Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-02-04

III get on the job. Can't really say.
I'm 50 awfully sorry We hit that snag.
he continued as he iumbled in the mo
ior.boats lockers. I've been trying
10 get a word alone with you for II
week"
You've been with me every das.
she conntered.
Sure" was the relort. right here
in this boat. suppose a man can keep
one eye on temperamental engine.
the other on The river. his hands on
the wheel, and do perfectly good Job
of making love That might be all
right in the case of some girls, but
yours requires special attention.
you were speaking of lunch, | be
lieve,' she interrupted.
"Yes--and other things more inter
es,ing," he replied. Here are the
materials TO get one. Wish could
see my way as clear in the matter OF
the others
he Ntlu up bdIf VI 'oIu.
Were going to turn this delight
fully romantic shipwreck into fish
ing excursion while watching for the
rescue party to show up" ne said.
When he had prepared the line Al
len went in search of bait. Ten min.
utes OF splashing along the shore and
the orerturning of several logs yield
ed two small frogs. three srubs, and
craw.hsh The fishing tackle was
what is known rs a throw line"
II carried halfdozen hooks on
short pieces of staging and at one end
was Il heavy weight. Allen hurled
tho weighted end far out into the
stream and tied the other end to the
boat
while waiting for a bite he contin
uod his exploration of the lockers,
bringing TO light tin bailing dipper,
a wire rod used for cleaning a small
c,libef rifle. and two tin plates.
There also was bottle Of olives
amt salt shaker. nearly full, the LAT.
Ter being souvenirs OF q fishing trip.
were fixed" he said, gravely sur
yeyiug he array. could stay here IA
year that il, if The fish will bite
Then you'd better watch your
line" Bee warned. Il think it's jerk
ms
III is he admitted, cautiously pull.
ing il. and he's hung"
a white perch--the species the ma
,iyes call "Reminiscences on a hook.
Allen tossed ii On the bank and Went
after more bait.
This time he met with a mishap.
The girl heard the splash as he tum.
alarm,
I'm ALI right" he called back {;
t"only my clothes don'' look so nice
nov"
The man who returned 10 The boat
was a vastly different person from the
spruce figure that had gone ashore a
few moments before
The trousers that had been snowy
IN their Wilderness were dripping and
smeared with clay-and there ia moth
iTg more disreputable in appearance
'han wet, muddy pair OF white
trousers.
They chung to his limbs, revealing
ell In 10,
had gained him the nickname OF
"bird-legs' when ne had been !ighl.
weight boxing champion of his class.
Water spurted from his shoes as he
walked and his face was mud-spat-
tered but he clutched a wriggline
frog. Getting and holding to what he
wanted was a characteristic of Allen
When the line had 0cen set he again
went ashore. The girl watched the
tackle as he collected wood and built
fire.
THE only lucky thing of the day
is that my matches were in tight
box" he observed as he lighted one
more than that white perch for sup
per-"
II was half an hour before he caueh
another fish, but this time II was q
flye-pound channel-cat. and Allen be
gan preparations for the evening meal
The gun.rod served as a spit, and they
ate the broled fish from tin plates
From culinary point of view tn
dinner was moi much OF success, bu
he promptly pointed out they were no
as hungry as before, anyhow.
The sun was down when they hat
finished, and Allen revisited the mo
tor.boat. One of The padded sea
cushions he ripped open and dumped
out the stutIing. thus providing him
self with bag of coarse canvas.
whats that ror?' the girl asked
Aliens reply was q grin and laugh
ing You'll find out later on
Until dark he gathered wood 10
the fire. Several times he crossed th
island and sent vain shouts towar'
the other shore. He knew-and IN
slrl, too--there was hardly \ ehanc
for rescue before next day.
The discomfort Of passing nigh
on the island meant little TO Allen
but L was an embarrassing situation