The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-08-22
A DOUBLE MYSTERY.
torIslnaIl

lOllblual-l
Chester Ward was an angler. When
summer came around and It was time
for vacation be always hled himself
TO the woods and waters with his rod
established himself az some point
about which fish congregate and pro-
ceeded to enjoy the days. He never
took companion with him for che
reason that he had no chum who loved
fishing as he did. and any one who
was Indifferent to the sport would
spoil It for him.
one summer Mr.. Ward located his
headquarters at the village OF D..
surrounded by lakes, in which were
many kinds Of fsh, and by streams
well stocked with trout. On the morn
ing after his arrival. before other pee
pie had risen, he was stepping lightly
along the street OF the village, armed
to the teeth with weapons 10 attaclz
fish. moving in the direction Of lake.
when he passed a white cottage With
green blinds On the porch hung a
small school blackboard, on which was
chalked; .s,s-s-ss .,ss,.
Ice-cream. sVg-s.
Ward surmlsed that the first was n
notice TO the iceman anG the secoaG
a notice TO the milkman. Thinking is
would be good Joke to make sligo
Of it. he took up piece of chalk that
lay handy on a window sill anG wrote
under the other words ''anc sodn wr-
ter" so that It read: ~
leo cream-and sodn Water
When he returned in the evening the
blackboard had been wiped clean. bue
the next morning when he went out
again he saw written on It: "a
Fish. <ss. :. y
BY this time he was n bit ashamed
Of hirlssIf for having intcrfered with
some housewife, as he supposed. In
her notifications to- tradosmen. and.
desiring IS make rcparation. he Fs-
turned TO his quarters and. selecting a
fine pickerel from the mess OF the day
before, left II at the back door, where
II would doubtless be discovered by
tho cook when she came down ana
opened up the kitchen cor the day.
The next morning as Ward passed
on his daily journey TO the fishing
grounds he looked, as usual, for the
notice OF what was wanted in the way
of supplies. The notice read: - =
Trout.
II so happened that he had brought
home a fine string Of trout the day be-
FORE and, being quite pleased at the
Whimsical idea of furnishing supplies
to the housewife who supposed she
| was getting them from the tradesmen.
he turned again to his quarters. got
! half dozen fat trout and deposited
them at the kitchen door. he chuckled
TO himself nc the dialogue between tho
housewife aud the nshmonger In their
efforts TO explain the mystery. There
was bit of mystery for him as
well On his return evenings, which
was usually about . O'clock when ho
passed the house he looked at It, hop.
Ing 10 catcl. sight OF the housewife,
for at that hour. OF course, every one
In the town was stirring. But never
once did he see human being ia or
about the cottage
On the fourth morning that Ward
went out on his journey the sign ON
the blackboard read: o,ns.ste
II happened that the route 20 chs
fishing ground was lined with luscious
blackberries. Ward. who by this time
was nearly as much interested in the
requirements os the white cottage az
with his fishing hurried on. gathered
a couple Of quarts Of berries, went
back 10 the house and deposited them
IN i heap on the morning paper. Then
he sped away, fearing some one might
| get out Of bed aud discover him.
The next morning came surprise
When Ward looked at the blackboard
he did so with wide open eyes. There
was the word: --..s.. a
Now, there were no flowers tc DO
purchased IN the village. at any sste
at that hour IN the morning. 2ue
Ward had seen lots OF wild fl2wers 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 nlmbly on 10 the porch
and was about to lay them before the
front door when Il opened. and tnere
stood as pretty o girl as be had ever
seen, blushing, laughing and. above
an her eyes dancing with mischief.
lie doffed hls hat
- have 70 thank YOU" said the girl.
"for the delicious fish aud berries you
have brought me and now for these
beautiful hOWersn
$50 ifs you who have the joke or
me instead Of the Joke on your
II was up ana dressing whom you
pissed the first morning Hearing
some Que on the porch. l looked
through the blinds and saw you go
away with your rod and basket when
went down | found the change You
had made on the board. Knowing
a.. al