Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1896-07-30
(Continued)


RIVER side. A basement window
locked cut upon the river. 1t was
open few inches The doctor went 10
the extreme end of the strip of rock.
Beyond that the foundation walls rose
directly from the river. He braced
himself against the building. and found
mat 1t was possible TO lay one hand on
the window ledge.
1t was therefore possible for an a,h.
Ietlc man to enter the house by way of
ms window, but not even so slender a
man as Mr.. Philbrck could have
crowded through the narrow opanine
made by the partly raised window
he may have lowered it after get
ing inside thought the doctor, and in
inc same instant it occurred to him n
wonder whether MIR. PhilbricK had Wet
ms feet while dangling from the win
90" ledge before passing through If
ne had, the floor within would Ia
marked by his tracks.
Inc doctor was tempted to try to fol-
low the invader by the same route hut
III the brief moment while he was de.
patlhg the matter his attention was at
tracted by musical PUNK, as of some
small obpect falling into the water he.
hind him. Turning about he saw a
slender line extending above the piazza
into the stream.
with hot sense of confusion and dis
comhture, he retraced his way cautious
~ to the piazza steps and mounted. He
then strolled, with a fine assumption of
hdlHerence, to the river side, and
there. picturesquely huddled upon the
piazza rail, with his heels caught
against the posts his head down be
tween his shoulders, his eyes placidly
observing the bobbing of his float. sat
Mr. Philbrick. There was short pine
in his mouth, his tishermans basket
lay on the piazza back of him. and his
sensitive rod quivered with the vibra-
tons caused by the current.
DR.. Williams walked on SLOWLY. and
sat down on the rail, back to the
stream, hear the angler Mr.. Philbrick
never moved.
Just had promising bite, he muir
INJURED between his teeth. for he kept
his grip on the pipe. Guess you scared
him away"
He spoke as unconcernedly as if the
doctor were his companion for days
sport, and had been with him uninter-
ruptedly
Sorry" said the doctor.
"Oh, never mind; he'll come again
if he's anything like the perch | used
to catch when was a boy"
The float continued to dance prettIly
on the waVelets, and for several sec.
onds the doctor kept his head turned
toward the stream, watching the line
with disquieting fascination. He was
at loss to say or do, but he held grim
Fairview until the professor and his
family had returned
"Pah. pah! pah!" pulled Mr.. Phil
brick in vigorous endeavor to inspire
his pipe with more activity. Say, doc
tor, hold my line minute, will you?
My COMPOUNDED pipe don't draw"
Without waiting for assent, he
hitched around on the rail, still cling,
Ing by his heels, and put the rod IN
the doctors hands. DR.. Williams re
sented the familiarity of TIE action,
but, utterly urprepared for it, and feel
ing himself at a disadvantage, he held
the rod as requested He heartily
wished that the rod mad accidentally
dropped into the river during the trans
fer but once 1t was in his grip he
would have been but half a man had he
let it go. 1t was a Neautirul specimen
of tho anglers outfit-ligft. sensitive,
and strong and as he felt it's tiny vi
brations Dr.. Williams actually wished
he were fishing himself. 1t brought
back the careless joys of his boyhood.
and he was conscious of envying the
man who sat near him digging at his
pipe wlrn pcckct-knife, muttering
half serious. half comic objrgations on
the comfort giving article.
Suddenly the doctor wheeled about
and stood up. There is nc sense in
holding a rod with ono's back TO the
stream. If ore must have a rod in his
Unwilling hands, he might as well go
the whole BUSINESS and attend to 1t.
The float was away under water, and
when it bobbed cut of sight the doctor
had felt that thrilling culver along the
pole than which there is nothing TO STIR
a mans blood more keenly, unless u be
the gentle pressure Of a maiden's hand.
Mr. Philbrick stopped digging his
pipe, and looked on interestedly. Inc
reel was clicking merrily as the doctor
wound and wound, watching the water
where the line shot back and forth, and
feeling the steady tug OF Mr.. Fish as he
was drawn nearer and nearer the sur
face They caught flashing glimps'
of his scaly body as he turned frantic
ally beneath the water The doctor $
forehead moistened with glorious eX-
element
It's a dandy, Doc" exclaimed Mr.
Philbrick. dropping his knife and pipe,
and getting down from the rail. Swing
him close in, and I'll help you land
him.
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