Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-18

crisp October morning.
TOO much sea?' inquired.
He nodded and scratched his gray |
stubbly beard. Winds been east for |
three days now. and that there oily roll |
would turn my dory hull up'ards in no
time No, ma'am, you can tell Miss
Weeks
You can tell her yourself, cap'n,"
came Miss Mar;a's sharp voice from
the gate. Here ber'
There's some roll on today he said.
looking away over the greenish gray
waters of the bay.
First time ever suspected you was
a fair weather sailor" shifted Maria
scornfully.
lit amt me; it's the fish," explained
Captain Barnabas hastily. 81 amt
afraid Of weather.
u shouldn't think the fish would be
either. they being more used to the
water than you are"
They won't bite" explained the cap
tain with dignity.
Fiddle" snapped Maria so sharply
that Captain Barnabas jumped in his
sea boots How is 1t I've smelt fish
| frying over at Lucy brakes every
night this week? Somebody must
catch 'em-I'll find out who it is" She
turned away and went up the gray
eled path to the little white house that
faced Ounce harbor. After she had
slammed the side door l stole a glance
at Captain Barnabas Fish.
Leaning against the picket fence,
his hands in the pockets Of his blue
flannel trousers, his blue eyes squirt
ing across the bay at the black line
of breakwater. Captain Barnabas seem
ed Indifferent to the anger Of the
plump little woman toward whom l
was sure he nourished a secret attach
ment.
Somebody must catch fish for Lucy
Drake" 1 whispered softly. Il won
der who it isv'
A red flush crept from the captains
sunburnt neck up. to his ears and dis
appeared. Miss Telham," he said SOL
EMMY, its me!'
at thought-you said-the fish would
not bite" gasped Indignantly. l was
loyal to Maria, for she was a fine soul
in spite of her affected crustiness.
Lucy Drake did not like. l turned to
the gate. but the captain lifted a huge
brown hand to check my departure.
ut may seem queer to you, ma'am
after my promising Maria I'd bring hel
the first ketch of fish, but l had tC
take them fish to Lucy Drake!'
"WhyT l asked bluntly.
"Becuz," he said, with discouraginf
brevity.
You could easily have brought some
, to Miss Maria as WELL" / said disap
. provingly.
, Luck was ag'in it," he returned
gloomily. You may not believe it
Miss Telham, but been out every day
, for a week past, and amt caught bu
+ one fish each day-and that there fist
I had to give to Lucy Drake"
"Then you have been out fishing thi
morning?"
! DO look like fair weather sailor
ma'am?" he asked coldly. II went on
at daybreak, and | caught one fish
same as usual, and l suspect that yo1
q and Maria will soon be ketching tn
q smell of frying fish from Luc.
Brakes"
l turned my head toward the nea
white cottage next door to Maria's
Surely l could detect a smell of fryinl
fish!
, The whistle of the -four mill smot
i the stiffness of the day.
Its dinner time," observed Captain
Fish, and, with the same nervous hast
exhibited by all Ounce Harborites a
the hour of noon, he nodded briefly ant
plunged down the beach toward tn
dory drawn up on the sand.
He slept and ate and made his HON
on board of his schooner, the Indus
named after ship in the Calcutt
trade of which he had once been mas
ter.
A half hour afterward l went up tn
path into Maria's house, smiling ratt
er guiltily at the smell Of frying blue
fish, which seemed to emanate froI
s. Lucy brakes little kitchen. To m
surprise l caught glimpse of Luc
brakes thin nosed face at the window
y and she was dabbing a handkerchie
against her eyes.
" bGu > uOuSt L W u
instantly hungry. On the oval tab
ID in the low dining room was a platte
On the platter was still sizzling a d,
licious looking bluefish, brown an
- crisp from the frying pan. There WEI
IT. a plate of corn bread and a dish {
creamed potatoes and other goo
things.
Miss Maria flew in from the kitchen
her cheeks a bright crimson and hC
black eyes swapping with some inwar
VI excitement
Il was just going to call you to dil
ner, Miss Telham," she said shortl
10 As we sat down she bobbed her hea
and uttered a hasty and rather u
gracious benediction over the fish pla
Ut ter.
aI Have some fish, she asked short
''If you please. So you got one, af
er all?' | remarked.
uS yes, l got it." she said Significant
with q silver hook, | suppose"
said. with an attempt at humor.
Tn Il caught 1t with fathers old DO
hook, and | fshed for it from t