Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1910-04-14
A Fish Story


ProsR)
The willow tree leaned 80 far out
over the water that all that happened
in II was mirrored in the face Of the
stream. There was an eddy at the
tree-foot, with a deepish pool under
meath. Trout lurked in the pool--so
big and 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 Q
local chronicle. In the week since he
had established himself at the Ennis
farmhouse he had been possessed Of at
least half the ins and outs Of Brush
Creek neighborhood.
Ostensibly,i Wilmer was a vagrant
vacationer; really. he was looking out
for remnant tracts Of hardwood tim
Der. A new railway was mooted, not
yet even in the air. but in the minds
Of certain men. Before building It,
they wanted to make certain Of sure
and quick returns. Walnut, white oak.
cherry and ash in suficient amount
would furnish such returns.
Wilmer had been told to spend a
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 dis
tressed. He had rather Dragged Of
the sport they were to have; besides,
Wilmer had promised him silver dol
lar II they managed to catch even one
big trout.
Wilmer had his reasons, aside from
natural liberality. He was on the edge
of falling in love with girl, dragon
guarded. The dragon was a crnsty
uncle, whose sole enthusiasm was for
fish and fishing. II Wilmer could send
off in the nights mail snapshot OF
even a two-pounder, along with 2
chatty account Of the place where such
fish might be caught, he knew he
would come near to establishing him
self 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 mot directly
along the waterside, but across tiny
promontory Of gravelly turf. He knelt
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 in shelter Of the trunk,
flung 1t midstream, little way up
current, so the eddy might suck It right
over to the depths. Then, watching the
ripples spread and turn the water mir
ror's picturings to grotesQue carica-
ture, he became aware that the hole
was preempted-there was home
made line of black fax thread, with a
cork likewise homemade, dangling 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 a word was death to
his chances. The boy, also. had seen
the intruding line. In swift pantomime,
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 maneuvering 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, q lulling chant. There
had been a rufling breeze, but It had
died to utter stiffness. Wilmer watched
his float and the homemade one until
he grew drowsy. And then something
happened that made him wildly awake.
The bungling cork went under with
rush. The next second there leaped
to view, half his silver length above
water. 3 monster trout the most beau
tiful Wilmer had ever seen. He was
fast, having bolted the hook. but that
clumsy line would never hold him.
Moreover, 1t appeared to be but lightly
tied to a swaying willow branch. No
doubt some rustic had left It there.
There could be nobody in the tree.
However, the water mirror had been
shattered, It had had still moments
during which Wilmer had studied 1t
close, yet seen nothing but the gold.
green LEAKAGE. the netted intricacies Of
slender bOughs, the rough and weather
beaten blackness Of the trunk.
What wonder that he scrambled up
the slope Of 1t, made to fling himself
along II, and reach for the linel That
nah must be landed-it was a prize be-