The Democrat-sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1906-1935, 1909-11-04

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III, thar, you, up treel You better
come down" the Ennis boy shouted,
but the tsherwoman remained inyis.
lble. THAT'S nobody but lust that
little Joe Lane. You know, I've told
you she wasn't more'n half a GAL" he
contlded in low aside to Wilmer, who
nodded comprehension.
! He had been hearing things about
Joe, wild piece, motherless, brought
up by a 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
: tnat, she had way-a way that fetch
ed all the fellows In the countryside,
only to be sent about their business
| again, even Steve Batson, who had a
| store and three farms.
The big trout moved sluggishly. Ii
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.
ters 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 it
severed the line and sank back to its
fastness of roots and rocks.
There came tinkling laugh from
the willow tree, followed by merry
voice crying: "Please go away, you
two! ! want to come down before
your big fish comes and eats up mine."
let us help you; you'll never land
him alone" Wilmer called back.
"Oh | can't-not until you CO." the
voice returned.
AT just that moment the trout gave a
wild, running leap, showing clear in
the air. then sounding viciously.
The fisherwoman held fast, but I'm
stopping his rush lost her balance and
went splash into the pool. AS she fell
Wilmer understood-her feet were ab-
solutely bare. He plunged in The
pool was well over his head but 1t was
nothing TO bring the girl safe to the
bank, She still held the line The
Ennis boy snatched 1t from her and
plunged in himself. winding line as he
trod water across half a dozen yards;
then, with a quick dive, reached the
tired trout, held him fast and scram-
bled in triumph to the bank.
Confess that you envy him." the
girl said, noddng 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 me out
instead of the fish," she went on. II
fear you are no true brother of the an.
GLE"
'Well, you see, it was your fish. and
wanted 1t badly" Wilmer pleaded in
excuse.
The girl shook her head "That's
question" she said. "True, / hooked
the trout. with, oh, such q big worm
for bait but didn't land him. Gran.
dad will have to decide the point of
ownership. He used to be a Judge.
wiser than Solomon"
Take me to him at once" Wilmer
commanded. The girl nodded and
darted along footpath, beckoning the
Others to follow. Soon they came upon
Il red brick house with wide, hospitabe
piazzas and open doors.
Judge Lane sat at ease there, smok-
ing and dipping into a big shabby vol
ume of 1zauk Walton. He did not
Shpctnl nt
You. miss, have no sort OF claim to
the fish. You lost it disgracefully
through Ewes sin of curiosity" he
said. "AS for those others, think
they can settle it between them. But,
bark you, Jacky Ennis, you've made q
great catch-one that ought to be
worth at least So"
Wilmer paid more. but the trout was
not sent away. Instead it was cooked
FOR dinner in the Lane kitchen. And
some six months later Wilmer came
lsking the judge for Josephine. The
DID man listened in silence and at the
md said with twinkling eyes:
"Humph. Ii seems that fish case is
mighty hard to settle. What If you
lid pull Joe out of the water-d'ye
happen to know she can swim like
nermaid?'
What has that to do with it?" Will
ner demanded You admit | did pull
ler out 1t was on that ground you
gave Jacky the fish. Surely you don't
mean to reverse yourself?"
NO, for il | did l might be re-re-
'ersed," the judge said. laughing soft
y Besides, I'm a stickler for prece-
lent, and Josephine always has had
Ter own way"