Rocky Ford enterprise., 1904-05-13

by a miss OF twelve is the same as
that extended by a lad OF seventeen,
SO neither suffered in the others es
timation.
WHAT were you trying 10 do with
that poles" asked John as they
reached the bridge.
Il Was trying To stir up those spi'
dsry things down there IN The water.
replied Jessie. again gFasping the
pole. which had remained erect. last
in the sticky bottom of the creek
-Oh, how I wish ! could catch ones~
.That's easy" said John Burt. ~
he climbed into the wagon. Walt
until ! hitch this horse and Ill show
you how. Want some anyhow: you
can watch me-"
John Burt speedily returned with
some scraps of meat and mystsfi'
Gus implement which consisted OF =
POLE with u stout dip net at the end
Of IL. Jessie regarded the pfepafa'
tions with keen interest. Tho boy
took piece Of string from his pocket
and securely fastened a piece OF tough
raw beet To IL: then he lowered tho
meat into the water. In his left hand
he held the pole. with the meshss OF
the dip net but few inches above tho
surface. Jessie watched with bsied
breath and wide opsnei eyes.
Slowly and carefully John raised
the string. AZ last the meat showed
red in the murky water Of the creek
As IL came to the surface John thrust
the net below. Out Of tho swirl or
water IL emerged. laden with tho meat
and struggling. ~rithins crab.
Got him." said John. as he liftsd
the dripping collection over tho sido
of the bridge.
Isn't he ugly. Look at his legs!
One. two. three. four. iiSc. six. seven.
eight. nine. ten. eievcn-no. trn-t
counted one OF them twice. Does ho
bite." Jessie hoverei over tho net
and stretched her fingers towards tho
rounderins crab. Tho little bcady
eyes siittcrcd. tho claws ciashcd help
icssiy.
.You bet he can bitc' You got
near enough and he'll nip you good
and hard" said John M hc un.
snnrlcd the crab from tho t~ino and
meat. run over to the wagon and
get the basket. ! forgot H."
Delighted to be Of assistance In 80
famous an undertaking. Jessie ran
swiftly to the wagon and returned
with a large wicker basket. John had
already dropped the bait In tho water
and tho crab was crawiin. along tho
bridge. Reaching down. hc deity
grabbed the crab and dropped him
into tho basket.
For nm instant Jessie was speech
less with wonder and admiration as
such bravery.
boy. let nc catch and you poke"
she vcn,urcd In piaintivc note. u
never caught crab. Won't you
plcasc-John Burt!"
why. certainly" said John. TN
show you how"
Jessie left tho sauirmins mass OF
crabs and sprang to Johns side.
Reach down M far as you can."
John directed. That's right. When
you feel something pull or Jerk. pull
up-siowiy. though. or you'll scaro
him. Do you feel anything!"
"Thc limo kind OF twitchcs." whis-
pcred Jessie.
Raise II up slow. Be careful.
There's ono on. sure! Now jam tho
net under him!"
Jessie made n swing with the net.
but dipped too low. A huge crab
dropped from the meat, struck tho
edge OF the net and noundered back
into the water.
II lost him! What a shame!
Wasn't he big?"
60 on: try again" said John good
nnturedly.
Jessie lowered the meat and waited
patiently for n minute. Then sho
slowly raised the line. With much
care she dropped the net below tho
meat and raised II from the water.
ITO hp Continupd1