Willard Middle School - Target Yearbook (Berkeley, CA)

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of che three, the Laird mentioned Scotty, his son, a captain in the Black Watch, who three weeks before had left for France. He was to take com- mand of his battalion at the front. His father was very proud of Scotty and thought that without doubt he would come home with at least three or four medals of honor. The conversation continued when soon the Dutch clock on the wall struck eight. The Laird hearing the bells sat bolt upright. Will they come, Babby? Do you think they'll come again tonight? Help me if they do! What could they be, Babby, dear child? Sandy, stay here and al- ways take care of Babby. Promise me that. Oh, my God, they've come, Babby! Listen! Sandy thought the man must be delirious, but suddenly he heard a strange noise. It sounded like many knocks on the walls coming from all parts of the room at once. They continued for about a minute and then stopped completely. Sandy all this time had been in a daze, not knowing what was happening about him except that he sensed something very pecu- liar. When he came to his senses, he found Babby tending to her father who had suddenly become very weak and faint. He said nothing for a moment, waiting for Babby to finish her tasks. Isn't that horrible? she said, looking up at him as she pulled the blan- kets closer around her patient's head. I mean that knocking noise. What do you suppose it is? Daddy has no enemies and Heaven knows no money any- one could want to get. That noise will come again in a few minutes. I think I shall put some cotton into dad's ears. He,ll go insane if he hears it again. The cotton is in the medicine chest over there. He followed her instruc- tions, and on returning he watched her with a strange, new light of admira- tion in his hazel eyes as she gently put the soft, white cotton in her father's large, bony ears. Both of them sat still, scarcely talking, watching the Laird as he slept fitfully. The knocking continued all evening, coming at five-minute inter- vals. At the stroke of twelve by the little Dutch clock the noise stopped completely, not returning again that night. At last both went to bed. Sandy was soon lulled to sleep by the Laird's deep breathing. The next day Sandy had a man come to the castle to clean out the parti- tions, thinking that there might be something between them to make the troublesome noise. However, nothing was found. On Friday night the noise came again. It continued regularly until about ten-Hfteen o'clock. It was then that Sandy, almost driven mad by che continued, puzzling noise, sat up in bed and cried loudly, Stop it, whoever or whatever you are, and let peaceful people sleep. If you have something to say, then say it! and the noise stopped. I Nothing had been found out about this strange happening until three days after the noise had stopped. It came in the form of a telegram sent to the Laird of Dunberry. It stated that Scotty, the Laird's son, had been criti- cally ill over the period of three days, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday night exactly at ten-fifteen o'clock. It also stated that four medals of honor gained by Scotty would be sent to his father. He was buried in Flanders Field. Whether the knocking was just a coincidence or a form of telepathy connected with Scotty's death no one ever knew. The Laird was very sad, but not too sad to be happy at Sandy and Babby's wedding on Christmas Day. -Charlotte Lowe.

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Telepathy or Coiincidence? SANDY STUART walked briskly along the well-worn moor trail. It was a brilliant fall morning. On either side of him grew purple heather, sway- ing in the gentle breeze and bathing in the warm, September sun. The rolling hills of the moor rose and fell gently like purple waves in a sea of wild heather. Ahead of him rose a rocky crag above which towered the gray roof of a large, rambling building, the castle of the Laird of Dunberry. It was sorrowfully dilapidated. The flowers which once made beautiful gardens were left to wander aimlessly over the crag, covering the rocks, every bit of soil, and the great wings of the castle itself. At the foot of the crag was an old, tumbled-down wall which separated the castle grounds from the village of the neat, little, thatched-roofed homes of the peasants. As Sandy entered this village, he was greeted by a loud sound as a large flock of geese passed, scolding furiously at the picturesque little laddie, dressed in his father's vivid tartan, and chasing the geese with a long, sharp switch. This boy, who knew Sandy, said to him, You'd better be hurryin', Mr. Sandy, 'cause the Laird's pretty sick. Sandy, taking this advice, ran as fast as possible through the village, managing to step on some worthy fellow's toe and to receive his compli- ments, to trip over a dog who chased him, and last, but not least, to have to stop to pick up a rosy-cheeked peasant girl's plaid handkerchief. At last Sandy arrived at the castle gate, and it was not long before he found him- self knocking loudly on the enormous door. The door was opened after a few moments by a young girl, Babby, the Lairdis only daughter. She was beautiful and delicate as the petal of a rose, with dark, curly hair pushed back so as to emphasize large, dark eyes and clear, white skin. Sandy entered. He soon found himself in a large bedroom. In a high, feather bed, lying back against his pillows, was che Laird of Dun- berry. He was a handsome man and powerful physically and mentally. He was in his sixties and had snow-white hair, and eyes like his daughter's. He seemed very much out of place in bed. He explained that he felt out of place, too, and that his daughter, the housekeeper, and all the other servants in general had actually forced him to go to bed. When Sandy asked him what seemed to be the matter, he had to be sat- isfied with the statement that all trouble could be traced to the previous night. Except for paleness, Sandy thought him perfectly well. However, he did notice that the Laird was very nervous. Once when Babby knocked on the door, Sandy noticed that the Laird shook all over and cried out, Stop that knocking! Stop it! Stop it,I say! after which he had lain back gasping. When Babby called Sandy down to lunch, he took time to consult her about the Laird. It was then that she asked him if he would be kind enough to sleep with the Laird that night and see that he was all right. To this Sandy agreed. She said also that something might happen at night to make the Laird more nervous and sick. He saw no more of Babby that afternoon, much to his regret, for a deep admiration for the dark-eyed beauty had sprung up in him. However, he was rewarded that evening. He and Babby ate dinner alone. At first they said little, but after a time an interesting but completely impersonal conversation passed between them. Dinner finished, the two went to the Lairdis room. In the conversation

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Tom Canty Returns to His Mother AFTER the real King Edward had returned to his rightful place as the ruler 'of England, Tom Canty went to Offal Court to see his mother and sisters again. He climbed up the rickety staircase with as much haste as possible for he was anxious to tell his mother of the money which had been given him and of the many adventures which had befallen him during his stay in the palace. At the top he opened the door and looked in, but to his great surprise the room was empty of any signs of life, even the straw on which he used to sleep was gone. He stood still a minute and looked about him in bewilderment. What could this mean? XVhere could they have gone? He finally decided after a moment's thought to go down stairs to Father Andrew to see if he knew. He knocked at Father Andrew's door, but there was no answer. He finally opened the door a crack and peeped in. This room was the same as the other, empty of anything except a few spiders and a family of little gray mice. just then a woman who was passing by stopped a minute in sur- prise to see such a well-dressed boy as Tom now was in such a place as Offal Court. Tom caught sight of her and cried out just as she started on, Just a moment, please, madam. Could you tell me where the Cantys, who used to live upstairs, have gone to, and also Father Andrew? Why certainly, lad, she replied. The father of the two girls, John Canty, left this part of the country after he killed Father Andrew and- After he killed Father Andrew? interrupted Tom. How awful! And the woman and the two children have moved down the street into the building next to the Blue Flag Tavern, continued the woman. Oh, thank you kindly, madam, and Tom, without waiting to hear more, ran down the few, remaining stairs and down the street to the build- ing next to the BlueFlag. While wondering where to find his mother, he noticed a familiar figure playing in the street, and in an instant he recog- nized it as that of his sister Nan. Wfith a cry of joy he rushed forward and took her in his arms. At the same time Nan caught sight of him. She imme- diately seized his hand and was pulling him up the stairs and into one of the doors in the narrow hall. Mother, Bet, come quick!', she cried. He's come back! Tom's back. At this the mother and Bet ran forward and both tried to hug him at once. My son, at last you have returned, she said over and over. At last you have returned. You must tell us of all of your adventures nowf' So Tom, seated on a box, told of the palace, the royal dinners, and all other things he thought might interest his mother, who gasped when he related how he had dared to talk to the king and the princess, and felt very proud of him when he told how he had saved the three people from execu- tion. And, mother, he said, I am called the king's ward and have been given money so that we can move to a better place, and you can wear clothes which are not ragged and torn. You, my sisters, he said turning to Bet and Nan, may have a soft bed and will not have to sleep on straw any more. And so it came to pass that because of Tom's strange adventure with the Prince, the fortune of the Canty family was changed from poverty to comfort. Mary Stevens.