The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1908-12-24
Observation-Disclosures.
A DOUBLE MYSTERY.
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Chester Ward was an angler. When
summer came around and it was time
for vacation he always hied himself
to the woods and waters with his rod,
established himself at some point
about which fish congregate and pro-
ceeded to enjoy the days. He never
took a companion With him for the
reason that he had no chum who loved
fishing as he did, and any one who
spoil it for him.
One summer Mr.. Ward located his
headquarters at the village of ID.
surrounded by lakes, i'll which were
many kinds of fish, and by streams
we'll stocked with trout. On the morn.
ing after his arrival before other peo'
pie had risen, he was stepping lightly
along the street of the village, armed
to the teeth with weapons to attack
fish. moving in the direction of a lake,
when he passed a white cottage With
green blinds. On the porch hung a
small school blackboard, on which was
chalked:
Ice-Cream
Ward surmiSed that the first was 4
notice to the iceman and the second
notice to the milkman. Thinking ii
would he Il good joke to make a sign
NJ hp 0f f.h0
lay handy on a window sill and wrote
under the other words "and soda wa
ter so that it read:
Ice Greenland Soda Water
When he returned in the evening tbs
i, blackboard had been wiped clean, but
! the next morning when he went out
again he saw written on it:
Fish
BY this time he was a bit ashamed
Of himself for having interfered with
some housewife, as he supposed in
her notifications to tradesmen, and,
desiring TO make reparaton, he re.
turned to his quarters and, selecting q
fine pickerel from the mess of the day
before, left it at the back door, where
it would doubtless be discovered by
the cook when she came down and
opened up the kitchen for the day.
The next morning as Ward passed
on his daily journey to the fishing
grounds he looked, as usual, for the
J notice of what was wanted i'll the way
of supplies The notice read:
Trout.
1t so happened that he had brought
home fine string of trout the day be
fore, and, being quite pleased at the
whimsical idea of furnishing supple.
to the housewife who supposed sh'
half a dozen fat trout and deposited
them at the kitchen door. He chuckeG
housewife and the fshmongcr in theil
efforts 70 explain the mystery. There
was a bit Of mystery for him a.
we'll On his return evenings, which
was usually about 5 O'clock. when he
passed the house he looked ut it, hop
ing to catch sight of the housewife
for at that hour, of course, every one
in the town was stirring. But never
once did he see a human being in OF
about the cottage.
On the fourth morning that Ward
went out on his journey the sign on
the blackboard read:
Berries
1t happened that the route to the
fishing ground was lined with luscious
blackberries. Ward, who by this time
was nearly as much interested in the
requirements Of the white cottage as
with his fishing, hurried on, gathered
a couple Of quarts of berries, went
back TO the house and deposited them
IN heap on the morning paper. Then
he sped away, fearing some one might
get out of bed and discover him.
The next morning came surprise
When Ward looked at the blackboard
he did SO with wide open eyes. There
was the word
| Flowers.
Now, there we're no flowers to be
purchased in the village, at any rate
at that hour in the morning But
Ward had seen lots Of wild flowers in
the woods He repeated his effort of
the day before, only this time he gath.
cred flowers instead of berries, and
hurried back to the house with them
Instead of taking them to the kitchen
he stepped nimbly OH to the porcl
and was about to lay them before the
front door when it opened, and there
stood as pretty girl as he had ever
seen, blushing, laughing and, above
all, her eyes dancing With mischief
He DOTTED his hat
II have to thank YOU said the girl
"for the delicious fish and berries you
have brought me and now for these
beautiful flowers"
$50 it's you who have the joke on
me instead of the joke on you?"
Il was up and dressing when you
passed the first morning Hearing
some one on the porch, looked
through the blinds and saw you 90
away with your rod and basket. When