The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-06-07

 was not over the tops of her shoes. It was there she stood and began whipping the stream for trout with far imitation of her fathers fashion. Annie had often gone trout hsh'ug with him when he caught his twenty pounds ,u an hour, and once she caught a catfish. But now the grasshopper on her hook danced excitedly over the water for a trout.
 There has to be a first time for every thing said Annie to herself quoting her father, "and this is the time I'm going to catch a trout"
 yalor. the big shepherd dog. who had fol. lowed her from the woodshed, came and stood on the bank.
 "You're an awful tag-tail. Val. You'll scare the fish," said Annie.
 Suddenly a big dark thing came Tapping and splashing down the Laramie from the bend above, gliding by Annie in the shal- lows so near that 1t almost pushed against her leg.
 beaver! Annie knew She had seen me once up above the Pioneer Dam with her father. Her heart dumped wildly Nalor ran excitedly along the bank opposite. Annie ree,ed h. snetched the rod over her shoulder and running rapidly down out of the water and down the bank pursued the beaver. valor at her heels. She caught up with the beaver first by the deep hole at the thicket. Valor parked and the Denver boys bulldog.
 
 what was going on. He led the chase down stream on the bank opposite Annie and the shepherd dog Away went all three through cottonwoods and alders across open meadow spaces, past the old log g-house where Annfe's papa used to "back it' In the cary days. until they stopped at last by deep wide. dark river pool. just below two fallen cottonwoods that nearly spanned the stream. their green boughs rustling above the singing water.
 The beaver plunged deep Into the pool and all was still. She was mother beaver, and her young ones were down there nnaer the water in their bank house. After she had seen them minute she came to the surface as If to tell her enemies to go away.
 "Go 1t, Paddyv called Annie. Then as Paddy bit and yelped. "Oh, stop, stop. you'H hurt the poor beayeri' Then "Good dog! Good dogl" for the spirit of her father a mighty hunter was strong within her pnf when Paddy swan at the beaver AS she came no. biting her violently, Annie's tender heart broke with pity, and she sobbed. There was swirl and a splash. and now the heayer's teeth were in Paddy's flesh. and he was yelplng with pain, while Naior Darkeu loudly on the bank.
 Ont of the trees on the home side oi the river came a man. He was Tn ms brown denlms and rubber boots. Anne nearu hef
 arome ont of there. Paddy! What are you
 
 ,+9 paddyl" then as he saw the beaver,
 The bulldog obeyed and swan bleeding to the shore The beaver diyed, the Wa.er grew, quiet Annie saw her father eAaliin Ill l ino Paddv's torn and wounded skin, while VnIor smelled anxiously and came toward the place of the little girls coneealmeht'
 .poor dog! poor dog!' said MT. Anderson, n.t+ino Paddy. then to Yalor What are yon here for? Where's Annie, Val? In l fhere?" MT Anderson came toward the eo1, l tonwoods Annie turned her rod over and , .on ,tro. dronned on the surface of the dark 100, Mir Anderson parted the boughs and come scrsmbling out on the trunk. He ,oal-ed ot his little girl posed out there above inc deep water and if he did not speak at erst Annie did not know that 1t was be- cause his heart caught with queer move ment and his throat was dry
 suei;o napa! Ssh! don't scare the trout" oh. v,bisnered. as he had so often whispered to her when she had followed him to the river MT. Auderson's lips twitched. lie reached forward and took his little daugh- ter rod and al In his arms. Al that instant came the tug of trout at the grassnoppel che had foated on the troubled waters. and he forgot ali else. He seized the rod and hogan to reel in. Let go, papa! That Is mT trout. :" said Annie, with dignity, erect in his arms.
 "so it Is. daughter" The sportsman held his child, and she brought her first trout up among the boughs, big, beautiful four mound rainbow trout. They saw him g.is- tening in the dim light, and they held him somehow until MT. Anderson got ashore with Annie in his arms. and she landed her trout. her round little face all broad sun shine.
 I'm going to teach you to swim before you'r week older, young lady" said her father Annie was greatly excited and fairly danced back to the ranchhouse with