Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1878-12-12

fish. | had the best fish cooked for
supper, portion of which I sent to
Mrs. Bland, who seemed to partake of
it with relish. | was not idiot enough
to think, though it was three hours ago
that the lady was especially pleased
with my attention, but in the evening
"a fine mOonlit one-Mrs. Bland ling
cred on the verandah. I was smoking
a cigar, sitting at the bottom of the
steps within speaking distance of her.
you very kindly offered me the use
of Mr.. BANDS tackle. Now, you have
not congratulated me on my luck" /
said.
u do, L do" said Mrs. Bland quickly,
with a certain amount of expansiveness.
She rose from her chair and held out
her hand, and it fairly trembled. / was
surprised. What possible sympathy
could there exist between us? | did not
care to have even a passing Irritation
with her. How the deuce had my fish
called for so marked an expression on
the part of Mrs. Bland?
Give blue fish, which would weigh
80 pounds, not counting the weak fish,
and dab or So" | said, in the most
commonplace way.
eyes, yes" said Mrs. Bland appar-
emily absorbed.
"But | have broken my squid, my
best one, and [ would really like to
borrow hook or SO to make another
Could you really lend me some hooks
until [ send to New York I'
"Willingly, wait here NOM ent," and
Mrs. Bland rose and went down the hall
to her room. Just then David, the col
lored waiter, came. in with telegraph
message for Mrs. Bland. She returned
at once, took the message, and read it
| under the hall lamp; then she went to
her room.
"David," | said to the waiter, Il did
not know that you could telegraph to
such an out of the way place as this. !"
ut amt often that it's done, sir. The
telegraph office on the road is fourteen
sages sent by the coach-though Mrs
BANDS message comes on horseback,
with man a-kiting."
1t was none of my business how Mrs.
BANDS messages came, though now ]
remembered that on her hotel bill there
were several charges for telegraph mes
Sages. In a moment more Mrs. Bland
was down stairs, holding in her hand
quite a number of large hooks. 1t was
not my fault, but the lady had taken up
with the package a small fly hook,
which, as she opened the parcel, pune
tured rosy first finger, SO that a drop
of blood started.
Il am so sorry" [ said. MAY | not
+b1, of -
"What! with the hook in my finger :?
Pull it out, please; no fuss" Here Mrs.
Bands face looked rigid, and the ridges
between her eyes made q series of arch
ings.
''But, but" [ explained, really dis
turbed, Il can't pull it out. Can you
bear the merest cut with my pen
knife?"
Can l ? Nonsense; Of course I can,"
and she held out taper white finger,
and | felt my heart sink within me as 1
made careful probe, and, fortunately
extricating the barb, drew out the hook,
which deliberately placed in my peck
et-book. "Would Mrs. Bland faint
now" asked myself
"a glass of water" | said anxiously.
"What for? TO dip my finger in :?
Ridiculous! [ will put it in my mouth.
Please do not destroy your pocket hand
kerchief. You will excuse my sucking
my finger like baby while l talk.
There it is all over now, young gentle
man. L never scream at q mouse, or
go into Mysteries over a caterpillar, and
do not blink at lightning"
You are very brave little woman,
then. Here, take this Geographic mes
sage which you have dropped" and |
handed the message to her.
Il heard the waiter tell you Ireceived
ten messages a day. Now, can you put
that together with my dozen newspa-
papers ?"
Il cannot-I do not care to. 1t is not
any of my business, Mrs. Bland. [ am
not curious" | replied
"WeU, 1 am-very much so-and my
business is tO-ah!-" here she stopped,
for just then David rang a bell, which
meant that the stage coach with the pas
sengers from the railroad was coming.
The coach stopped at the house first,
and then continued its journey to
small tavern further up the coast.
You were saying, Mrs. Bland-pray
continue"
"Ali | can tell you is this, sir, that in
that coacn you will find man you
hardly expected to see. Go and look"
With that Mrs. Bland famed herself
quite composedly. and left the room.
went to the coach, not understand
ing what the woman meant. Some
three women got out of the vehicle.
followed by an old gentleman who had
to be helped out-evidently an invalid.
On the box with the driver was a man
who, as l approached, lit a fuse, and
with it cigar. His face | did not re-
cognize. / then felt some little curiosity
to find out what Mrs. Bland meant about
the "mau | hardly expected to Sec" /
did peer into the coach. / was aided
by David, who, with a lantern, was
looking for parasol one of the lady
passengers had left. There was man,
apparently asleep. Though it was sum-
mer, a handkerchief was partially
thrown over his face. One glimpse was
enough Though his whiskers had been
cut, and his reddish hair stained black,
it was the face Of George Harland, the
| assistant teller of our bank! He looked
at me in an agonized way, then put his
fingers to his lips and said in a low
broken voice:
My God. Henry, am thief, trying
to escape-to escape. [ know they are
after me-" Then he shuddered. 81 am
mad-crazed-have lost my head. You
here? Do not betray mer'
"To Dickerson's!' cried the driver,
and off went the coach. From Dicker-
sons l knew that small fishing boats