The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1908-02-22
THE CATCH OF THE SEASON.
BY cEcILY ALLEN.

"Wint, if you don't sit dowE and
be quiet you'll be overheard in min
ute I've warned you two or three
times now and I'm through"
"Talk about being quiet" said
Wint, "yor have clacked incessant
ly, like sitting hen, ever since I threw
my first line. No wonder we don't
get bite"
Wint Miller turned around to look
at his friend Jack Barnes, lighting his
pipe meanwhile.
"All right you clumsy old thing
know what I'm talking about,
grinned Jack. "You move about in
this little rowboat as if it was an
ocean going steamer. Look to your
line there -
Wint turned suddenly at the men,
ton of the long awaited bite. Clum-
sy be might be, but Jack loved his
chum just because he was clumsy and
always needed his help. The turn
was fatal. Wint lost his balance, his
foot slipped on the wet bottom of the
boat, and backward he went for cold
and unexpected dip. Fortunately
the water was only five feet deep, and
Wint's head appeared above the wa
ter in second, pipe in mouth and the
fire still going.
Courses on you, Jack Barnes You
did that purposely, and you'll pay
for this" growled Wint as he tried
to climb aboard.
Jacks convulsions of laughter did
not help matters much, and when he
did step for moment it was only to
heap Goals of fire upon Wint's wet
head.
"My fault ! Well, like that, you
old landlubber. I told you to keep
quiet, but you knew tall. Now our
days fishing is spoiled, and I can stay
home and nurse you. Climb aboard
and let's get home before you develop
measles or whooping cough"
It was very sullen pair that un-
locked the door of their fishing hut an
hour later. Wint was shivering, and
Jack was muttering under his breath.
They hunted in vain for dry clothes,
as they had come down only for day
or two to rough it. Jack turned to
his friend with helpless expression.
"Wint, there's only one thing to do.
We'll have to pack up and go over to
Uncle Wills and see if they will take
you in. You're sneezing your head
off now, and by morning you'll pro-
bab1y have fine case of pneumonia.
I hate to do 1t, for Aunt Fanny
doesn't approve of me or my friends
either for that NATTER" added Jack.
Again the pair started off and walk
ed through the woods to pretty lit
tie cottage set in among the pines.
Aunt Fanny Beal met them at the
porch. She was woman who held
her head high at all times, but just
snnUU IL seemed to be straighter than
ever.
$50 it's you, is it?" she said as
Jack extended his hand. "Who is
this person with your" she added as
she glanced at the figure of Wint,
covered with red mud and hatless.
"Oh, I say, Aunt Fanny, be easy.
We've had an accident. This is my
best friend, Mr.. Winthrop Miller. He
fell overheard, and we've come over
to see if you won't take US i'll for the
night until his clothes get dry.
Where's Uncle Will? He'll under
stand"
"Your uncle is in town, and Belle
and are alone. Blood is blood, and
you cannot deny your own. I'll take
you in for your mothers sake" whin-
ed Aunt Fanny as she opened the
door in anything but welcome man
ner.
"Never mind about me, Aunt Fan
n.y." cheerily answered Jack as he
saw the door open to them. "But
Whit must get dry. He's caught a
dreadful cold, I fear"
HE doesn't look so frail," sug-
gested Mrs. Beal as she glanced at
Wint's somewhat ample proportions.
However, come in and go up to
your Uncle's room. Isuppose you will
leave this evening. You know we
have no spare room," she added lest
they should avail themselves of a
nights lodging.
Wint did not leave that evening
nor for many, many evenings there
after. At S o clock that afternoon the
doctor was sent for. He looked at
the flushed cheeks and the parched
tongue. He listened to the wheeling
as it came so hard and shook his head.
1--WE must get a nurse at once,
Mrs. Beal. The man is very sick ;
He must have care or he will die. /
will send nurse and will call again
later. Good afternoon and the
doctor was gone.
For weeks Wint lowered between
life and the great beyond. No one
entered the room but the nurse, the
doctor and Isabelle Beal, Jacks cou-
sin. She releaved the nurse, and
sometimes even the doctor would call
her in to give few directions. Jack
came down every day or two, but
never was allowed to see his chum.
Slowly the big man made his fight,
slowly his eyes lost the CLASSY look,
and finally the day came when the
nurse was no longer needed. Isabelle
could manage with Jacks help at
night.
ri say, nurse" said Wint one day
as Isabelle sat reading to him, "I'm
glad that other nurse beat it. / like
you better.
"But you know I'm not really a
nurse at all, Mr.. Miller" said Isa-
belle as she blushed at the inferred
compliment. "I'm Jacks cousin
Aunt Fanny's daughter, you under
stand. But 1 love Jack, and I'll do
anything for his friends, and she be-
gan reading again.
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