The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-05-12
7 NOSE HOWARD'S FISH TRAP ]
s.
"a HAMMOND. DM
BY J. q. HAMMOND.

/ 4
why didn't you fellows hurry up
said the professor. "What made YOU
come so slowg9 he chattering Of his
teeth as he spoke causing him to cut
the words into more than the legitl-
mate number Of syllables TO which
they were entitled.
couldn't come no faster" said
-ose. "The water was SO thunderin'
cold the fish wouldn't drive fast"
Satisfied with this explanation the
professor fell into ranks as the boys
filed Off IN the direction of home. The
exercise Of walking soon brought a re-
action in his system, the first effect Of
which was to put a stop TO the music
Of the castanets, and on reaching home
he pronounced himself all right again.
Some time during the ensuing week
Nose Howard informed the professor
that they were going TO try the fish
trap again the following Saturday
night and asked him if he didn't want
to go along.
The professor gave an involuntary
shudder as the recollection of that pro-
tracted soaking in ice water Of the
previous Saturday night flashed across
his mind.
Discretion prompted him to give a
negative response. Curiosity. however,
got the better Of discretion, and he ac-
cepted the invitation.
I'm be on hand,' said he. "There's
no fun standing in that cold water, es-
peeialy when you get no fish, but If
you can stand it | guess | can
At the appointed time the boys came
by, when. the professor joining them,
they proceeded to the fish-trap.
On arriving there Nose produced a
couple Of pieces of candle, one Of
which he proceeded to light and put n
the lantern 1t was nearly twice as
long as the one they had burned out on
the previous occasion.
The other piece he placed in the Ian
tern SO that it could be easily got at if
it should be needed
This latter piece Nose had manufac-
tured himself especially for the occa-
sion, and had taken some little pains
in its construction.
After soaking the wick in water until
it was perfectly saturated he had taken
a skillet and melted some tallow there
in. then placing the wick in a mold, he
/ filled the latter with the melted tallow
and the thing was accomplished.
This particular candle he had care
fully marked so as 10 be able to distin-
guish it from any other candle.
Before completing their arrange
ments at the fish-trap preparatory to
beginning the drive the professor pro-
posed that one of the boys should take
his place at the trap while he accom-
panied the others and assisted in driv-
ing the fish.
kin you swimY7 asked Nose How
ard.
"No," answered the professor.
"Well. you'd run the risk oy gittin'
drownded, then" said Nose.
You go on, then" said the professor,
'and I'll mind the trap"
So off the boys started, and going
down the stream about a mile, seated
themselves upon log, and began yell
ing and whooping as on the previous
occasion.
Hour after hour passed, each hour
seeming to the benumbed professor an
age.
The yelling seem to approach slowly
but surely.
The boys had now arrived at point
where every motion of the professor
was distinctly visible.
The piece Of candle Nose had lighted
and put in the lantern was nearly
burned out. Taking up the other piece
the professor proceeded to light it.
Placing it in the lantern it gave a
splutter and went out. Dark Dark
was no name for it. No moon, no
stars. no matches.
But that bogus candle would have
been 4 match for whole box OF
matches.
"What in thunder's the matter
nowf" shouted Nose.
"The candles gone out!'' shouted the
professor back. Have YOU any
matchesT' he inquired.
mary match" said Nose.
whats to be done?" inquired the
professor.
"Nuthin'." said Nose. "The things
played out. Put on your cloze, while
we go and git our'n and then Wen skip
for home"
Seating themselves on a log the boys
remained quiet for while, then rising
to their feet they came up TO where the
professor was waltzing around trying
to get up a circulation.
Another waterhaul." said Nose.
Looks a good deal like it" said the
professor.
Don't know why the mischief some
of us didn't think tu bring some
matches. " said Nose.
4 don't know. either" responded the
pr fessor in a deprecating tone, as
though he entertained the idea that
somehow he had been mainly insuu
mental in producing the bad luck.
Better luck next time" said Nose
philosophieally, as he struck out fol
home. followed by the others.