successfully so far. Possibly l1er father was in their hands. Meg. thinking that some one ought to know, told Conrad of what she had found in Outlaw's Cave the day before. Conrad felt certain tl1is had something to do with it as there had recently been a train robbery in a neighboring town. The boys returned from town with the following news: Clover-Seed Bill after starting home the night before had been captured by Blaine's crew. No one knew where he had been taken. There had been another train robbery that night. Dixon, Meg and some others started for Outlaw's Cave, while Dixon sent one of the fellows to town to bring the detective along. Once on the woods road the trail of the Outlaw's was easily picked up. This they followed which led straight to the cave. Dixon and the boys went into the cave but Meg, seeing where someone had scrambled up the bank close by, followed these tracks, which led into thicker woods. She followed these tracks only a little way when she saw, stretched on the ground before her, a hn- man form. Instantly she recognized him as Pete Milton, one of the ranch boys. Quick- ly she ran to him. He was unconscious. She saw where he had been shot in the arm. VVhat could she do? As she was trying to think, his eyelids liickered and rose. He lay still a moment then seeing Meg, started to talk. Removing her bandanna from around her throat she tore it into strips and bound the wounded arm. He told her his story, how Clover-Seed ljill had been taken by the outlaws and he had tried to help him get away. ln the at- tempt he had been shot in the arm. He had followed them to the care and having seen them enter, had scrambled up the bank to await their return. during which tin1e he had sprained his ankle and could go no farther. He sat down to rest, which was the last he could remember. just as he finished Meg put her hnger to her lips to order silence. Together they looked in the direction she pointed. They saw coming from behind a large rock sever- al men, apparently the outlaws. XVith Megs assistance, Milton tried to walk. After some time they reached the rock, back of which was a second entrance to Outlaws Cave, forme1'ly unknown to Meg. They disappeared into the gloomy darkness. Feeling their way as best they could, they progressed, slow but sure. Then they