Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-10-21
Held Il Tentatively Taut

rod, eyes intent on the delicious wrig-
gly worm she was skillfully guiding
down the "rifle," the fisher girl did
not see the man who stopped a mo-
ment on the road above and then
passed along out of sight.
On the opposite bank Of the brook
stood large tree. whose low-hung
branches just cleared backwater.
The slender rod whipped, and by
clever cast the girl placed the lure
temptingly in the shadowy spot. A
sudden jerk on the line, and 1t started
Off down streaml Quickly the girl
yielded the slack she held in her left
hand, and the reel hummed.
Then tense moment, as she care
fully snubbed the line and held 1t ten
tatively taut. With a sudden slight
movement of her rod she started to
reel in. At this moment small urchin
appeared on the bridge above and
stopped to watch. Carefully the girl
played her fish. AS the line shortened
there came splash and the flash of
mighty tail.
Gee, but that must be whopper |"
sang out the small boy excitedly. But
the girl was thinking hard. Not ex-
pecting anything like this, she had
neglected to bring a landing net.
The strain on the delicate rod was
increasing. 1t bent nearly double. She
did the only thing she could think of
In the emergency: walk backward and
literally dragged her catch up the
shelving shore. Fortunately he was
well hooked. and her gear was Of the
best.
"Oh, golly!" exclaimed voice close
beside; "but amt he the pippinl"
The girl looked into the freckled
face of the small boy. But she was
too intent on her task to answer.
With unwinklng eyes the urchin
watched her as she vainly tried to ex-
tract the hook, and finally ended by
borrowing his knife and cutting the
line. With flushed faces the girl and
the small boy, in the freemasonry of
Sportsland, examined, admired and
exclaimed over the speckled beauty.
"GeeI Bet it's big as the one old Pea
body caught here. Gollyl I'm going
now and tell him about It" And the
small boy disappeared.
The fish proving too large for the
creel, the girl put It In knapsack
she carried suspended from her shout
der, and, climbing up to the road. un.
jointing her rod on the way, seated
herself In the gray roadster and soon
was merely part Of cloud of dust
vanishing In the distance.
The small urchin had slowed down
to a walk when he met the man In
slouch hat and macklnaw returning.
Say, mister" he said, bursting with
you ought to "a seen the
pippin the lady just caught In the big
pool. This big" And he measured at |
east a yard with his grimy hands.
THAT sof" said the man. "But
you're exaggerating q little. aren't
gou, sonnyY
"Jest you 60 there and see 1t your.
'elf." returned the boy. starting of
lgafn on the run. The man quickened
,is pace, but when he reached the
,ool no fair angler was In sight.
That evening. seated in the lounge
4 his club. the sportsman was re-
ating the incident to several com.
'anions. who received 1t with the Gus.
omary skepticism. One of them
aughed. "You didn't fall for that
ids yarn. did you, Hammond You
now the small boys power Of e1ag.
Grafton"
"Wen. It's an accepted fact around
ere that some unusually big trout for
his part Of the country have been
AIKEN from the Pebbly brook pool;
nd I've always put a lot Of faith In
:" Hammond spoke rather louder
han his wont.
A young chap stood In the doorway.
t Hamm0nd's words he came for
ard. II don't know how you heard
bout It. for when came away she
as lamenting that she had had no
ae to talk It over with. but that must
the very trout my sister caught to-
~. It weighs just an even two
'unds to the hair. ! don't know much :
bout fishing, and care less, but Anne
bugs over It"