Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1914-09-24
TRESPA PASSERs'
BY LESLIE TRENT.

AuOSt RH. .tAN0A9k AASG.
the place." admonished Miss Pris-
ella Fem as she climbed into the.
station bus.
"I leave the place in your care and
i do hope that when I come home 1
won't find a whole posse of fishermSc
sitting by my trout stream. Good
by, dear, and send word at once il
you are i'll OF anything happens
Martha will take care of you-and
yes, Mr.. Penny, Pm ready-good-by,
Dorothy, good-by!"
After Miss Priscilla Fem had
bought and paid for trout caught in
her own brook by willy fisher lads, she
established a system of patrol along
the banks that involved her house.
hold in additional labor and kept the
three women keyed up to high nerv-
GUS tension all the time.
AS for Dorothy, she did not much
care, for she loved the deep woods
and the brown brook was q favorite
retreat for her.
"Now, Miss Dorothy, you amt
ever going down to that nasty brook
this morning?" protested Martha
with the familiarity of an old and
privileged servitor.
''Them trouts amt biting every
day-why, Ive heard tell that Mr..
Whitaker himself has been known
to fish for three days without catch
ing bite even; but he's dreadful
crank at it. So 'tain't likely them
boys will ketch anything if they do
fish"
81 dare say you're right, Martha,
but | promised Aunt Priscilla /
would keep watch and you know she
is very particular about it. Suppose
you ring the big bell for me when
luncheon is readv-then | will be
sure to hear it"
Every well. Miss Dorothy. but
look here Martha went to CHM
ney cupboard and took from it an
ancient and rnsted pistol of enor-
nous size. Il never go into thc deep
woods without this weapon and you
take it in case anybody scares You.
Law, ii amt loaded wouldn't
carry it if it was. But you can show
it and frighten 'em Off. There, I'll
put it in this little basket with some
pears and cookies---run along now"
20, Martha. YOU are the funniest
old dear" laughed Dorothy. III
you hear tremendous explosion You
will know that this old cannon has
gone Off and frightened ol the trout
to death. Ho. hum. If they only
would depart TO other streams we
wouldn't have to do scrtrv-go. eli.
Martha?"
Established under an oak whose
shining green leaves overhung the
dancing stream, Dorothy tossed aside
her hat and allowed line vagrant
breeze to ruffle her red-gold hair.
Afier awhile she got up and
walked along the bank Of the stream,
following ii striped chipmunk dart
Ing through the underbrush. The
chlpmunk disappeared in his hole,
and flock of chickadees performed
antics on the branches of dogwood
tree
There was q splash sharp eIcla-
nation and the whirring of reel.
Dorothy forgot everything save that
there was trespasser near by.
Silently she went back to her
basket and was astOnished to find
tina; she mad wandered SO far-why.
she had even crossed the brook on
the stepping-stones in her chase of
the chipmunk who was a venture
some mite-and she hid the pistol
IN the blouse of her sailor suit and
went back across the stepping stones
to that spot beyond the alders where
she had heard the sound of a fisher
mans reel spinning out.
At last she could see him-a sum
Drowned hatless youth clad in old
clothes, with pipe between his teeth
ard his blue eyes bright with excite
ment as he played a splendid trout
in and out of the deeps and shadows
OF the stream. At last he whooped
exultantly and landed the speckled
beauty on the messy bank
What are you doing here ?" asked
Dorothy sternly as she broke through