Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-12-10
The Fishman' S
Story
By HARRY VAN AsiBERc
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association.

awhile l find IL necessary 10 tue Dust
ness 10 go where the fish | sell are
caught.
One autumn l went 20 a village
on the coast where most everybody
was either a fisherman or belonged 70
fsherman's family. felt at bone
among them, for that was the way |
started-fshing. Although it was late
In the autumn. used to go out With
the men whenever the weather admit
ted their going themselves.
There was a pair Of sweethearts.
Jim Parker and Susie Dale. used 10
like TO watch them when they were
together. They seemed TO forget that
there was any one else In the town.
But that's the case with most lovers.
One day / was down at the pier when
Jim was bringing his boat to shore
he was a fishermap like the rest-with
a load OF fish. He was at the tiiler
when he caught sight Of Susie stand
ing on the pier, and 1t was refreshing
TO see the smile that lit up his manly
face.
turned for glance at Susie.
and she. too. wore very happy e1-
preston. Then for the first time no
ticed a young man standing near me
looking ut Jim. never saw such a
malignant expression on a mans face
In my life.
Wondering what was the matter be
tween them, l made inquiries ana
learned that the fellow was Jack Hug
gins. who had kept company with Su-
sic before she became engaged to JIM
Indeed. Susie cast OF from Huggins
before she hooked on to Parker. Ey-
erybody said 1t was good move for
Susie. since Jack Higgins was
mighty poor stick. Indeed. il was said
he'd had trouble with the law.
One day l was on the beach looking
at the waves roll in and break On the
beach. 1t was ugly outside--just the
sort OF day that a person would rather
look at the waves from the shore than
be rolling on them. Susie came down
and looked out on the waters anxious
iy.
She didn't need to tell me that her
lover was out there and she was wor-
ried about him. Presently a boat came
rolling around a point about two miles
out. aud it was evident that something
was the matter. There was nothing up
but the lib, and the boat was low IN
the water. Every time she went into
the trough of the sea IL seemed as II
she would never come up again.
heard Susie give cry or aiarm'
and. going TO her. though l had no ac-
auaintance with her. ! asked her about
the boat. She told me hurriedly
throusb tears that 1t was Parkers
boat. was an old hulk not calculated
TO stand such weather. and 1t was
plain from the way 1t dragged that 1t
was sinking.
Casting a glance at the pier. I saw
n sloop rugged fishing smack anchored
within the breakwater. and Jim Hug
gins was on her. doing some sort OF
fixing.
.Pu take that boat" 1 said to Susie.
"and go out and help him."
Not that one" she said You can't
take that. Isn't there another"
mot one in sight"
ran to the pier and got aboard the
boat. Susie followed me- "Parker's
out there In Distress I said. I'VE
must 60 out and help him in"
1850 a nan 10 q fhfur mora
unwi.Iingly in my life. Susie said she
would go too. tried to dissuade her
on the ground that we might not get
back ourselves. But she said that IL
Jim went down she wanted TO go
down too.
TINS was mere than Jim's rival could
stand. And yet what be felt at the
start was nothing to what be felt as
we were beating mp against the wind.
making for Parker's swampirE boat.
It seemed rs IL the tempest stirred up
an the frightfu, devfltry there was in
him I saw it in his eye ard was more
afraid Of his wreckins our purpose
than Of the storm
But. anxious as I was about what he
might do. moderated what was In his
mind. We were within a cables length
Of the man we had come to succcr.
and. leaving the tilier with Higgins, !
went forward to lock out Tor meeting
Parker's boat, which was mighty near
sinking
What did the villain do but try
TO upset MS all Giving the tillsr jerk
to ieeward. he turned the shee. broad
side against the wind I had an oar In
ny band at the time with which to
fend OF. and. seeing the tends pur-
pose. l made few quick steps aft and
hit him a crack over the head The
blow knocked him senseless. snd the
boat righted- But she was nesriy bali
fun OF water. Before Higgins gcf bis
bearings again we had luffed NJ 90