Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-10-28

anything like that. I'll tend to my
business, treat everybody right, and ex-
pect the same from everybody. Now
let's all be good fellows and let II 20 At
that"
This little speech, delivered with the
utmost good nature, as well as unem.
barrassed emphasis, created q profound
sensation with everybody in general
and Dave Gallup in particular. He
gazed upon her with species Of awe.
In detailing to himself, later in the
evening, her points," he declared her
to be probably rs years old, features
regular, body supple and indicative Of
great strength, lips thin and nose aqui.
line On the whole, not bad looking.
On the whole, well put up" On the
whole, "the right sort" Just one pos
sible objection, Miss Jones had fiery red
hair, and she twisted it in vicious knot
on the extreme top of her head.
And that night Dave Gallup dreamed
Of a red-headed woman. Yes, gentle
reader, Cupid had taken to the woods.
The courtship was unique, although
characteristic. Dave cut the dryest
cedar for kindling the kitchen fire and
Miss Jones was pleased to acknowledge
the courtesy. The finest fish that Dave
caught in early morning hours was "es-
pecially for you, Miss Tilly'-for Dan
rapidly in the matter of ad-
dressing his lady love. At night they
would sit out on the porch and, be-
tween killing mosquitoes and telling
ilshy yarns, got along very comforta-
bly,. Several times Dave and Miss
Jones went out for bass or "muskies"
together. Dawes love grew to adora-
ton when he found Miss Jones handled
q rod as well as any man he knew.
All this spring the stories of the
golden bass" kept coming to Dave and
Miss Jones became deeply interested in
the mighty inhabitant of Clear lake.
She urged Dave to 60, but he jealously
regarded her requests. Miss Jones was
not without admirers other than Dave.
The green-eyed demon whispered that
were he to pack off to Clear lake an
other might capture the prize at home.
Red hair was more potent than the
gold band about the body Of a l4-pound
bass. The fish had grown.
One day Miss Jones landed sO-pound
'muskie.' She did it in most approved
style. Dawes heart seemed to beat
within him. He threw himself on his
knees in the wet bottom of the boat
and, disregarding the struggles Of Miss
Jones' catch-he being in great dam
ger from the monsters iins--announced
his passion.
Miss Jones heard him calmly. Dave
that she ask him to prove his
ove. And Matilda took him up with
A promptness that made his head swim.
go bring me the golden bass and
I'm your'n," is what she said.
"Darn'd II | DON'T replied Dave
And this was the betrothal.
A blood red sun rose majestically
rom n dense mass Of green. 1t forced
through the gently waving pinetops,
bars of carmine light and glinted the
indigo ripples Of Clear lake. On the
are morning ulr arose the song of the
narten and the hum Of millions of in
iects' Partridge, kissed by the morn
ny light, drumned in the swamp or
With a whirr swept along the bank.
lcross the southern bay little craft
mt Tire blue waters. The sun lit up the
eatures OF I'illy Jones and Dave Gal
up. The former rowed, The latter
leld bending rod. oaor.et41Ar.5T"
The west bank was reached and thy
woman slowly and noisclessly held the
raft in a parallel course along the
hore' The morning passed. Exciting
port at other times, Dave hauled in
core OF lighting bass and muskellunge,
nd cursed each strike. The one strike
ear to his ambitious hopes came not.
For three days the couple potroled
he home Of the golden bass"
On the morning Of the fourth day II
appened. lilly at the oars saw some
hlng leap at the whirling spoon 20
ards behind in the wake of the craft,
he saw Dave Gallup's face turn white.
NV the slender split bamboo bend in o
raceful curve and then, with eyes glis-
ming, sat quiet to witness q battle
lch as never even she dreamed posi-.
lie. The golden bass" was reality.
he golden bass had been hooked.
landing In the stern of the boat Dave
allup, his GOODNESS all returned, played
lat bass in a way that sent Tilly's heart
} humping. With the point of the
lpple rod high above the water so that
le line played well upon the ieweled
'arlngs Of the reel Dave gave the bass
$ head. The flimsy silk cut the water
It'll razor-lke slash as the fish darted
n midake. The reel seemed propelled
electricity 1tgave a whirring sound
at denoted tremendous speed. Held
ght against the punctured mouth of
e great bass was the cruel spoon.
OF a thousandth part Of an inch was
ven slack. The line was almost run
1t ere Gallup pressed his thumb to
IN the bass course. The fish kept fly.
~ toward tho main xuotara TIL, ,,u,