The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-01-20


kind of soaked this picture into m,
soul" 49,, 's
Crawford shook the water Off his hat
and stamped his feet.
He had come cross lots, through the
nigh grass, and the very skw,,nch
skwunch Of the wet leather on his feet
was music. an obligato, to the slap
swish, slap-swish of the river which
sprawled over and about the runway
s!oping down from the penthouse
| doors.
This was air, washed clean. cleal
from the heavens, indebted by smoke
or dust or contact with living things
nectarous, Gods own. .a%,sA.+.
He leaned against the Jamb. breath
ing, breathing, with a little smack of
his lips just before he let the breath
go He wanted the good of it in his
veins, in his marrow. In another day
he would forget that he had ever been
anything but an outdoor man. of sim.
pie habits, simple thoughts.
How well he knew every nook and
corner of these wonderful waters, Eu-
rope, Asia, Africa and the south sea
isles, North and South America he
knew, but none of them called like this
quiet but rugged spot. Often while
sitting on the balconies or verandas of
notable foreign hotels his thought had
annihilated the distance.
He could see boat after boat coming
in toward evening, the catch thrown
care]essly OIL the dock; he could hear
the banter of the bronZed guides. the
Dragging of the fishermen and the ho
tel bartender's polite "Well. what luck
today, sir?"
Uncle Billy, vainly pretending to
sQuint at the business end of a spark
plug held between his eyes and the
light. watched his young friend COW
ertly.
Didn't look as fit as usual. Been
staying up late and lying abed morn
ings. Two or three days on the water
would take that look cut Of his face
''Lester III from Keed'sy" asked
Crawford presently.
"Yestiddv."
ANY one got him?''
Nope. Ill have him around at tn
hotel after supper. He'll he tickled t.
death t. row you. He's in luck. Two
good fishermen in enc season. He's tn
best guide mp hare. Mighty good O.
you t. stick t NE all these years. But
y see, it don't make no ulnerence t.
you who rows. You know where t. go
N how t. fish, n when you don't git
'em nobuddy does"
Crawford laughed, and instantly it
occurred to him that this was the first
time he had laughed honestly in
months.
"Y' see, Testers a horned guide.
Whut he don't know bout birds n
fish Why, tn game commissioners
could go t. school with him N larn a
hull lot. Bring tn guns?"
"Yes."
"Lots O black duck this year. TIL
mallard amt showed up YETI
"Who is the lady you are rowing?"
Uncle Billy laid down the spark plug
gently. you'll think I'm stufiin' you,
but l amt, Mr.. Crawford. Say, I'd
like t. see you m her in tn same boat
on day when they amt bitin' fast
"Oh-ho! Off with the old love, on
with the new! Do you mean to tell
me that you have at last found wo-
man who knows how to strike a bass?"
Guess so. Only woman | ever see
who gifts I'm out at Pidgin. An when
she strikes 'em she amt maxim no eff
fort t hist 'em down t. Oswego."
Crawford shouted, "Billy, you're good
for my soul"
AN you're good fer sore eyes, Mr.
Crawford. Fished you when v wore
short pants. Your paw was some fish.
erman, l tell your
HE was good man to his son.
Billy"
Crawford stepped away from the gas
oline tank and reached under his rain
coat for his pipe. He sat down on a
soap box at Uncle Bills side and
smoked for awhile in silence.
whats she look like?'
O~uO. AAlAllChCu OuClc billy. !
thought y'd be askin' that. Well, /
don't know whut you'd call her, SEEM
S you've seen all kinds O. purity womin
in your gaddin's. She amt more n
twenty-five. Her names Wynne. An
there y be. Nobuddy knows nuthin'
more-where she comes from, who 'er
folks be, m all that. She's stayin' out
at tn farm. She amt one O them sas-
siety folks, cause she amt got no Jugs.
jess s easy t. git along with s you
are. Why, say! l fshed man in
June who let his sinker rest on bot
tom all tn time, an cussed me cause
We didn't git no bass fer shore dinner
Honest!"
"ls she pretty?"
"O-ho!' Uncle Billy cooked his bat
tered haymaker's straw hat over his
eye. "What d. you call purty?" diplo
matically.
Crawford smiled I'M into tbo e,,,, HIT