Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-01-21
The Catch of
the Season.
By cEcIuY ALLEN.
Copyright. 1907. by E. c. PARCELS.


quiet you'll be overheard In minute.
I've warned you two or three times
now, and I'm through"
Talk about being quiet" said Whit.
"You have clacked necessarily, like q
sitting hen, ever since threw my hrst
line. No wonder we don't get bite"
Whit Miller turned around to look at
his friend Jack Barnes. lighting his
pipe meanwhile.
IAN right, you clumsy old thing. 1
know what I'm talking about" grinned
Jack. "You move about In this little
rowboat as II 1t was an ocean going
steamer. Look to your line there"
Whit turned suddenly at the mention
of the long awaited bite. Clumsy he
might be, but Jack loved his chum just
because he was clumsy and always
needed his help. The turn was fatal.
Whit lost his balance, his foot slipped
on the wet bottom Of the boat, and
backward he went for cold and I'M
expected dip. Fortunately the water
was only five feet deep. and Wints
head appeared above the water In q
second, pipe In mouth and the fire still
going.
Curses on you, Jack Barnes! You
did that purposely, and you'll pay for
this" growled Whit as he tried to
climb aboard.
Jacks commissions Of laughter. did
not help matters much, and when he
did stop for a moment 1t was only to
heap Goals Of fire upon Wint's wet
head.
"My fault! Well, like that, you
old landlubber. told you to keep
quiet, but you knew 1t all. Now our
days fishing is spoiled. and l can stay
home and nurse you. Climb aboard
and let's get home before you develop
the measles or whooping cough"
1t was a very sullen pair that un-
locked the door Of their fishing hut an
hour later. Whit was shiverlng, 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 n helpless expression.
"Wint, there's only one thing to do
Well have to pack up and go over to
Uncle Wills and see II they will take
you In. You're sneezing your head on
now, and by morning you'll probably
have a fine case Of pneumonia. hate
to do 1t, for Aunt Fanny doesn't ap-
prove Of me or my friends either Tor
that matter" added Jack.
| Again the pair started of and walk
ed through the woods to pretty little
cottage set in among the pines. Aunt
Fanny Beal met them ut the porch.
| She was a woman who held her head
high at all times, but just now 1t
seemed to be straighter than ever.
$50 it's you. Is it," she said as Jack
extended his hand. "Who Is this per-
son with you?" she added as she
glanced at the figure Of Whit, covered
with red mud and hatless.
"Oh. | 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 II you won't take us In for the
night until his clothes get dry.
Where's Uncle VIII? 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" whlned
Aunt Fanny as she opened the door IN
ANYTHING but welcome manner.
"Never mind about me, Aunt Fan
nv" cheerily answered Jack as he saw
the door open for them. "But Whit
must get dry. He's caught a dreadful
cold. fear"
"He doesn't look exactly frail," sug-
gested Mrs. Bea as she glanced at
Wint's somewhat ample proportions.
However. come in and so up to your
uncle's room. suppose you Will leave
this evening. You know we have no
spare room," she added lest they
should avail themselves Of nights
lodging.
Whit did not leave that evening nor
for many, many evenings thereafter.
At 5 o'clock that afternoon the doctor
was sent for. He looked at the flush
ed cheeks and the parched tongue.
He listened to the wheeling breath as
II came so hard and shook his head
1--WE must have nurse at once.
Mrs. Beal. Thu man is very sick. He
must have care or he will die. l Will
send q nurse and will call again later.
Good afternoon" and the doctor was
gone.
For weeks Vint lowered between
life and the great beyond. No one en-
tered the room but the nurse, the doc
tor and Isabelle Beal, Jacks cousin.
She relieved the nurse, and sometimes
even the doctor would call her In to
give q 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.
81 say, nurse" said Whit one day us
Isabelle sat reading to him. I'm glad
that other nurse beat 1t. like you
better"
But you know I'm not really a
nurse at all. Mr.. Miller" said Isabelle
rs she blushed at the inferred compli-
ment. I'm Jacks cousin-Aunt Fan
ny's daughter. you understand. But !
love Jack. and III do anything for his
friends" and she began to read again.
Don't let's read any more" said
Whit. "Just let's talk. don't care
whether you're a really truly nurse or
not III like you cause you're you
and maybe when your mother sees me
dressed like white man she won't
think I'm such a terror. ! certainly
did look like a day laborer out of O
Job the afternoon landed on the front
porch"
81 know" said Isabelle as she laugh
ed heartily and laid down the book
At must have been so funny. Moth
srs terribly proper. you know"
Days went on like this, and Mrs
Beal was gradually won over to the
enemy's cYnp. Every one who knew
Whit Miller loved him-loved him de.
spite his careless, hapless ways. for his
| kindly snirit and other things but