The Democratic advocate., 1909-11-19

must himself have hooked the grand
father Of all trout. but 1t was nothing
like SO game.
Hi, thar, you, UP tree! You better
come down. the Ennis boy shouted.
but the flsherwoman remained invis.
ible. That's nobody but just that
little Joe Lane. You know, I've told
you she wasn't more'n half a gal," he
confided in low aside to Wilmer, who
nodded comprehension.
He had been hearing things about
Joe. a wild piece. motherless. brought
up by mad old grandfather, to the
scandal of all the overgood, for she
had never been sent to school and had
done exactly as she pleased all through
her nineteen years of life. More than
that. she had way--a way that fetch
ed, all tha fellows in the countryside,
only to be sent about their business
again. even Steve Batson, who had
store and three farms.
The big trout moved sluggishly. It
was simply marvellous how that FAX
line had held him. Wilmer was wild
to ask what bait had lured him even
though his own quarry filed his hands.
He was reeling In deftly, but slowly,
making gains now Of foot, now Of an
inch. He had not yet got sight Of his
prize. Suddenly, In spite Of reeling in.
the line slackened. He saw at the wa
ter's surface the snaky head and neck
Of big swapping turtle. An instant
the creature held fast, permitting itself
to be drawn toward the bank; then II
severed the line and sank back to its
fastness of roots and rocks.
There came a tlnklinR laugh from
the willow tree, followed by n merry
voice crying: "Please go away. you
two! / want TO come down before
your big fish comes and eats mp mine"
let us help you; you'll never land
him alone" Wilmer called back.
"oh. cau't-not until you CO." the
voice returned.
At just that moment the trout gave
wild. running leap, showing clear In
the air, then sounding viciousiy.
The fishcrwoman held fast. but IN
stopping his rush lost her balance and
went splash into the pool As she fell
Wilmer understood her feet were alb.
solutely bare, He plunged In, The
pool was well over his head. but Il was
nothing TO bring the girl safe 10 tho
bank. She still held the line The
Ennis boy snatched II from her and
plunged IN himself, winding line as he
trod water across half a dozen yards;
then With quick dive. reached the
tired trout, held him fast and scram.
bled Ia tsInmnlA No the bank.
Confess ~ nu envy him" the
girl said. noddif toward the Ennis
boy. She stood dripping but happy.
making no effort even to wiring the wa.
ter from her skirts. 81 can't under.
stand why you chose TO pull INC out
instead Of the FISH" she went on II
fear you are no true brother Of the nm.
gle"
well. you see. II was your fsh. and
wanted It badly" wilmer pleaded IN
excuse
The girl shook her head. That's a
question" she said True, hooked
the trout. with. OH. such big worm
for bait. but didn't land bin Gran.
dad win have 20 decide the point OF
ownership. lie used 10 be a Judge.
sou know, and IL. I'm sure. much
wiser than Solomon"
Take me 10 him at once" Wilmer
commanded, The girl nodded and
darted along footpnth. bcckoning the
others TO follow. Soon they came upon
a red brick house with wide. hospitnble
plazzas and open doors.
Judge Lane Snt at ease there. smok.
Ing and dipping into big shabby vol
ume Of Lzaak Walton. lie did moi
seem shocked AZ Joe's plight
"Yoa, miss. have no sort Of claim "a
the fish You lost II dIsgracefully
through Ewes sin Of curiosity" he
said AS for those others. l think
they can settle IL between them. But
bark YOU, Jacky Ennis. you've made o
great catch-one that ought 10 be
worth nt least So"
Wilmer paid more. but the trout was
not sent away. Instead II was cooked
for dinner In the Lane kitchen. Aud
some six months later Wilmer came
asking the Judge for Josephine. The
old man listened In silence and at the
end said with twinkling eyes:
'Humph, 1t seems that ilsh case II
mighty hard to settle What n you
did pull Joe out OF the water-d'yt
happen 10 know she can swim like u
mermaidT
what has that TO do with itf" VII.
mer demanded. "You admit / did pull
her out. II was on that ground you
gave Jaeky the fish. Surely you don't
mean to reverse yourselfT
mo, for II did / might be re-re
yersed." the judge said. laughing soft.
ly. Besides. I'm a stickler for prece
dent, and Josephine always has hat
her own way"
Did His Best.