The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-16

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in watery blanket for its own amuse-
ment. and il was hard to believe that
they were making any progress But
with each wave the oars took the water
straight and true. and the pounding
noise of the breakers against the log
boom began to recede behind them.
Elizabeth saw that Mason was head
ing straight across the lake, where
bigger and wilder waves were waiting
for them. She was not frightened. but
she knew that it must be terribly hard
work pulling against such a gale
Don't you think you had better row
around the island2" she screamed. It's
quieter there"
Rod shook his head and rowed
straight on. He was thinking that he
would rather face ShiDwreck than row
around the island. where White would
see them and think that he had done
this for the wager.
Various thoughts had been coursing
rapidly through the not particularly
quick mind of Mr.. Rodefrck Mason as
ne struggled across the lake toward the
Stony Point camp. He thought that
he was a fool and a cad &c, make a bet
about a girl like Miss Elliot Still he
was not sorry that he had made it,
since 1t led TO meeting her. He ear
neStly hoped, however that she might
not hear of the bet. He did not be
I-lieve that she would approve of it, She
evidently was not like most of the girls
he had met. His complimentary re-
marks she had taken as a matter of
course. She had cut short the high
flown speech of thanks. he had intended
TO make after she had pulled him out
Of the water. AS well as he could re-
member, she had exhibited vastly more
interest in the big trout than she had
in him. 1t didn't seem to Rod that this
was exactly as it should be. In truth,
Miss Elliot awed him a little, but he
was decidedly of the opinion that she
was the most attractive girl he had ever
met.
1t was slow work crossing the lake.
The task of rowing occupied Rod fully,
and the gale made conversation i'm
possible. When they finally arrived at
Judge Vantines landing, a feeling of
eonstraint seemed to have come over
both of them.
1T was very good of you to bring me
home. Mr.. Mason said Elizabeth, as
she stepped on shore. Your oarsman-
ship is perfect. l could never have made
the trip alone, and, but for your timely
appearance, l should probably be max
ing frantic signals of distress from the
other side, instead of being safe in
camp. l hope your incident won't make
you ill.,
| There isn't the slightest danger, 2"
said Rod, a little stiffly. 1.-The row was
just what 1 needed. 1 feel first-rate
now"
He passed the rod and fish basket out
to her slowly. He was wondering if
she wouldn't say that she hoped to see
him again. but apparently she did not
think of that. She took the things from
his hands and, opening the basket,
reached his three-pound trout toward
him. Rod drew back a little.
Won't you keep it?" he asked, and
was surprised to notice that his request
sounded timid. IT'S more yours than
mine anyway, because it surely would
have escaped if you hadn't taken it
down from the limb
"Oh, l don't think so; I couldn't do
that" she said, hastily mot after the
loss of the rest of your catch
Rod did not press the point further,
but he did not put the dead fish into his
| basket. He threw it instead into the
bottom of the boat as though all its
value to him were gone. Miss Elliot did
not notice this either After a few
formal words she walked I'D the path
that led toward the camp, while Rod
turned and rowed savagely toward
home.
The squall that had been blowing
brought up a summer thunder storm
Which, QICIlCIiCu MN Iii uSll OG1OiC llC
reached his own camp and concealed
the evidences of his former wetting.
He found his companions sheltered I'M
der one of the shacks, engaged in the
usual rainy day employment of telling
stories.
What luck?" called Dean as he ap-
peared.
None at all" answered Rod, shortly.
mo fish," queried Dean, jr.
81 some hut | Slinppd down and
they went into the water"
Where's your cap?"
THAT went the same way.
How about the wager?" asked White
lazily.
Il lost that, too" said Rod as he
/ turned toward his own quarters in
search of dry apparel.
Don't seem exactly pleased, does
hep" suggested White as Mason's back
disappeared from view. But he for
! bore TO question Rod further.
Rod debated within himself that
night whether to return Judge Van
tines boat in person or not, but he
finally decided to delegate the task to
one of the guides.
IF she doesn't want to know me I'll
let her see that I'm not the man to
force my acquaintance on anybody, "
he said to himself with an attempted
loftiness which he did not wholly feel.
For the time being there was no more
communication between the camps on
Witch bay and Stony point. Rod went
his way, more soberly than usual, and
he did not try his luck in Cherock
again, though White felt called upon to
sugges. Ii on one occasion. After a
few days Rod announced one night as
the party gathered about the campfire
81 guess I'll go back to New York at
the end of the week"
There was an immediate chorus of
What for?"
The fishing is getting poorer every
day." said Rod. affecting a bored tone,
and I've already been away four
weeks. Tomorrow is Friday. I'll have
one more dev of it, and then go down
| the lake on Saturday afternoon
"All right" said White, 'if you insist
upon it. but we all wish that you would
stay. Well go over to Brandy brook
tomorrow. l know some good spring
! holes there, and we'll have one days
! good sport before you leave
1t was when the two young fishermen
| started to pull for home after their
days sport on Brandy brook that they
! passed within hail of a beat containing
Judge Vantine and his guide.
Come over here, sir" called the
/ Judge peremptorilv, as he identified
! Rod. Then. as they obeyed and rowed
! alongside, he went on, alter the usual
| greetings and the inspection of their
! catch: Why haven't you been over to
! see uS2 I think you owe me at least
a duty call For a week I've been want
] ing to thank you for taking such good
! care of my niece She may have some
thing to say on that score herself if you
give Asr a chance"
White opened his eyes an unusual
distance and looked hard in Rods di-
! nn,.l-a- c.li d