The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-07-14
BY HOOK OR CROOK.
By TROY ALLISON

eyos fixeo hypnottcally the blue and white bob dancing on the water of the creek, lis the most fascinating pursuit of mankind"
 The girl had bracod here poie in the crook or an alder branch and was pinnIng her white linen skirt to clear her trim ankles T believe have heard that men were more fascinated by the pursuit than by well. you ought to be happy on that theory" she said. peerins into the empty basket at his feet
 You just wait-that fly is a wonder. and will soon have 'em taking notice" "But we've promised to catch enough for dinner-ahd there are ten hungry girls and ten voracious men that can eat like . circus menassrfe-to say nothing of the chaps- rons."
 ''rli not try to catch enough t, 70 round; ; hate chaDerons." he jerked his pole up and down vindictively. ''we.ve been camp
 ing for four days and this is the first min ute I've had you to myself four chaperons
 are entirely too many for twenty people. | that's four-tenths of a chaperon to a cou- pie--too rich for my system" "And. what, may I ask. is your system ?" She made . grab at her pole which had gradually slipped half It's length into the creek.
 Dora Newton. you have . most irritat-
 ing habit of playing with . mans words and With his heart" he said. his eyes fixed | on her fine young arms. bared to the .eibow.
 'T wasn't playing-f was earnestly seek | ing information-the desire for knowsldge Is strong within ms-and really wanted | to know your system." she landed . tiny | perch and helplessiy held the rod for him to take the quivering fish off tho hook. He put the fish in the basIxet and they | regarded the lack of proportion of basket
 and fish gravely.
 Tt needs to be iilustrat.d--' he said | solemnly, '.not the fish--but the system-l could teach 1t to you" T don't know that you are a qualified teacher" she cast her hook in . way that made her line cross Randolph's. Professor Jordan Is coming down tomorrow to stay in camp with us two days.'' anl the inference was that Prof Jordan. as . teacher. could | not be discounted.
 "Humphl The old fossilr' Erunted Ran l dolph.
 ''Fossiif He's not more than forty-and he certainly is . man of brains" ''Your tone. Miss Newton. intimates that I am . mere matter of physical bulk. and your line tangled in mine just as was about to have . bite" She cast her line in . new spot with . sudden show of humility. ''well--you see hadn't realized that you had attained the degree Of psychic devel- opment necessary to tell-when a fish was about to bite"
 Personally" he continued. Prof Jordan bores me immenseIy-thing I'll run up to town for tho two days he intends to illumi- nate the camp with his intellectual light. Would you mind telling me if you are go- ing to marry that dried up Greek root"
 he drew up his line and fixed it for deeper water.
 "He hasn't asked me-yet" with toss of her head that intimated she was prepared for future developments. 'T didn't know my vacation was to Dc spoiled by that old-dinosaurius." He was
 delighted that he remembered the word. 'Ts he really as bad all thatf Sounds
 three or four shades wickeder than . Greek root. but I am glad you at least gener- ous enough to treat him with versatility" Doesn't make any difference which head you classify him under. If he is coming
 here to spoil the party I might as well go back to town and stay. asked you to mar | ry me times last winter. and couldn't l even get you to look at the matter serious
 ly. Thought maybe all this scenery and the l moonlight nights and the-er-hammocks
 would develop a little sentiment in your soul but if there's another man in the case--I have nothing more to say" "so hanmocks are included in your sys- tenn? never sat in a hammock with Prof. Jordan" reflectively.
 'I could really imagine no Ereater joy
 than-a hammock and teh fcssilated Jor- dan." he said sarcastically 'T have to thank you for the suggestion" airily. "when you are in town tomorrow night gaspins for a breath of cool air. don't l think you are entirely forgotten. I shall be rememberings your idea-and trying ham, mock. The moonlight here is fescinating. she murmured. irrelevantly. His pole dipped down with an unexpected jerk, and with the effort to catch 1t his foot slipped on the edge of the bank and he found himself suddenly floundering in the | creek. He caught one glimpse of the girls
 mortified eyes. and with an inspiration
 heavenborn or wicked. according to the point of view. he remembered trick he had learned in boyhood and disappeared l from her sight.
 She stood motionless. her hands clasped convulsively to her breast When he came | to the surface near Der. sputterfng and | sasping with more energy than an expert on the subject would have pronounced nat ural she dropped on her knees and | clutched him by the arm. "Oh. Dicky!" she screamed throwing her | 1.-the young body on the edge of the creek
 and reaching her other hand to him. 'hold on--tight-Tve got you!" | Randolph, dripping wet. scrambled up | the bank and helped her to her feet. | "I-caught you" she reiterated dazedly.
 clutching each wet sleeve with nervous fin l gers her face white and tremulous.
 "You poor little girl. didn't know you | would be as frightened this" he said 1 contritely unhesitatinsly putting his arm
 around the crisp white shirtwaist. q thought you were-d-dead." she stam- | mered. and Randolph. looking in her eyes | was satisfied with his system. "Dora," he said finally the last lingering | touch of Jealousy dying hard. you never
 loved that dried Greek root. did you7"
 She freed one hand and stroked the damp | hair from his forehead 'T like them
 wet" she gurgled, but come let's run for
 the camp before you catch your death of
 cold"
 Humph! Much danger of cold in this
 weather!'
 When they reached the camp ten minutes | later there many derisive exclamations
 from the hammocks. and cards and novels
 were dropped for newer interest.
 "Of all the earthly spectacles!" shouted | the irrepressible brother of Dora. throwing l pack of cards on the rustic table with
 such energy that they scattered over the grass. Have you been~ diving for shell vfish?" r And where. may I ask. are the fish
 We've been waiting dinner for them.
 called Mrs. Bradley. the chaperon most to
 be feared.
 whisper-'for the love of heaven try to dis
 the teht-theres a--a wet streak across my
 back where your arm-er-'
 I .Darling!" whispered Randolph fatuous-
 ly. Then walking rapidly forward. he bow
 ed low to Mrs Bradley.
 He o2ened the basket where the lone It,
 tie perch had long since given up the strus
 gle for existence.
 Here, madam. is your fish," he said humbly.
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