Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1884-11-25


more serious case than any preceding one.
bu, Charlie wAs simply desperate. and
would have elang TO the maddes, device
suggested. as drosning man clutches
At straw. 50 be 10, Jack R.gsles into
a quie, corner. and there, over sherry
and -biiiers. he laid the facts Of the case
before him.
"wsn." aid Jack. when Charlie bad
Concluded. Ill certainly is an awkward
case. and il would be deuoed hard line. for
you 10 have TO chuck up sll thoughts of
marrying a nice and pretty girl like Mi's
Thornton for such tribe IA, I've got
fsllows cat q far worse holes before nov.
and | dAresay | shan't fail this time"
"YOa are good t-llo~. Jack. upon my
~ord you are" said Charlie. en,husiAs-
t.ealy "bu', by Jove, II you Sc, me ou,
Of this you'u be a genius"
Jack ~as silent for few moments and
pufed vigorously a, bis cigar A, lsns'h
be aid
IL say. Charlie. isn't the old man q
regular maniac fo' h,hins :"
Rather ." replied Charlie. "Hs takes
a holiday abOa, three times week on
purpose to f.h. lie starts oG after break.
IA, ~i,h bis hamper aud a jT Of beer.
and 80. IN pun, until evening. SAL.
nov he. 70, ,hi. wr,ehsd steam lAaneh
I expect he'll OF ~i,h the Old love and
on With The nss. Ba, -ha, has hshing
TO DO With the sahj-ci Ia hand."
Never you mind just nO-." answered
hi. friend. "bu, yoa gill had oa' from
Mis. Thorn,on When her father nsS, in
,snd. 10 - ou, in bis pant. and where
he j. likely 10 be. and then send me tel.
esr,m 10 Claigv. Street. and III tell yoa
~hsi 10 Do"
Charlie h.d sash implicit faith in Jack
Ragsle', ingenuity ,ha, be ~ens home
,hs, evening inA comparatively happy
frame q nind.
lie wro,, 20 Doris the fs, thing the
nssi morning. and ia the evening 20, =
reply 20 the Eject ihs, Mr.. Thorn,on ~a'
already making PrPais,ions for Ions
day'. fishing upon tie Wednesday FOL-
losing. lie ,elssr.phsd Immediately TO
Jack Raggles. snd received the fOllo~ins
reply
Keep close 20 bin. bs, out OF sight, al
about 6 O'Clock in th- evening
Charlie ~ondefsd What on earth hi'
friend. scheme could BE-. ba, resolved to
obey Instruction.. lie knes very well
that Mr. Tbornion's happy han,ins
ground vas secluded back water, "a.
noa. fo' teach and perch. a couple Of
hundred yards above ,se lAsn Of hi.
house. Thiiter be repaired. 'ieslihily.
Ike man bent on an evil efr.nd. q,
aboa, Eve O'Clock. and took up a position
upon rough riverside path. ~ell-nish
hidden from sish, by bushes aud foliage,
whence be- could observe the enthusiastic
Old fisherman wiihog, being seen him.
self
The old gentleman was sitting like q
~sS 6suie ia hi. punt, ~iih large ci-
gar in bis mouth and rod ia hand. when
Charlie suisel. 50 completely absorbed
"a. Mr. Thorn'on in bis sport. ,hs, q
regimen, might have dehled behind him
without attracting bis notice Charlie
watched him until di.,An, church clock
chimsd the quarter 10 six.
lie then .a~ the old gentleman take
oa, hi. watch. look a, il A,,eniively. and
after few moments hesitation, slosly
aud reluctantly begin 10 pack up hi. rod
and line and pa, his ParaPhernalia TO.
ge'her
Charlie began to ge, anxious. What
ever plan Jack Rssgle. eOneoc,ed would
have to BE- carried into execution quickly
OF il would be too late.
Al last Mr.. Thorn,on had arranged BIZ
tackle and united the pan,-Poles, and Vas
pushing of in,o mid stream.
Charlis's heart sank. bat be erep,
swiftly forsard to a little Promontory ic
~sieh the old sen,leman faithfully. &C.
cording - instructions. until six o'clock
Mr. Thorn,On. being old and obese.
pun,ed .losly and ~i,h difficulty. and a.
the clock struck ak be bad no, yet Got
out Of shAllos water So in,en, was
Charlie. hossver, in looking =, him. that
be did no, perceive the dark outline Of a
steam launch coming directly down uPor
the punt. and be Was only made aware
Of the fact by seeing the old gentleman
wav, one arm vigorously and by hearing
him shout Justify =, the same time thai
be endesvorsd 10 ge, hi. un~ieldly punt
back out Of the ~sy. But !, vas too late
the boz Of The launch wen, gently asains
the punt. though with sutheien, force &
Ill, !, up. With which mOvemen, the PoO'
old stock broker WAS sen, Aoundering int
the water. yelling msdly as he went.
Quick a. though, Charlie dashed in
The water Was fortunately barely up q
nj. waist. - be seired Mr.. Thornton un
der the arms. and after much sPlsshinl
and shouting and fa-. 20, him first in,S
the pun, and then on the s,sam-launeh
The 6r.t person Charles saw on board
was Jack Raggles. who. behind the res
caed stock brokers' back. vas impressinl
silence and non-recognirlon BY energeti