The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-10-16
III Fishing TrfterIude.
Concerning Young Man, Pretty Girl and Bet That
Was Never Paid.
BY E. W. MAYO.


rock afforded no hold to the man strug-
Cling in the water. who slipped back as
. often as he attempted to climb out. The
chill of the pool. fed by mountain
springs, evidently was exhausting him,
for his movements were becoming
weaker Miss Elliot took in the situa-
ton at glance and acted upon it in
stanty.
Keep up. I'll help you" she
called. and ran swiftly down the bank
10 the point where the young man
was desperately treading water TO keep
himself on the surface. Casting about
in search of something with which to
aid him, her eye fell upon a small dry
branch lying on the ground. She caught
it up, and, after testing its strength 10
! make sure that il would bear his
weight, extended one end 10 him, cry
I ing:
Now catch hold and hang on
The swimmer obeyed silently: he
4 had no breath left for words. Eliza
! beth braced her feet behind a project
ing rock and threw her whole weight
backward. 1t was no easy matter to
move the 10 pounds at the other end
OF the pole, but Elizabeth was a re-
markedly strong girl and with the aid
Of such efforts as her companion was
able to make in his own behalf he was
brought to a resting place on the bank.
ments TO recover his breath and
strength.
Thanks, awfully!" he said present
ly, clambering up and shaking the
water from his dripping person IKE a
! big dog. You saved me- from
watery grave"
Miss Elizabeth smiled sympatheti-
cally. My service was hardly sc. great
as that" she answered, but such as
it was you are very welcome to it. How
in the world did it happen?"
A. guilty color came into the young
mans face, but apparently Miss Elliot
was not noticing him.
20. 1 was rather too anxious for that
big fellow" he said, and indifferently
as he could, land I came a cropper on
the wet moss at the top of the slide.
But if I'm not mistaken that trout was
worth the experience"
The conversation was thus diverted
to a new channel, and some moments
were occupied in admiring the trout,
estimating his weight and wondering
how so fine q specimen had strayed up
! the brook-matters in which both of
them evinced sportsmanlike interest.
The diversion gave Mason an oppor-
tunity to regain the presence Sof mind
which had deserted him during his
recent exciting experience.
I'm afraid that L have forgotten the
formality of making myself known,
he said at the first lull in the discussion
of the fish. L am Roderick Mason of
New York, and 1 am staying at the
/ Witch bay camp"
Under the circumstances it Would
be Superfluous for me to say that | am
pleased 10 meet you, Mr., Mason" re-
piled the young woman. Her self-pos-
session had not been impaired at any
point in the interview, and Rod men
! foltNr observed that Chn ha O.
customed to having young men rain
down on her il. this unconventional
manner 4 am Miss Elliot, to be more
exact. Miss Elizabeth Elliot of New
York, and / am staying with my uncle,
Judge Vantine."
Rod made haste to claim his acquain-
ance with Judge Nantine. He was not
rewarded with any intimation that
Miss Elliot had ever heard of his ex-
istence, however, and the conversation
drifted into the conventional channels
of a discussion of the camp, the lake,
the fishing and the scenery.
I'm afraid 1 have spoiled the fishing
here for the day. said Rod APOLOGIZE
cally, observing that his fair COM
panion was gathering up her belong
ings with the evident intention of de-
parting. My sudden appearance
must have sent them all scurrying
under the rocks"
1T really doesn't matter" returned
Miss Elliot. Il should have left in a
few, minutes at any rate. 1 dare say
you know the lakes stormy moods.
You must let me row you home"
began Rod and stopped abruptly The
| thought of the wager with White had
passed entirely from his mind until
this remark recalled it and made him
feel exceedingly uncomfortable.
/ Il shall manage very well by my
as she noticed the sudden interruption
of his remark, otherwise L should not
have come out alone. If it gets too
4 rough they will send the launch over
for me.
IF you take my advice" she con-
tinued, breaking the silence that en-
sued, you will go straight home, too,
or that cold bath will result in making
you i'll. You have a boat here, 1 sup
pose? You could hardly have come by
balloon
Rod felt that the cool treatment he
was receiving discounted the effect of
his immersion, but he decided that it
\ was wise to give heed only to the lat
ter part of her remark.
My canoe is just around the point
here he said hastily. Its the place
where ] usually land. There are fewer
logs there
After this unblushing falsehood the
conversation tagged once more and
Rod went to the rescue of his fish bas-
ket, which had foated some distance
toward the outlet of the stream and was
lodged against an obstructihg log.
f, When he returned he. said, with a note
of genuine anxiety in his voice:
Il don't want to offend you, Miss
Elliot, but really wish that you would
let me row you home. It's blowing half
a gale outside. If you will consent TO
that" he went on, eagerly, " l should
like verv much to borrow the boat to
row myself back to camp. You know "a
canoe isn't much good in rough water"
Miss Elliot mounted a high rec md
looked lakeward, where. the spray tom
the tumbling waves was daShing yer
the fallen timber of the flow.
1T does seem TO be rather rough, -
she said, listening to the booming,
sound that came from below. rs your
canoe small?'
VERY small" said Rod, unhinehing-
ly. a mere cookie. was a fool to come
out in it.
Perhaps it would be better for both
OF Us 20 wait fir the launch went on
Elizabeth.
I 4 don't believe that is necessary he
answered quickly: they can't tell from
the point how rough it is over here.
Your boat viii ride as we'll as the
launch. anyway, and the pull across IS
Just what need to warm me uD and
keep my muscles from getting stiff.
Miss Elliot seemed convinced that his
Z selfish presentation Of the case left no
( room Tor argument. She said nothing
further while the boat was being made
ready. but took her place in the stern
and, paddle in hand. steered ii through
the winding course that led to the lake,
while Rod pulled leisurely at the oars.
1,r1,-f f lfnxr