Yeatman High School - Yeatman Life Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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.-..........,........-......--..W.............a.-...Hs...................,......-..a-........s,,s....- ............... ......................,..- ..,.......,.,, . .... ,..-,...-.... .sy-,. ......,,,4,,,. ,.,. . , .g, . , , , ,, W . .. ., ,. - ,M o 5, H - ' gg 1 ' ki? -QQ-gg-'gl ..,. u.::.....,- TZEZIT.. LE,-.,....'- '::ir:.....M''TSL:T::7:::ILZ:7L1:f:''f :' ::: ' f TTTE:::t::f'::1'::IfT':Z11.i mah- is-Zi-'12' ,......,,.,.........Mwo1'-f--w ---- - -D...--.,.., , ,, .-.4-.--...., - ' - --,. . ' :uv---fir-'w'f , --- nv, ,... JV- ' ' The horse turned its eyes to him and rub- bed its nose against the manis body. , I believe you understand, Buck, tinued the old man, in the same vein. You an' me's been together long enough. You and Jack's all I got now, I've lost it all, except you two. Let's start up the trail and get through with it. C011- He ran ahead a short distance and lay flat on the ground with his ear to the rocky surface, listening with all the intent of which his failing senses were capable. Then he returned to the wagon, after a thoughtful look and gave the starting command. The crazy vehicle, carrying a simple camp outfit and a kit of prospector's tools, moved slowly up the mountain through the length of the sultry afternoon. The load was light, but the team pulled hard and toiled pain- fully, urged by a sympathetic voice from the seat. That voice was not strong, for its hermit owner, known as The Old Man of the Mountains, had long passed the period of vocal vigor. He was old enough to cross a greater divide than the one he was then upon, to undertake a different trail and a longer journey. At the single wide place, designed for meetings with travelers, he again halted, listened and finally pushed on. He had gone some distance before he noticed the pricking up of the horse's ears which, since he was deprived of sight, were especially keen. The old man's partial deaf- ness had precluded any faint sounds which might have been caught by the animal. At first he gave the horse's actions no par- ticular attention, ,attributing them to the strange echoes he believed the spot to be infected with, but the horse persisted in showing so much interest in the distance ahead that he stopped and listened. A minute-no sound 5-two minutes-no soundg the third minute-and the man's heart stood still. He gave a nervous, sup- pressed cry and crawled along the tongue Seventy-two between the horse and mule and leaped wildly to the ground. He placed his ear against the earth and listened, hoping to disprove the verdict of senses. This time he heard a faint, yet certain rumbling as- oh, horrible thought-of a wagon. For a moment he stood still and looked with wild eyes in every direction as if seek- ing an escape he knew was not in existence. Then he buried his head once more in the blind horse's mane and let fall a tear, a dry, poverty-stricken tear from wrinkled and moistureless eyes. Climbing back into the wagon he again started the team, and ad- vanced to meet the terror ahead. Down small knobs and vales of rough road they toiled with the steep mountain towering over their left and the infathom- able depth of the river channel at their immediate right. As they advanced the sound grew louder and soon became recog- nized as that of pounding hoof-beats and turning wheels. The team picked its way down a rocky hill, bearing back on the breeching and running at the bottom to start up a short but -steep ascent. They tugged and strained and tore out small stones which rolled over the side and fell into the water far below with a faintly audible splash. Up the hill, they came out on a short level stretch and revealed to the man's eyes a heavy team of handsome blacks, drawing a heavier load faster and easier. The two teams stopped. ' Hello, ther l came a rough voice behind the blacks. From what scrap heap did ye get that pile o' junk? Did you just come back from the bone-yard ? There was no reply and the two men climbed out along the wagon tongues and met for a consultation. There could have been no greater contrast all around. The one team large, handsome and spiritedg the other decrepit and weak, one wagon and harness new and bright, the other dilapi- dated, worn and eked out with baling wire. The difference between the two men, one

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lf? -g.....--- ........................-....,.f..s, f I.aa...........-.a.a-....xaa. is -. , H-M--3: ..a.......,a.........-...... ,,.:?:3?3.fiii t:i2vMiZ'3jj'.'.Q f- f1 '1:.g.i?.::z- f :1.':zrr.1.:a4:.:-:::r?-::':'-1:?-::.v:--, .--..,..- :A-:.'.:.'::::'-1' 4... .. , .' ' ' A'...,::: I' ' ' ' . .S ' nn:::::.: iLZI'-'.1'Q:f?fI:l'Ifi' L--- ',.i,:Z..'..-..-.--.. 'h ::::a4-.a.:::::... ':.:---....-. i .frqpjlr-rffgirl-- L:'f1 fs -if-' 5 .f.....::i -.-..aan-.....-.-..-....f...,-...--. ,W ,, : AL . -V . small, as I have said, the other big and strong in the possession of over six feet of self-reliance was even greater. VVhy, it's old Rocky Mountain Joe! exclaimed the owner of the blacks. Put her ther, old skate. Going over to look for gold? No use. Nothin' doin'. I just been over there. You'd better come back with me. ' Come back with you? Tl1e old man's voice shook. NVhat of them-them old hosses o' mine, what I been with so long! Oh, Bill, if you're a man, give me a square deal! I know you got all the advantage. You can do as you please with me. But you wouldn't! You wouldn't! The old man flung himself against the other and clutched him by the throat, screaming: You wouldn't! in a nervous voice between a command and an entreaty. The younger pushed him easily aside. Haul in on the bit there, Joe! Hold your infernal temper. Do you mean to compare your outfit with mine, for a minute? Why my two blacks could buy a thousand of those old stiifsf' I know, I know, said the old man, clutching Bill eagerly by the hand. But I love 'em, I raised them old fellows from when they was little colts, and as fine a pair as any o' their weight. Many a cold and stormy night I've took 'em into my cabin, to keep them out 0, the blizzard, and often they've pulled me out of a bad hole. VVhen I had money I fed 'em good, too, and when I didn't they rustled for themselves. And to see 'em go now! I can't stand it, Bill. You've got to give me a chance! You're a square man. Often I've hearn tell o' you, and thaey say you're all right. You wouldn't do a mean thing just because ther ain't nobody here and you can get away with it. The old man's trembling voice was elo- quent with persuasion. The-younger looked about thoughtfully. His glance rested on ., .V .. V W -.. ,, .--. Y.. -- -.-- .. the broken down mule and blind horseg turned and looked proudlyvon his own hand- some team and finally took in the pleading figure of the bent, old prospector. He saw no adversary in himg and it would be but the work of a moment to start him and his whole outfit head long to destruction over the yawning precipice. It was growing dark and there was no time to lose. Well, Joej, he drawled slowly at last. Of course, I'll treat you white. You know the rule around here when two men meet in a place like this. We'1l leave it to the cards. He drew from his pocket a greasy pack, while the other's eyes sparkled dimly with the light of hope. Come, you draw first. Age before beauty, Joe. H'e attempted to laugh. The ace is high and the low man goes over. D'ye understand ? No, you first, Bill, said the older, agi- tated but shrewd. I want to know what I got to beat. Oh, all right. The choice is yours? The two men sat down in the rocky rut and prepared coolly and grimly for this lottery of life and death. Each carefully shuffled the deck in turn and they agreed upon the rules. Less than four cards or closer than four from the bottom is no cut. said Bill. The other assented. At last they were ready and the former lifted a few of the cards from the pack and placed them face downward on the ground. Wl1at did you get, Bill? Let's see. The old man reached forward eagerly, but was quickly repelled. Go ahead and draw. This is no game of stud. The hermit lifted the deck and made two or three moves to cut, but each time hesi- I Seventy-three