The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1888-05-04
Ne Caught a Sucker,


Stockton Mail.
"Bill Charters was very original
man-that is, if lie was out of a Job
he'd devise some way OF Ills own to
procure the wherewithal to keep a
fire in the CRATE and provisions in the
pantry" said man in a Main street
cigar store the other night. "Bill was
also fond OF fishing. On winter even.
ings at home, if he had nothing better
to do, he would haul out his fishing
tackle and inspect it thoroughly, and
then, after making two or three new
tangled fly hooks. he'd place the out.
fit back in its box, at the same time
knowing that he'd be unable to use
his tackle for probably six months.
"3ill lived in Boston when | first
knew him. That was eighteen or
twenty years ago. lie was a tin.
smith by trade. went up one night
to see him concerning some work he
has been engaged on several days.
Bill was in the dining room examining
his fishing tackle when entered. Aft.
err settling our tinsmithins business he
began explaining the various methods
used to catch the various species of
iinny tribe. This hook was fine for
trout in the early morning, that
brown tackle was immense at noon
when the sun was shining, and that
white moth lily hook was simply per.
lection in the evening, Just about the
time the sun was setting.
"One huge batch OF hooks attracted
my attention. There were probably
thirty very small eychoolls. all sewed
securely to IL jagged piece OF cloth
strong drilling -about the size OF your
hand.
".Bill,' said ], taking the hook.cov-
cred cloth i'll my hand, did you ever
catch any fish with this arrange
ment?
"'Ies, sir, he answered with alargh,
Il caught a sucker on that collection
last fall that weighed 16O pounds
"' Where aud how?' asked, hard
ly knowing what Bill meant, as l had
never seen sucker that weighed more
than three or four pounds.
"'Just this way, replied Bill. One
night my wife and decided to 20 to
the theatre. When We reached the
box Office there was IL perfect Jam Of
people. | left my wife near the door
while struggled bravely to reach the
ticket window. asked for two dress
circle tickets.an.l when put my hand
in my pocket to get the money TO pay
for them discovered that my pocket
hook was gone. 'Stolen.' exclaimed
|, and retrcated.'
"'Mrs. Charters and walked home.
She felt disappointed; she wanted to
see the play. a thought struck me in.
stantly,and Just as quickly as possible
] put my plan into execution. Turn.
ing my money pocket inside out |
hastily sewcd all the small fish hooks
had to the inside OF that pocked in
such IL manner that when my pocket
WAS showed back to it's proper posi-
and pointed downwavds.
III took some more money with me
but placed it in another pocket
and again We started for the thea.
tire. There we're still considerable OF a
crowd in the neishborhood of the box
office, and once more Ibeaan cdging my
way through for the purpose OF secur-
ing tickets. allowed my fish hook
money pocket to take care of itself.
"'Just as | was being handed my
tickets felt bite. l tried to turn
around when found ! had hooked a
very fine sucker in the shape OF a well
dressed man who wore II Shiny tile.
paid no attention to his Juggling ut
my pocket, az knew after one or two
tugs he'd quit. When reached my
wife she said: civilian, who is this
gentleman with your" told her he
was very particular friend OF mine.
"'An officer standing at the door
accompanied my friend and me,
ut my request into an adjoining room
where explained matters. Irecover-
ed my pocketbook and grcenbacks. 1t
was keeping company with seven 9TH
err similarly situated purses. Ihad to
cut the pocket out to have the thief
handed over 10 the officer but it was
returned to me after the doctor sue.
ceeded i'll getting the hooks out OF the
fellows hand
eyes continued Bill, he was the
biggest sucker ever caught-must
have weighed ut least 100 pounds.
And this is no fish story. either"