The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-09-30
When Harper Went Fishing
New York Press.)

New York Press)
Catch anything YETI" queried the
stranger, seating himself on the string
piece beside Harper, and shivering in
the chill morning air Harper was
spending his vacation at Keyport, N
J.. and some one had suggested fishing
to him.
NO" answered Harper; I've just
started in. They're running pretty live
ly, arn't they?" q.
yes" drawled the fellow. There
was a man down here last night that
caught eighty-seven." For a moment
he paused, the abruptly asked: Got
any tobacco?"
Harper handed his his pouch, and
observed that he took enough to fill at
least half a dozen pipes. After care
fully slowing away a portion in his
pocket, he proceeded to roll the re-
mainder in a dirty piece of paper.
Haven't got a match, have you?"
he asked, as he finished the operation
Of rolling the cigarette, apparently TO
his entire satisfaction.
Harper handed him a match box.
For a few minutes the fellow seemed
lost in a reverie of smoke both to Har-
per and the whole world. Then sudden
ly, as though becoming conscious OF
having forgotten something, he asked:
What kind of bait are you using?"
"Sandworms," answered Harper.
Gosh" he exclaimed, you'll never
catch nothing round here with sand
worms! You ought to have blood
worms"
Harper said nothing for a while but
thought a good deal. At length he
asked: Where can I buy blood
wOrms2"
up on Main street. I'll go for some
if you want me to-" offered the fellow.
It'll only take me about ten minutes"
Harper reached into his pocket, took
out half dollar and handed it to him.
There, get 40 cents worth, and keep
a dime for yourself"
As he watched the gaunt figure re
cede down the wharf he remarked. Il
knew there was something wrong with
this bait"
A full hour passed and Harper was
still awaiting the return of the youth
with the blOodWorms. Every little while
he turned round and looked anxious!y
in the direction whittier the fellow had
gone. At last a figure with shambling
gait came slowly down the street TO the
wharf.
II was just beginning to believe l
had been buncoed," he said with feel
ing of satisfaction as he caught sight
of the figure But the fellow was all
right after all. He may have had to
go quite distance"
OstensibIy unconcerned to everything.
he was calmly putting on his pipe, when
a voice sounded beside him: Want to
buy any bloodworms, boss?"
Looking up, he eyed the fellow sharp
ly. mo" he answered; Il have sent
man to buy some"
He won't be able to get Them" urged
the youth. I'm the only fellow that
has any bloodworms. They're hard to
get"
we'll, you can give me quarters
worth
Better take half a dollars worth,
boss. 1 won't be round this way again
today"
"All right, then, give me a half dol
lars worth.
The fellow dumped the worms into
box, collected his money and made
hasty departure.
They were a little expensive, but
I've got them at last" Harper re-
marked as he put the new bait on his
hooks. Now we'll see what good
comes Of blOodwO-ms.'
He had barely settled himself in
comfortable position when a nautical
looking old fellow sat down beside him.
How're they running, young fellow"
he asked.
Rather slowly" answered Harper.
''What're you fishing for?"
Now to tell the truth this thought had
never entered Harpers mind It reality
he was fishing for anything that would
bite on his hooks. But he instantly re-
membered that all experienced fisher
men have a foreknOwledge Of what
they are going to catch. So he an
swered: "Weakfish."
You'll never catch weakfsh with a
drop line" advised the old fellow.
What you need is a float"
Are any weakfish being caught
here?" asked Harper.
Yes a few. You ought to get 'em
now with the flood tide"
Look here" said Harper, turning
round and facing the man, I'm little
green at fishing. If 1 give you half
dollar will you show me how my line
should be arranged and tell me how to
catch weakfish?'
well, all right. But first you had
better haul in, and We'll go up the
street a bit to get the float. And you
may need some larger hooks"
Harper placed everything back in his
basket, and was soon trudging along al
the side of the mariner, imbibing deep
knowledge of weakfish as he walked
Somewhat tired, but happier, he re-
turned. There now, Mister Weakfish,"
he announced, as he cast his line into
the water, we're all ready for YOU"
Then he added: 1T was little expen-
sIVe, but / don't mind so long as 1 get
good mess of fish. For weakfsh are
worth catching"
Presently he became conscious of
some one standing beside him. Look
ing up he saw a very red nose, bound
ed by q pair of small eyes and a
bushy beard.
Good morning." greeted the new par
ty.
Good morning" answered Harper.
Catch anything?"
'No-not yet"