Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-06-04

takes holiday about three times a
week on purpose to fish. He starts
off after beakfast with big hamper
and jar of beer, and he sits in a
punt until evening. Still, now he's
| got this wretched steam launch, [ ex-
pect 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 yon find out
from Miss Thornton when her father
next intends to go out in his punt,
and where he's likely to be, and then
send me telegram to Charges street,
ann I'll tell you what to do.
Charlie had such implicit faith
in Jack Raggles ingenuity that he
went home that evening In a com>
paratively happy frame of mind.
| He wrote to Doris the first thing
the next morning, and ia the even
ing got reply to the effect that Mr.
| Thornton was already making prep
arations for a long days fishing upon
the following Wednesday. He tele-
graped Immediately to Jack Raggles,
and received the following reply:
Keep close to him, but out of
sight, at O'clock in the evening""
Charlie wondered what on earth his
riena's scheme could be. but resolved
to obey instructions. He knew very
well that Mr.. Thornton's happy hunt
Ing ground was a secluded backwater,
famous for tench and. perch, about a
couple of hundred yards above the
lawn of his house. Thither he re-
paired stealthily, like a man bent
upon an evil Grand, at about o'clock,
and took up position upon rough
riverside path, we'll nigh hidden from
sight by bushes and foliage, whence
he could observe the enthusiastic old
fishermen without being seen himself.
The old gentleman was sitting like a
wax figure in his punt, with large
cigar in his mouth and rod ia hand,
when Charlie arrived. So completely
absorbed was MIR. Thornton in his
sport that a regiment might have de-
filed behind him without attracting
his notice. Charlie watched him I'M
til distant church clock chimed the
quarter to 6.
He then saw the old gentleman take
out his watch, look at it attentively,
and after few moments hesitation
slowly and reluctantly begin to pick
up his rod and line and put his parap-
hernalia together.
Charlie began to get anxious.
Whatever plan Riggles had concocted
would have to be carried into execu>
ton quickly or it would be too late.
At last Mr.. Thornton had arranged
his tackle and united his punt poles
and was pushing off into the stream
Charles heart sank but he crept
swiftly forward to little promontory
to watch the old gentleman faithfully,
according to instructions, until six
o'clock.
Mr.. Thornton, being old and obese,
punted slowly and with difficulty, and
as the clock struck he had not yet
got out of shallow water. So intent
was Charlie, however, in looking at
him that he did not perceive the dark
outline of a steam launch coming di-
rectly down upon the punt, and he
was only made aware of the fact by
seeing the old gentleman wave one
arm vigorously and by hearing him
shout Justify at the same time that
he endeavored to get kis unwieldly
punt back out of the way. But it was
too late; the bow of the launch went
gently against the punt, though with
sufficient force to tilt it up, with
which movement the poor old stock
broker was sent foundering into the
water, yelling madly as he went.
Quick as thought Charlie dashed in.
The water was fortunately barely up
to his waist, so he seized Mr.. Thornton
under the arms, and, after much
splashing and shouting and fuss, got
him first into the punt and then on
board the steam launch.
| The first person Charlie saw on
board was Jack Raggles, who behind
| the rescued stock brokers' back, was
impresslng silence and nor recogni-
ton by energetic gestures.
Directly Mr.. Thornton felt himself
firmly on his feet be burst into VIC
lent passion, which was in no way
appeased by the approach Of Jack
Raggles, whom he did not know,
with the most admirable expression
of contrition on his face, and the
words I'm sure I'm awfully sorry,
SIR" on his lips.
''Sorry, STRIP roared the old gentle
man, so you ought to be, sirl I con-
slider it positively Ubiquitous and
abominable that man can't go out
for days fishing without being run
into by lot of cockneys who have
no more idea of handling a steam
launch than they have of handling a
balloon And I shall take the earliest
opportunity, sir, of laying the matter
before the authorities, in order that
such unwarrantable interference with
liberty of the subject may be immedi.
ateIy put stop to. It is abominable,
sir, abominable!"
''Can put you ashore anywhere7'
asked Jack, deferentlally.
Yes. sir, you can, as soon as pos
sible, and before catch my death of
cold," replied the old gentleman.
You see those steps ahead, sir?"
II do" replied Jack.
well, then, if you can see those
steps, how the devil was it that you
CON IHn't SEQ n1o2" said Mr. THORNTON