University of San Francisco - USF Don Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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IO T II K I R KS II M A X . aljr Unkmumt I IF Arizona sun sent its torrid rays quivering and listening upon the waters of the Colorado. ()n either side stretched a wide vista of sand, fringed by a long low range of blue j)eaks, forming as it were a vast amphitheatre of burnished gold. 1 lerc and there along the river bank were grouped a few scraggly cottonwoods, while the sand lay bare its bosom to the unmerciful beams of the sun. save where the cactus rose in disordered array. W illiams, half overcome by the gleaming golden rays, impatiently dug his spurs into the pony’s Hanks, anxious to reach the foothills and overtake the author of that small brown cloud of dust dead ahead. Here and there along the road lay the whitened carcass of some animal, and once or twice he detected the bones of a human being bleaching in this desert waste, a mute testimony of the days of old and the wagon trails of the 40crs. As his lithe body rose and fell in unison with the pony’s lope, the vents of the previous years rapidly arose in his mind. I low his father and mother had died and he had come west to start life anew in this desert region. I low he had gradually risen in the eyes of its citizens, had secured the nomination for sheriff, and now his success or failure depended upon that gray cloud ahead; for screened by that enveloping curtain of dust rode Jim Lawton, terror of the desert, murderer, rustler and thief. Only last night he had shot a man in cold blood and made his escape. Williams, anxious to secure a strong foothold in the esteem of his fellow citizens, had offered to track the bad man and bring him to justice. And now, as he loped along with his quarry in plain sight, he endeavored to formulate some ru e by which he could capture Laxvion. (iradually as the desert receded and the mountains loomed higher and higher the distance between the two men short-ened. I le now entered a twisting, squirming depression guarded on either side by the lofty dunes that threw a molten mist down upon his face. As he turned a sharp corner he startled and immediately reined in his pony, for not more than fifty yards in front of him, with his back to his pursuer. wa Jim Lawton gazing at his broncho’s hoof, an anxious look spreading over hi face. Quick as a flash Williams gun was out. and as the reprobate turned his head he found himself confronting a piece of blue steel that flashed wickedly in the sunlight. At the command of Williams he threw his belt and gun on the ground and leaning lazily on the pony’s flank gazed calmly into the others eager, excited face. For the first time Williams had a good look at the man. and as his gaze fell upon the other’s tanned and weatherbeaten features, he gave a start, for there was something strangely familiar about the poise of that head, the decisive mouth and steel gray eyes. When and where he had seen the man before was a problem he could not solve, and he sat pondering in the saddle, his thoughts going back to days of yore. In the meanwhile Lawton pulling out his tobacco pouch, had deftly rolled a cigarette. His hand now traveled through his different pockets searching for a match. All at once there was a report, a blinding flash, and Williams’ gun lay in the sands at his feet, while in Lawton's hand rested a small revolver. Laughing grimly he spoke with a soft

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T II I F R E S 11 M A X . 9 “‘Xmrlrru ahtrtrrn” (0 |li! gallant fellow Freshmen, 'Trusty sons of right. Let's never cease repeating ( )ur old class slogan “light.” We'll plant upon the heights of fame ( )ur standard white and green. Till all the earth with one accord Acclaims “nineteen thirteen.” Hurrah! Hurrah! for T’reshmen. Hurrah! for the gallant few. The bravest in the college To light for red and blue. I ler llag we’ll keep a waving. Well venerate her name. We’ll give our latest drop of blood To win her glory’s fame. Edward M. (VXeii.i..

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T II E F R ES II M A X . ii drawl, from which the accent of the East had not wholly heen eliminated. “W’al, stranger. I guess you aren't wise that we hoys always carry a little vest pocket edition for sociability's sake.” W illiams gazed ruefully at his gun, and then at the man. too overcome with chagrin to speak. Why had he heen so anxious to overtake him? W hy had he allowed his youthful enthusiasm to carry him beyond the portals of safety? lie knew this grim looking figure would have no mercy, his every act showing he was devoid of all such gifts. Lawton picking up his gun motioned toward a clump of trees at the entrance of a small valley, for they were now at the base of the mountains. Wiliams entered. the other following close behind. When thev had seated themselves in the - shade of the trees Lawton spoke, still in the soft low tone, “My broncho's lameness was only a stall to get you to catch up with me. for I knew you were a tenderfoot, and your acts would give me more than enough chance to plug you, I set the trap and you in your would-be bravery fell for my bluff. Williams started at these blunt words, his cheeks turned pale, not through fear but with excitement, and his breath came in gasps. “Well, for God's sake, whv don’t vou + do it. you murderous dog, and relieve tt me. Lawton’s eyes lit up with furv. and when he spoke it was in a low. hard voice suppressed with rage, “Shut up. you cur. or I’ll save you the trouble. You call me a dog. and yet it was you and those like you that drove me to this life. You. with your high ideals, what you call your fine sense of honor, and your false doctrines made me a murderer and a thief. I started out right but the sneaking, lying coyote skulks in the garb of man drew me down to mv doom. I lost money, friends and what was dearer to me than life itself, mv honor. Oh! you can sneer at me and say, how can a range loper jhjsscs honor.' but a range loper has to he made by sin and misfortune, moulded from a man to a blackguard. That's how I came to take to this life, driven t« it h you of the civilized East. Forgotten was Williams’ anger, forgotten was his desperate errand. All hatred changed to pity for this wretched being, and in a voice tinged with sorrow he asked. “What do you mean? Speak out and tell me about it.” “This is what I mean.” and snatching a small picture from his pocket Lawton threw it on the ground at the other’s feet. He picked it up and gazed at it with bulging eyes, for it was the same that had adorned his mother’s room long ago. It was a picture of himself, his parents and elder brother whom he had never seen. Now he understood why the outlaw’s face seemed familiar: what there was about those eyes and chin that claimed resemblance to the thoughts of his mind, for before him. a murderer and thief, sat his brother, his own flesh and blood. They gazed upon each other for a few moments and Lawton’s face softened, his eyes lost their steely look and the hard lines disappeared from his brow. Slowly their bands met in a fond clasp and their hearts were filled with a t range tenderness, foreign in every respect to their outward natures. For a short space not a word was spoken, each wrapped up in thoughts of the years gone by. Then W illiams spoke in a low voice, not entirely devoid of emotion. Tell me about it? “There’s not much to tell. said Law-ton. “W hen I was a hov of sixteen and you were only a kid. I got into a scrap with my parents and they turned me out. I came out West and tried to start right