The Mena weekly star. (Mena, Ark.) 1904-1977, 1911-01-05
The Fishman's
Story
BY HARRY VAN AMBERc
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

I'm in fish myself. and once in
awhile | find it necessary to the bust
ness to go where the fish / sell are
caught.
One autumn l went to a village
on the coast where most everybody
was either fisherman or belonged to
flshermans family. | felt at home
among them. for that was the way
started-hshing. Although it was late
N the autumn. / used TO go out with
he men whenever the weather admit.
led their going themselves.
There was 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 5oat to shore
he was fisherman like the rest-witb
load of fish. He was at the tiller
when he caught sight of Susie stand.
ing on the pier. and 1t was refreshing
TO see the smile that bit up his manly
face.
turned for a glance at Susie,
and she. too, wore a very happy ex-
preston Then for the first time / no
liced a young man standing near me
looking at Jim. | never saw such a
malignant expression on a mans face
in my life.
Wondering what was the matter be-
tween them, made inquiries and
learned that the fellow was Jack Hug
gins. who had kept company with SUI
sic before she became engaged to Jim.
indeed. Susie cast off from Huggins
before she hooked on to Parker. Ev-
erybody said 1t was a good move for
Susie. since Jack Higgins was a
mighty poor stick Indeed. it was said
he'd had trouble with the law
One day was on the beach looking
ut 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
~.
She didn't need to tell me that her
over was out there and she was wor-
led about him. Presently a boat came
rolling around point about two miles
ut. and it was evident that something
was the matter. There was nothing up
but the jlb. and the boat was low in
the water. Every time she went into
he trough of the sea 1t seemed as II
he would never come up again.
heard Susie give a cry Of alarm
nd. going TO her. though had no ac
quaintance with her, asked her abou.
The boat. She told me hurrieGly
through tears that It was Parker's
boat. was an cd hulk not calculated
% stand such weather. and it was
plain from the way it dragged that it
was sinking.
Casting a glance at the pier, saw
n slcop rugged fishing smack anchored
within the brcakwater. 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
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" said. I'VE
must go out and help him in"
never saw man do thing more |
Gnwillingly in my life. Susie said she |
would 70 too. | tried to disseade her |
on the ground that we might not get |
lack ourselves. But she said that If
Jim went down she wanted TO 20 !
down too.
This was more than Jim's rival could |
stand And yet what he felt ut the
start was nothing to what he felt as
We were beating up against the wind.
making for Parker's swapping boat. |
t seemed as If the tempest stirred ~
al the fri-htfuI deviltry there was IN
bin. ] saw it in his eye ana 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 we're within n cables length
Of the man we had come TO snccor,
and. leaving the tiler with HIGGINS. I
went forward to look out for meeting
Parker's boat. which was mighty near
sinking.
What did the villain do but try
TO upset us all. Giving the tillcr jerk
10 leeward. he turned the sheet broad
side against the wind. had an oar in
my hand at the time with which to
fend of. and. seeing the fiend's pur-
pose. made few quick steps aft and
bit him crack over the head The
blow knocked him senseless and the
boat righted But she was nearly half
FULL of water Before Higgins got his
earrings again we had luffed up to
he leeward Of Parker's craft and he
sprang aboard of MS. The stunned
man came to himself just in time to
see Susie spring into her lovers arms.
But at the moment another matter
diverted our attention. A big wave
came. and our boat. being loaded with
water. dragged in it fearfully. I sure
y thought we were going down. But
he righted. and when we looked for
I'm Parker's boat 1t was not to be