The Penn's Grove record., 1884-09-20

dUOuJ SJedll lduuCubS.
In the evening he went to his club,
where he met with an old schoOlfellow,
Jack Raggles. Now Jack Raggles, al
though continually in difficulty himself,
was famous for his ingenuity in getting
other men out of their troubles. More
than once had Charlie been obliged to
have recourse to him for advice, and he
had never regretted it. This was a far
more serious case than any preceding
one, but Charlie was simply desperate,
and would have chung to the maddest
device suggested, as a drowning man
clutches to a straw. So he got Jack
Raggles INTO a quiet corner, and there,
over d sherry-and-bitters he laid the
facts of the case before him.
well" said Jack, when Charlie had
concluded, at certainly is an awkward
case and it would be deuced hard lines
for you to have to chuck up all thoughts
of marrying a nice and pretty girl like
Miss Thornton for such a trife. But
I've got fellows out of far worse holes
before now and l dare say | shan't fail
this time"
"You are a good fellow, Jack, upon
my Wort you are" said Charlie enthu-
s~iastically; ''but by Jove, if you get me
out of this you'll be a genlus."'
Jack was silent for a few moments
and pulled vigorously at his cigar. At
length he said:
Il say, Charlie, isn't the old man a
regular maniac for ishing?"
Rather" replied Charlie. He
takes a holiday about three times a
week on purpose to fish. He starts off
after breakfast with a big hamper and
a jar of beer, and sits in a punt until
evening. Still, nov he's got this wret-
ched steam-lRunch, l expect he'll off
with the old love and on with The new.
But what has fishing to do with the
subject in hand?"
"Never you mind just now" ans
wered his friend; ''but you find out from
Miss Thornton when her father next
intends to go out in his punt, and where
he is likely to be, and then send me a
telegram to Charges street, and 1 Il tell
you what to do"
Charlie had such implicit faith in
Jack Raggles' ingenuity that he went
home that evening in a comparatively
happy frame of mind.
He wrote to DORIS the first thing the
next morning, and in the evening got a
reply to the effect that Nj. Thornton
was already making preparations for a
long days fishing on the Wednesday
following. He telegraphed immedi-
ately to Jack Raggles, and received the
following reply:
keep close to him, but oat of sight,
at about 6 o'clock In the evening""
Charlie wondered what on earth his
friends scheme could be, but resolved
to obey instructions. lie knew very
well that Mr.. Thornton's happy hunting
ground was a secluded back-water, IA
nous for fench and perch, about a cou-
pie of hundred yards above the lawn Of
his house. Thither he repaired, steal.
thily, like a man bent upon an evil er-
rand, at about 5 O'Clock, and took up a
position upon a rough riverside path,
well nigh hidden from sight by rushes
and foliage, whence he could observe
the enthusiastic cid fisherman without
being seen himself. The old gentleman
was sitting like a wax figure in his
punt, with a large cigar in his mouth
and rod in hand, when Charlie arrived.
So completely absorbed was Mr.. Thorn
ton in his sport that a regiment might
have defled behindhim without attract
ing his notice. Charlie watched him
until a distant church clock chimed the
quarter to 6.
He then saw the old gentleman take
out ms watch, look at it attentively,
and after a few moments hesitation,
slowly and reluctantly begin to pack
up his rod and line and put his para
phernalia together.
Charlie began to get anxious. WHAT
even plan Jack Raggles had ~concocted
would have to be carried into execution
quickly or it would be too late,
AT last Mr.. Thornton had arranged
his tackle and united the punt poles,
and was pushing off into mid-stream,
Charles heart sank, but he crept
swiftly to a little promonotory to watch
the old gentleman faithfully, according
to instructions, until 6 O'Clock.
Mr.. Thornton beng old and obese.
punted slowly and with difficulty, and
as the clock struck g he had not yet got
out of shallow water. So intent was
Charlie however. in looking 1t him,
that he did not perceive the dark out
line of a steam launch coming directly
down upon the punt, and he was only
made aware of the fact by seeing the
old gentleman wav one arm vigorously
and by hearing him shout Justify, at