Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1907-08-22


a fish. The young man saw the situa-
ton and came running up to call out:
You've got him! You've got him!
Don't handle him that way or you'll
lose him Play him. Play himr'
Miss Bessie Foster was excited. but
she didn't lose her presence Of mind.
She realized what the situation called
for, and she gave the young man one
awful look and then threw her fish pole
into the water and turned and walked
away. In that one awful look she no
ticed that he was rather good looking
and had certain hall marks OF gentle
man. but despite that she continued to
toss her head, and her cheeks kept get
ting redder and redder as she left him
behind.
"For the lands sake, what has
happened to you" exclaimed Aunt
Mary as the girl entered the house on
a half run and pumped down into the
rocking chair.
live found an impudent man."
was the reply.
Found a what? I've lived in Ba-
kersville ever since | was knee high 10
a grasshopper, and I've never run
across an impudent man yet. How
was he impudenty'
HE looked at me. He raised his
cap and bowed. He sang and whistled.
When had hooked fish, he came and
wanted to boss things. And, oh, aunty
1t was such lovely fish and such big
one, and be was so willing to be
caughty
When Aunt Mary had extracted al
the information possible, she went to
the kitchen door and blew the horn for
dinner, though IL was half an hour
ahead OF time. Uncle Joe came up
from the lot I'm which he was working
and In answer to the surprised look on
his face Bessie told her story over
again. When she had finished, Aunt
Mary drew herself up and added:
And now, Joseph Warner, you will
eat your dinner and then start out and
find that impudent young man and
give him piece Of your mind. He has
got to be talked to good and hard, and
If you are not the man to do 1t am"
An hour later Uncle Joe went down
to the postoffice to make inquiries con
corning the strange and cheeky young
man. All he could find out was that
the newcomer was stopping at Whites.
at the other end of the hamlet, and was
thought to be a college student on his
vacation. The old mill was next Wis
tied, and there IL was found that Bes-
sizes pole and line had been recovered
and left In conspicuous position
Uncle Joe carried them home and told
his story, and Aunt Mary threw up her
arms and exclaimed:
did any one In all this world ever
see such case of impudence! Joseph.
II you were man you'd go up to
Whites and take that young man by
the ear and make him beg Bessie's par
don. She can't go fishing again as
long as he is hanging around here"
But Wilt" declared the girl as she
fared up and stuck her chin In the air.
"I'll show him, whoever he Is, that he
can't scare me of. I'll be right there
tomorrow morning at o'clock, and II
he dares speak to me again I'll-Fll-
well, after l have given him look he
won't dare to, that's all"
And Miss Bessie Foster was there at
the hour named She saw nothing of
the impudent young man, but a board
had been placed across two logs to
make seat for her. and she instantly
suspected that 1t was his work. She
refused to sit down. For ten minutes,
or while she was getting real mad, she
wouldn't go within fifteen feet of the
seat Then the stranger suddenly
made his appearance from behind the
old mill, and to show him what she
thought Of him she laid down her
pole and picked up the board and push
ed II into the water. To her chagrin
the young man didn't seem to be
aware of her presence. He was catch
ing all the fish, and she wasn't getting
a nibble. He made q great fuss every
time he caught one, and presently the
girl found herself wishing that he
would tumble in. He could have told
her that her line was In only two feet
of water and that crab had eaten
OF her bait as soon as the hook touched
the bottom, but he had nothing to say.
He even grinned because he had moth
ing to say.
Half an hour had passed away when
Miss Bessie changed her position. 1t
did not seem to be secure one, but
In her defiance aud cLagrin she was
willing TO take chances She rebaited
and cast in her hook. and within min
ute something seized II. She repressed
cry and was taking firmer grip on
her pole when the planks under her
feet gave way. and she went into the
pond with shrek and splash. She
rose to the surface. gurgling and gasp
ing. to find the lmpudent young man
beside her and saying In her ear:
81 expected 1t. Don't struggle and
you'll be all right. We have got to
go over the dam, but can swim
ashore below with you"
The girl ought to have given him
lone Of her looks" but she did not
take advantage Of the occasion. The
water was very cold and the fall over
the dam ten fest She gasped with
fright and clutched the young man.
and then night seemed to have come
she had tainted away. When she
opened her eyes again she was In bed
at Aunt Mary's and the doctor was
saying:
''she win do nicely now. happened