The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-07-21


Carl Mills and Lee Henly were
separating for the night. They were
close friends; and although Carl's
!atner was the most prosperous man
In the community, and Lee was the
son or n poor widow, they had al
ways hSan together, and had been
ieadef of the class that had been
gradtSfed from the local high school
the month before.
Tonight they had been discussing
Tor the hundredth time their plans
Tor the coming year. Carl was going
10 college in the autumn-that was
settled thing-and Lee longed to 20
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 a married daughter.
ten years his senior. He had a schol-
arshfp in the college and a chance
10 pay his way in part by working
In the college library. But that
would take all his spare time. and
ne was sure that he would still lack
about one hundred dollars of having
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 half-century ago knew the
dip or 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
it.
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.
u Lee was in Mr.. Cameron's special
0 employ, and from him had learned
the art of bait-cas.ing. 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 few days after Lees
last talk with Carl Mills that he heard
Mr.. Cameron and Mr. Gardner dis
cussing the fine collection of mounted
1sh belonging to Mr.. Cameron in
Chicago. Mr.. Gardner was speaking
or 1t in glowing terms, and was
especially praising a muskinonge in
The collection.
Yes, said Mr.. Cameron. "that
certainly wis fine fish when Smith
son LOOK him out OF this lake five
years ago; but had set my heart on
plsser one. / wanted one that
would weigh. over fifty pounds when
he camc out OF the water, and that
oac weighed only forty-thrce. I'd
gladly give one hundred dollars for a
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.
Il hardly know" said Mr. Cam
eron. Two years ago one was netted
In the river near Detroit which was
over that weight. but did not leaRn
OF 1t until too late; and. anyway n
want one that was caught with hook
and line. and the story of whoS.
capture I can know" ~
Two weeks later, one .S6orninc
when Mr.. Cameron had decided that
he would not so ut~,npon the lake.
1Sc iieRly padE1eda 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
fish were plentiful At one point
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
n miniature jungle under water, Just
off the bold shore. Merely for prac-
tise, Lee dropped his casting bait
near these treetops, and started to
recl in.
Then he almost fell from the boat,
water where his minnow was spin
ming along. a broad tail came out
and hit the water with a tremendous
splash, and he struck but did not
hook TIE fish, which, however. he
saw tn DC enormous.
That night he said to Carl Mills
"Carl. believe 1 see a chance for
y lcge."
Wat is i:?" asked his friend.
Then Ice told of the conversation
had leard. ard OF the great fish
That had given him strike. "And
belie"e that he weighs over fifty
pou:ds. and that I can catch him II
yeu will Lc!p me-" he said.
1..nc hat onn ,l.u