The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-07-01

L
inventing excuses, we handed him the
"white bass"
He pulled them out one by one and
as he did so quietly remarked:
"Say, young man, where did you say
you caught them?"
In the Mississippi, near the mouth of
the St. Croix river.
"Haint these fish somewhat too full
for white bass?"
Not in the least; that is, not for this
end of the river.
"Well," he replied, somewhat puz-
zled, 81 didn't think it made any diff
ference as to breadth of body whether
they were caught in this part of the
river or at the mouth of the Missouri.
But where in the name of God are the
black lines that run parallel with the
length of the fish?'
In answer to your first query you
perhaps know that the Missouri has
the reputation of being exceedingly
muddy, and, according to recent stat
istics, the fish very often starve to
death before they can find food in its
dirty waters. This accounts for their
thinness of body when caught in that
vicinity. Up here the water is as clear
as crystal and the result is the fish are
somewhat larger. AS to them not hav-
ing stripes it is nothing remarkable or
strange. In these parts the river bed
consists of sandy bottom and in some
places the water is so shallow that the
fish completely wear off the stripes
while crossing the sand bars.
AS l told him this extraordinary
phenomenon, it seemed to arouse his
yankee blood. He seized the ice chisel
and commenced hammering away
where the lucky stones are located and,
after cracking the heads of half dozen
and cycling the other half very closely
he was forced to admit that they were
white bass, but a very peculiar species.
After filling our pockets with apples,
stick candy and our interior depart
ment with goodly supply of lemon
ade, we departed with the precious
recipe stored in the depths of our jeans
which was to help us obtain the nee
essary funds to carry out our adven-
ture.
The above transactions were con-
summated in the closing days of May
and for the next few days we didn't
stop hardly long enough in making our
preparations for the coming holiday to
even give the flies time to light upon
us.
Our eighteen carat lemonade was a
decided success. 1t netted us more
than sufficient to carry out our plans
in regard to the Fourth. All Fourth
of July celebrations, you know, usually
end with a brilliant display of fire.
works. Here was the pivot upon which
rested all our hopes and ambitions,
and the object aimed at was his "royal
highness," the chief of police At his
hands the youth and helpless had suf-
fered many cruel taunt and insult.
| He was as vain as peacock and as
ignorant as good juryman should be.
One of his pet theories-one that he
put into practice quite frequently
that he considered those who fell into
his power as legitimate prey. He was
gambler, a blackmailer, highway
man and a modern bluebeard. After
gathering in all the wandering derelicts
to be found upon the streets, and lock-
ing them behind the bars, this midnight
pirate would deliberately rob the help.
less victims.
Within our diminutive brain some
fertile genie evolved the idea of wreak.
ing vengeance in a manner that would
be duly appreciated by grown folks as
we'll as the younger element. After
considerable diplomatic effort we sue
ceeded in purloining the usual "6nale'
piece of the pyrothecnic display and
replaced it with one we knew would be
more thoroughly enjoyable to all.
The Fourth arrived at last, and as we
watched the butchers preparing the
roasted OK and gazed on the parade