Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1907-11-02
THE PHOTOGRAPH.

and the pans and kettles hanging pic
turesquely about the walls and the two
or three extra hunks for possible visit
ors, and the floor and quantity carved
tools-all as bright and immaculate as
though presided over by a woman; and
another shaft came down through the
| foliage and rested upon the bowed, whit
enlng head, and upon the rough knotted
fingers that were unconsciously betray-
| ing the longings of depressed soul to
the familiar, responsive strings of his
violin
A boat came noisily UP the river and
| was fastened to the bank below the
cabin; then two men hurried up the
slope, leaving a third to follow more
elsurely. But still Bat Pinaud played
ON unmindful, unconscious.
"Oh, L say" called one of the men i'm
patiently, that's awful fine, but will you
please stop just a minutel"
The bow poised in the air and then
flashed a final staccato across the
strings.
Are you Bat Pinaud?"
'Oui, and MONSIEUR"
'Oh, I'm Doc Willets, and my friend
here is Col. Case. We and Jack Phillips
down there have been camping on the
big lake for the last two months. What
we want with you is this" lowering his
voice and glancing over his shoulder to
see that their companion was still be-
You'd hearing; we're up for days fish
ing in the river, and Case and | have
each bet 500 with Phillips that we'll
get the biggest creel. Now we under
stand that you're intimate with every
fish in the Penobseot, and what we want
is for you to place us on the river tomor-
row so our bets will be sure See?'
Yes, Bat saw-perhaps more than they
intended, or would have liked He had
heard of Doc Willets and Col. Case, and
of reckless, good natured Jack Phillips,
who allowed the sharpers to bleed him
on every possible pretext, and in a way
that was patent to everybody but him
self. "0ui, surement," he saw.
Everything all right?" asked Jack
Phillips, as he joined the group, supper
and breakfast, accommodations for the
night, and all that sort of thing2'
Haven't had time to ask yet, you fol-
lowed us up so close reioined Doe Will
let's, tipping a wink of secrecy to Bat
and at the same time jingling some coins
in his pocket, "but | suppose there1l be
no trouble, Ell, guide?"
Bat rose slowly and carried his fiddle
into the cabin. When he came out he
was again the obliging, matter of fact
trapper and guide.
Il s'pose maybe I fixed up all those
things" he said graciously. "Now, you
go in cabin or sit down under the trees,
whatever you like best. Soon's | bring
things up from the boat we'll have sup
per-"
1t was dark before the supper had
been prepared and eaten, and then, at
their request, Bat took them down to
deer run tc try their luck at fiashlight.
The next morning they were out with
the day and after a hasty eating of
breakfast end a careful preparation of
lines, they followed Bat mile or so up
the river to where he said the fishing
was good As they paused on the bank
Doc Nillets and Col. Case tried to catch
Bats eye and again audibly fingered the
coins III their pockets. Bat looked up
and down the river critically.
Il s'pose maybe Mr.. Willets better go
to that little cove there and fish from
the point back to the big white rock,
he said at length. Give caught more
fish thAre than | could carr. Mr.. Case,
l will take up round TIE bend Plenty |
fish there, And Mr.. Phillips" looking at |
him as though somewhat in doubt, may |
lie I'd best show him beyond the rapids. |
catch fish there sometimes and some
times MT. Maybe he'll dc better. That |
snit!"
Oh. yes, that's just the thing" cried
Doc Nillets. and ''just the thing" echoed |
Col Case. Then they both rubbed their |
hands and looked at Bat approvingly. |
Jack Phillips did not ever hear. He was
gazing gloomily across the river, his
thoughts evidently elsewhere.
An hour or so later, as Bat was cir
cling from one to another, watching and
giving bits of advice from his own ex
perience, he came upon Jack Phillips
beyond the rapids. The young man
lad drawn something from his pocket
and was looking at it hungrily, oblivious
of everything around. His rod and line
lay upon the bank unnoticed. As Bat
turned to staa, away he heqJd Phillips
utter stiled groan of remuneration and
despair and saw the obie,.t casl into
the underbrush. Then Phillips caught
up his rod and went crashing through
the bushes along the river. When he
was beyond view Bat went to the place
where he was standing and found the
photograph of a beautiful young girl,
whose eyes looked up at him wistfully
and appcalingly, Bat thought. He gazed
at the picture for some moments, his
face whitening; then he nodded reassur
anee to the eyes.
When darkness brought them together
it was found that Jack Phillips, in spite
Of his desult0ry fishing above the rapids,
had caught more than both the Others.
well, I suppose it's all luck" Doc
Willets grumbled despondently. 'Deuced
bad luck, though, think" Then; Say.
Jack, old man, you'll have to wait
week or two for your money-Pm
broke"
'de. too. Col. Case admitted gloomily.
Il was counting on this toto He
flushed recoIleeting and was silent.
Jack Phillips smiled satirically, but