University of Santa Clara - Redwood Yearbook (Santa Clara, CA)

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THE REDWOOD 21 inspiration from the journeying moon that rose a crescent in the sky. The effect was immediate. His sleeply roommate observed his fingers to twitch nervously; his hair waved strangely in the night ' s breath and weird references to Cleopatra, the ivory palace of the Nile, impassioned words from the heart of Antony followed from Claude ' s moon-kissed lips. Suddenly the dreamy rapture ceased, he sprang to the bedside of his room- mate and shouted: ' They ' re coming, quick get up. They ' ll burn every- thing. ' ' Who, the Romans? asked the tired one. No! Fellows from Leland, quick, get up ! In another minute he had aroused all the junior division. With a speed that delighted the heart of Father Pre- fect, the cry, All Out cleared the building and as Desmond and Clar- ence searched furiously for misplaced matches the angry mob was upon them. Crown ' em, roared one husky; Down with the Slickers, piped an- other; Into the tank, gained most favor, and sturdy arms were rushing the disgruntled pair to the Gym when Duke and the Senior Police squad ar- rived to quell the riot. Out of the way, you rats, the voice of Duke seldom rose in anger, but now he meant business. Is this the way you treat strangers? he roared. Striding through the excited juniors to the Leland boys he lifted both bodily over the crowd, the police squad formed about him and conducted them to the Banquet Room. Expecting punishment more brutal than that promised by the juniors, Desmond and Clarence were ill at ease. Unable to explain their forcible introduction to the dining room they settled sheepish- ly into chairs assigned them and glared sullenly at their captors. Presently rather savory whiffs became sensible in the air. Their pride forbade looking around since the captors remained sto- lid. For ten minutes the strained situ- ation continued. Hurrah, shouted the police and following the direction of their glances the Leland boys beheld Duke advanc- ing with a sizzling plate of steaks; be- hind him assistants with coffee and frosted cake. Next morning the City papers had it. Claude Adrian ' s name edged out the glaring war headlines and all political gossip was crowded to second page. The daring attempt of Leland and the chivalrous entertainment provided by Valley boys held the entire stage. Marie, called a quiet voice from the shade of a clump of oleanders. Aren ' t you out rather early this morning? Marie, walking past the Adrian home in Milpitas, paused and turned demurely at the greeting. Mr. Adrian, you startled me, your voice is so much like Claude ' s. I am

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20 THE REDWOOD was here unconsciously that Claude made his first deep impression on the students of Valley University — with his fingernails. On the facade of Ju- nior hall are two balconies. Each sub- tends four windows of a Moorish type that blend splendidly with the mission lines of the building. On the north the balcony is unimportant save that it opens into the junior chapel. On the south it forms a convenient passageway between rooms 51 and 53. To 51 several college men carried the l imp form of Claude Adrian, and the Platinum Print. Give him air, was the brief com- mand of Duke. The word was enough and the crowd vacated to emerge riot- ing as usual on the Arcade steps. Take your knee out of his stom- ach, cautioned a reproachful voice, as looking at the scene of disaster the boys saw the ponderous limb of Fat Chesario apparently buried in the un- resisting vitals of Bartholomew. Why don ' t you jump on his head a few times r advised another. By the time Fat had risen the crowd was around him. Oh, he exclaimed modestly, I just gave him an Infirmary Special. ' Before leaving Milpitas, Claude had encountered and been the victim of the intense Leland U. spirit that seems to permeate the villages lying about that nob]e institution. The Spirit had been personified for Claude in the person of one Desmond O ' Melveny, who forgetful of ancestral affiliations, visited severe displeasure on all youthful Milpitites who evinced a preference for Valley University. Despite the confusion in- cident to the arrival of his piano-box at Valley, Claude had not forgotten the equally unpleasant farewell ten- dered him at Milpitas by Desmond and his Leland friends. He even suspected the surprising weakness of the piano- box was to Desmond attributable — and he was right. One night a few months later, the fatigued respiration of a discouraged Ford ceased under the restraining in- fluence of Desmond O ' Melveny and Clarence Lacquerre, two Leland sopho- mores. We ' ll give them the rase tonight, huh Desmond? The old raspberry is right but don ' t talk so loud, they may have guards around. ' ' Alighting from the car they stole cautiously forward along the edge of Dean Richards garden, paused in the shadow of Administration Building and then made boldly for the pile of ties, boxes and logs lying ready to be built into the Funeral Pyre of Leland U. Claude Adrian was a temperamental boy. Nothing else saved Valley from lasting humiliation. In carelessly working out some geometry construc- tion for Prof. ' Radian, Claude ' s roommate had dropped so many per- pendiculars that Claude ' s head ached. Rising from a sleepless bed he threw open the Moorish window and sought

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22 THE REDWOOD mad at him now, he hasn ' t written for two days. Mr. Adrian advanced to where she stood. Looking at the lovely girl be- fore him, he understood the affection of his son and also why under every pillow and marking every book in the library were verses, ' ' In the Orchard, ' ' Fair Wintertime, To my Love, Sweet Marie . Mr. Adrian, you stopped me. I think you ought to talk to me, re- proached Marie, becoming uneasy at his continued silence. Oh, I remember now, enthused Mr. Adrian, breaking from his reverie. I wanted to show you the paper about Claude. 4i When the gigantic pyre rose in a shower of flame and glowing cinders, the Senior police guarding O ' Melveny and Lacquerre locked them in the guest-room — 53 of Junior Hall, and joined the loyal voices that shook the night with their love. Mixed with the keen faces of the students were many alumni, old acquaintances that wrinkled in delight when the ties roared and snapped and youthful voices prolonged the cheering. The noise abruptly stop- ped, and all eyes turned toward Duke, asking silence from the cheer plat- form. Fellows, he spoke loud and clear, We are all happy tonight. It seems great to have such loyal support and for the team I thank you. There is one thing more I want to do and that is to thank the plucky little junior that saved our bacon for tonight. Whoever is near Claude Adrian — bring him up here. Turning one to another, the boys searched earnestly. Duke, waiting ex- pectantly, chanced to look toward Ju- nior hall. The only one in the build- ing — a light burned dim in 51. As he watched a stealthy group of oddly dressed figures stole from the shadow of the building and, struggling with a heavy burden, made their way behind a screen of pepper trees toward a side- door of the gym. Left alone by the Senior guard, the two Leland prisoners heedless of the noise without, sought refreshment in a heavy sleep. But Desmond O ' Melveny was the name of one boy, and Claude Adrian knew it. While the rest of the school were making their way from chapel to the scene of the rally, Claude ' s deft fingers, in the shower room, were transforming six students of Valley into an equal number of fe- rocious Roman legionaries. It ' s a shame to slit this Valley banner, but it will make Fat Chesario the toughest looking Roman that ever wore a toga. How about me? hissed Slicker McNeil from behind a selection of tastefully hung bedroom rugs. I hate to spoil a perfectly good cuspidor on you, Arbuckle, but it will make a wonderful helmet. ' Don ' t think it a minute, protested