Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1910-12-09
The Fishman's
Story
BY HARRY VAN AMBERC
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.
BY HARRY VAN AMBER

ness to go where the fish l sell are
caught.
One autumn l went to a village
on the coast where most everybody
was either fisherman or belonged to
a fisherman's family. l felt at home
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 to
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 l was down at the pier when
Jim was bringing his boat to shore
he was a fisherman like the rest-with
O load of fish He was at the tiller
when he caught sight Of Susie stand
ing on the pier, and it was refreshing
to see the smile that lit up his manly
face.
I turned for a glance at Susie,
and she, too, wore a very happy ex-
preston. Then for the first time l no.
ticed a young man standing near me
looking at jim. l never saw such a
malignant expression on a mans face
in my life.
Wondering what was the matter be-
tween them, l made inquiries and
learned that the fellow was Jack Hug
gins, who had kept company with Su-
sic before she became engaged to Jim.
Indeed, Susie cast off from Higgins
before she hooked on to Parker. Ev-
erybody said it was a good move for
Susie. since Jack Higgins was
mighty poor stick. Indeed, it 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 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
ly.
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. and 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 it seemed as If
she would never come up again.
l heard Susie give a cry of alarm,
and, going to her though I had no ac-
quaintance with her, asked her about
the boat. She told me hurriedly
through tears that it was Parker's
boat was an old hulk not calculated
to stand such weather. and it was
plain from the way it dragged that 1t
was sinking
Casting a glance at the pier. I saw
a sloop rugged fishing smack anchored
within the breakwater, and Jim Hug
gins was on her, doing some sort of
fixing.
"Ill take that boat" said to Susie.
"and go out and help him.
"Not that one" she said. You can't
mot one in sight"
l ran to the pier and got aboard the
boat. Susie followed me- "Parker's
out there in Distress" I said. 1--WE
must go out and help him in"
l never saw man do thing more
unwillingly 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 II
Jim went down she wanted to go
down too.
This was more than Jim's rival could
stand. And yet what he felt at the
start was nothing to what he felt as
we were beating up against the wind,
making for Parker's swapping boat
1t seemed as If the tempest stirred I'D
all the frightful deviltry there was in
him. l saw it in his eye and was more
afraid Of his wrecking 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 succor, |
and. leaving the tiller with Higgins, |
went forward to look out for meetinl
Parker's boat, which was mighty near
sinking.
What did the villain do but try
to upset us all Giving the tiller jerk
to leeward, he turned the sheet broad |
side against the wind. | had an oar in !
my hand at the time with which to |
fend Off and, seeing the fiend's pur-
pose, l made few quick steps aft and |
hit him crack over the head. The |
blow knocked him senseless. and the |
boat righted But she was nearly halt |
full Of water. Before Higgins got HE
bearings again we had luffed up tc |
the leeward Of Parker's craft and he |
sprang aboard of us. The stunned |
man came to himself just in time to
see Susie spring into her lovers arms. |
But at the moment another matter |
al