Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1913-08-07

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In most eastern states the egisla-
lures have wisely enacted among the
game laws a closed season Of two
summer months for fish. Pckerel,
pike, bass and bulheads must not be
caught in those months, but II hooked
must be returned to the water at once.
And after enacting those wise laws
the wise men provided for the apopint-
ment of game wardens to enforce
them. The said game wardens, In
nineteen cases out Of twenty, pin on
a badge which they have had made
at the nearest tin shop, and sit down
with their dignity and permit every
body to catch all the fsh they want
to. III tho nsh are foolish enough to
be caught when the law says they
shan't be, and there 10 IN ondal
standing on the bank with . tin badge
pinned to his left breast. then It is
bad for the fish,
When young Arthur Coleman was
appointed game warden for the dis.
trict OF Glen Lake there was some
thing doing right away. When hear
ing OF his appointment about fifty
persons had replied: 4
Young Coleman, eh? Oh, he's all
right. He would stand by and see you
pull out a dozen fish and never say q
world"
And then came the surprise The
warden had half q dozen men up the
frst week, and they had to pay fines
OF Ave dollars each. There were near
~ es many the second week, and then
everybody quit fishing to have breath
enough to abuse the 0flcial. When
Miss Mary Weeds, who had arrived at
an uncertain age without ever having
been loved, heard Of the appointment
she laughed.
q. shall keep right on fishing" she
said. III.
but Arthur will catch you at It,"
was replied.
II suspect he w1n."
"And you'll be taken into court ana
fined"
ooh, no. You do not exactly under
stand the case"
And then she Flushed and Uttered
and giggled, and caused the report
to 20 all around the lake that she
and Arthur Coleman were engaged.
Miss Weed fished.
She flshed for any sort Of fish she
could catch.
She almost sent direct word to the
warden that she vas fishing. He
answered by catching her just after
she had caught four fish one day, and
she went into court-as an aggravated
case and was fined $40.
How could you do it-how could
you!" she walled.
And amidst the strangers down
from the city came Miss Katherine
Greyton to visit her uncle and aunt,
who had.a farm bordering on the
lake. They were old people and didn't
pay much attention to what was going
on around them. There was the lake
there were fish in the lake-there was
an enthusiastic girl and q leaky old
boat. OF course Miss Katherine would
ish-of course!
"Oh, l guess there's fish enough
said Uncle jim when the matter was
brought up, "but I'm tryin' to think
OF what + heard down at the post
ONCE a few days ago"
WAS 1t about q game warden?"
asked Aunt Eunice.
That's 1t. They don't allow no
more fshin' till fall"
"Wbo Doesn't" defantly asked the
visitor.
ITS the law hereabouts that don't,
II guess"
We'll. what have I got to do with
your old laws-I don't live here"
"Of course she don't" said Amt
Eunice.
THAT'S so-that's So" agreed Uncle
Jim.
The next morning Miss Katherine
walked down to the hamlet store fol
an outfit Of hooks and lines. just
before entering she met the Weed old
maid. They felt the enmity when vel
ten feet away. and as they met they
glared at each other and struck, uI
their noses and respectively said:
From the city, and she thinks she
owns the earth"