The Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1903-1909, 1905-04-04

| turned for the bank, The sides were
steep and slippery but the boy took
firm hold of the dogs collar, and after
a struggle hauled him to solid ground.
Prince dropped the cap, filling the air
with spray as he shook himself,
wagged his tail and lolled his tongue
in canine dissatisfaction.
Here is your Zap" said the boy, as
he held much bedraggled piece or
millinery gingerly at arms length.
Thank you, boy" said Jessie,
smiling through tears which were
yelling in her eyes With a, little
sigh of relief she noted that the gov
erness was not in sight. Jessie patted
the dog on the head, and with a ro-
guish glance addressed her unknown
companion.
What is your name?" she asked,
with the direct frankness of twelve
years.
MY name is Burt-JOhn Burt"
MY name is Jessie Garden said
the young lady as she craWled through
the fence unasssted by her new ac-
quaintance. The courtesy expected
by miss of twelve is the same as
that extended by lad of seventeen,
so neither suffered in the others es-
timation.
What were you trying to do with
that pole?" asked John as they
reached the bridge.
Il was trying to stir up those spi-
derry things down there in the water"
replied Jessie, again grasping the
pole, which had remained erect, fast
in the sticky bottom of the creek
oh how | wish | could catch one!"
That's easy" said John Burt, as
he climbed into the wagon. Wait
until / hitch this horse and I'll show
you how. Want some anyhow; you
can watch me-"
John Burt speedily returned with
some scraps of meat and a mysteri-
Gus implement which consisted of a
pole with a stout dip net at the end
tons with keen interest. The boy
took piece of string from his pocket
and securely fastened piece of tough
raw beef to it; then he lowered the
meat into the water. In his left hand
he held the pole, with the meshes of
the dip net but a few inches above the
surface. Jessie watched with bated
breath and wide opened eyes.
Slowly and carefully John raised
the string. At last the meat showed
red in the murlly water of the creek.
AS it came to the surface John thrust
the net below Out of the swirl of
water it emerged, laden with the meat
and struggling, writhing crab.
Got him!" said John, as he lifted
the dripping collection over the side
of the bridge.
Isn't he ugly! Look at his legs!
One, two, three, four, five, six, seven
eight, nine, ten, eleven-no, ten-I
counted one of them twice. Does he
bite?" Jessie lowered over the net
and stretched her fingers towards the
fioundering crab. The little beady
eyes glittered, the claws FLASHED help
lessly
You bet he can bite! You get
near enough and he'll nip you good
and hard, said John as he un.
snarled the crab from the Irvine and
meat. Run over to the wagon and
get the basket. | forgot it,"
Delighted to be of assistance in so
famous an undertaking, Jessie ran
swiftly to the wagon and returned
with large wicker basket. John had |
dropped the bait in the water
and the crab was crawling along the
bridge. Reaching down, he deity
grabbed the crab and dropped him
into the basket
For an instant Jessie was speech.
less with wonder and admiration at |
such bravery.
Boy, let me catch and you poke"
she ventured in a plaintive note. Il
never caught crab. Won't you
Burt?"
Why, certainly" said John. "Tn
show you how"
Jessie left the squirming mass of
crabs and sprang to Johns side.
Reach down as far as you can,"
John directed. That's right. When
you feel something pull or jerk, pull
lp-slowly, though, or you'll scare
lin. Do you feel anything"
The line kind of witches" whis-
)ered Jessie.
Raise it up slow. Be careful.
There's one on, surel Now jam the
let under him!"
Jessie made swing with the net,
tut dipped too low A huge crab
lropped from the meat, struck the