Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-06-20
THE PHANTOM TROUT.
ny A. LIVINGSTONE.

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been the Day Of Fools! Why, no one in
particular seems to know. There are
patron saints for everyone from the
prelate to the thief, but who is the
saint Of All-Fools2" Thus spoke Tom
Marks, one Of a merry trio Of trout
fishers who had journeyed up into
Sullivan county, New York state, to
fish on the LIST Of April, only to find
that the waters Of their chosen dis
trict could not lawfully be hshed until
the 10Th Of the month, and that they
must Journey many weary mile
across country before they reached
district where the open season began
on All-Fool's day. The change Of loca-
tlon was not accomplished until late
in the evening and, although hopes
were bright for the next days sport,
there was considerable grumbling at
lost time.
The party had gathered around the
fire enjoying that peace which pipe
brings after good supper, when
Toms question was asked. In the
corner Of the fireplace was the Oldest
member Of the party tying flies, lie
looked up. "Well, you boys knew all
about 1t, and l left 1t to you until we
were on the cars, but as soon as you
said 'Sunnyside' said to myself
'Hoodoo, and, mind you, | had my rea.
sons"
"What were they?" chorused the
other two
"A story now Is as good as at any
other time, and as we are properly
April fools this time Heaven forbid
that the boys ever hear Of itO, I'll tell
you story Of twenty years ago, when
/ was fishing In this very county. !
hired a man to show me the good
spots, and he was worth his hire, for
there was less open water than there
is now, and did not care for bait fsh-
Ing. The next morning saw US of for
the stream, and very good sport we
had.
"My guide proved to be q quaint,
garrulous fellow, who had lived up In
those tangles for about sixty years,
and remembered plenty Of strange hap
penings and changes. ! drew many
yarn out of him at lunch and at nights.
One day | was casting down by q curl
GUS old piece Of ruined brickwork that
looked as If It might have been built by
Chris. Colum. and had been there
ever since. Pat, the man, had
gone into the woods to try and locate
patch Of water be had lost track Of,
and was to keep up stream until he
overlook me. When he came along
and found me seated on that brick
wall he nearly dropped, and begged
me to come away, adding that he had
no Idea would get up 30 far or he
would hova heen hack sooner. Then he
"o1.s 49, -. v.ta
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"" ~. rarn he told ma The wall
was part Of a very old brick house,
built during the British occu-
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