The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-05-18
"Old Muskie" the Rogue.
ny LEVI II. PENNINGTON.

close friends; ana altnOugn Carl s
father was the most prosperous man
in the community, and Lee was the
scu of poor widow, they had al
ways been together, and had been
leaders of the class that had been
graduated from the local high school
the month before.
Tonight they had been discussing
for the hundredth time their plans
for the coming year. Carl was going
to college in the autumn-that was
settled thing-and Lee longed to go
as he had never longed for anything
before in his life. There was moth
ing to prevent his going but the lack
of funds. His mother was to spend
the winter with married daughter,
ten years his senior. He had schol-
arship in the college and a chance
to pay his way in part by working
in the college library. But that
would take all his spare time, and
he was sure that he would still lack
enough to carry him through the
first year.
Both boys dearly love Lake Wanna
Wasso, on the shore of which they
lived. 1t was indeed one of the most
beautiful of all the sheets of water
which a half-century ago knew the
dip of the Indians paddle and the
ripple of his birch-bark canoe. There
may be other waters as clear and
sweet as those of northern Michigan,
but the native and the enthusiastic
summer visitor find it hard to believe
1t.
Both Lee and Carl spent much of
their time in the employ of the peo-
pie at Forest Lodge during the sum-
mer, when the Chicago fishermen,
headed by the wealthy Camerons,
were there for three months.
Lee was in Mr. Cameron's special
employ, and from him had learned
the art of bait-casting. At the close
of the previous season, Mr.. Cameron
had given him his longest and strong
est maskinonge casting-rod; it was
too heavy now for Mr.. Cameron, who
found his casting arm seriously Grip
pied by rheumatism.
1t was but a few days after Lees
last talk with Carl Mills that he heard
Mr.. Cameron and Mr.. Gardner dis
cusslng the fine collection of mounted
fish belonging to Mr.. Cameron in
Chicago. Mr.. Gardner was speaking
of 1t in glowing terms, and was
especially praising maskinonge in
the collection.
YES" said Mr.. Cameron, "that
certainly was fine fish when Smith
son took him out of this lake five
years ago; but had set my heart on
a bigger one. I wanted one that
would weigh over fifty pounds when
he came out of the water, and that
one weighed only forty-three. I'd
gladly give one hundred dollars for
specimen caught with hook and line
that would tip the scales at fifty
pounds or better"
do you think you'll ever find
one?" asked Mr.. Gardner.
II hardly know" said Mr.. Cam
eron. 1.-TWO years ago one was netted
in the river near Detroit which was
over that weight, but l did not learn
of it until too late; and, anyway, l
want one that was caught with hook
and line. and the story of whose
capture / can know"
Two weeks later, one morning
when Mr.. Cameron had decided that
he would not go out upon the lake,
Lee Henly padded light canoe out
across Forest Lodge Cove and prac-
tised with his casting-rod. In this
cove there seemed to be no fish at
ALL although elsewhere in the lake
here three great elm-trees with
spreading tops had fallen into the
lake years before.
There they still lay, water-logged,
their hundreds of branches forming
miniature jungle under water, just
off the bold shore. Merely for prac-
tise, Lee dropped his casting-bait
near these treetops, and started to
reel in.
Then he almost fell from the boat,
for there was great swirl in the
water where his minnow was spin
ming along, a broad tail came out
and hit the water with tremendous
splash, and he struck but did not
hook the fish, which, however, he
saw to be enormous.
That night he said to Carl Mills,
Carl, l believe 1 see chance for
college,"
What is it?" asked his friend.
Then Lee told of the conversation
he had heard, and of the great fish
that had given him a strike. "And
I believe that he weighs over fifty
pounds, and that / can catch him If
you will help me-" he said.
There was but one day in the
week, however, that they could try
for the big fish, for both were en-
ployed that year every weekday ex-
cept Tuesday, when Mr.. Cameron
went to the town fifteen miles away;
and on Tuesday they dared to fish
only in the very early morning, for
fear some of the fisherman at Foraef