Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1909-11-05
ROCKVILLE MARYLAND FRIDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER s. 1909.

NYNXXWYWWWWWNYX
The willow tree leaned 50 far out
over the water that all that happened
In It was mirrorcd In the face OF the
stream. There was an eddy at the
tree foot, with derpish poof under.
meath, Trout Iuvkeds ii the pool, 10
big Sad wary they were the despair
Of all neighborhood fishermen.
The Ennis boy, of course, had told
Wilmer all about them. Wilmer, in
deed, had found the lad much like
local chronicle. In the week since he
had established himself at the Ennis
farmhouse he had been possessed of at
least half the ms and outs of Brush
creek neighborhood.
Ostenslbly Wilmer was vagrant va
catloner; really he was looking out for
remnant tracts of hardwood timber.
A new railway was mooted, not yet
even In the air. but In the minds OF
certain men. Before building 1t they
wanted TO make certain of sure and
quick returns. Walnut, white oak,
cherry and ash in sufficient amount
would furnish such returns.
Wilmer had been told to spend
fortnight looking for timber Now, at
the middle of the fortnight he knew
he need look no more. so he was giving
his whole mind TO the enjoyment OF
fishing; hence today's excursion begun
at sunrise. SO far the excursion had
been fruitless. The Ennis boy was
distressed. He had rather Dragged
Of the sport they were to have. Be-
sides, Wilmer had promised him sill
yer dollar IL they managed to catch
even one big trout
Wilmer had his reasons aside from
natural llberality. He was on the
edge of falling In love with a girl,
dragon guarded. The dragon was n
crusty uncle whose sole enthusiasm
was for fish and fishing If Wilmer
snapshot OF even two FOUNDER, along
with chatty account of the place
where such fish might be caught, he
knew he would come near to estab-
fishing himself in the dragons good
graces. He would also do well for
his immediate principals. since the
: dragon was among the chiefest of those
depended on to finance the new line.
So he came to the willow tree with
something beyond sportsman eager
ness. Approach to 1t was not directly
along the water side, but across a
tiny promontory of gravelly turf. He
kneIt among the taut outstanding roots
stretching back Of It. made ready his
hook. batting 1t with the choicest min
now In the bucket; then. advancing
covertly, still I'm shelter Of the trunk,
flung 1t mldstream, little way up
current, so the eddy might suck It
right over to the depths. Then, watch
Ing the rlpples spread and turn the
water mirrors plcturings to grotesque
carlcature, he became aware that the
hole was pre-empted-there was
homemade line Of black fax thread,
with a cork. likewise homemade, dan
Cling from the tree, the cork bobbing
and dipping In exactly the middle of
the pool.
He dared not speak. The Ennis lad
had warned him word was death to
his chances. The boy also had seen
the lntrudlng line. In swift panto-
mime, by throwing himself prone and
lying at ease, he counseled Wilmer to
stay. 1t was good counsel, Wilmer
decided. He stood fast, keeping well
away from the bank and so maneu-
verlng his rod as to keep his bait
properly In motion.
The eddy was big and slow, so slow
1t made one sleepy to watch 1t. The
mounting May sun was warm and
vital, the drone Of bees In the bass
wood tops or over the sparse white
clover blooms n lulllng chant. There
had been n rufiiing breeze, but 1t Ind
died to utter stiffness Wilmer watch
ed his float and the homemade one I'M
I'll he grew drowsy. And then some
thing happened that made him wildly
awake.
The bungllng cork went under with
a rush. The next second there leaped
to view, half his silver length above
water, monster trout, the most beau
tlful Wilmer had ever seen. He was
fast, having bolted the hook, but that
CLUMSY line WOulu never uOlu HlHl.
Moreover, II appeared to be but lightly
tied to swaying willow branch. No
doubt some rustic had left 1t there.
There could be nobody In the tree.
However>the water mirror had been
shattered, 1t had had still moments
during which Wilmer had studied IL
close. yet seen nothing but the gold
green leafage, the netted intricacies of
slender boughs, the rough and wealth
er beaten blackness Of the trunk.
What wonder that he scrambled up
the slope Of 1t, made to fling himself
along 1t and reach for the line! That
fish must be landed; 1t was prize be-
yond hope. His fingers were almost
upon the cord when he snatched them
back as II from fire. Another hand
had reached for the llne-one small
and suDburned, with strawberry stain
ed fingers that yet were beautifully tn
pered. 1t was girls hand-a very
pretty girls. He saw that ut glance
- he said rather breathlessly:
Don't lose him. Give him line-as
little as you can. Heavens, how no
fights, You-you had better come
down-or let me land him for you"
"You better look at your own lIookr'
the Ennis boy shouted.
Wilmer half fell from the Tree. His