The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-06-24
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
Z The Two Founder.
by DORA ,MoLLAN.
tCopyTight, 1913, by the Mcclure


swirl down among rocks and, spread
ing out form an ideally deep and foam
flecked trout pool. II Iooks.a tit spot
his solitary court, and there is a ira
dition In the immediate countryside
that some years ago three-pounder
was taken from its waters.
II Is this tradition which every
year lures 10 the bank Of the beauti-
fui pool ardent. anglers who yainly
hope that history will reepat itself.
Early on misty, morning Din April
q young man in mackinaw and soft
hat, carrying creel and slender bam-
boo rod, came down the highway to-
ward the pool. A gray roadster stood
on the bridge.
On reaching the first point In the
road from which the brook was visi.
bic he glanced down. then stood a
moment and watched. Evidently
what he saw was interesting, .bu.
also disappointing, for he continued
on, perhaps mile farther, to the
banks of o smaller stream.
The cause of this change in pur-
posefwas slender, girlish figure, clad
In q corduroy sport suit, soft velour
hat of brilliant green. and long-legged
rubber boots.
Standing back from the pool, care.
fully manipulating whippy split"
rod, eyes intent on the delicious wrig.
ely worm she was skillfulfy guiding
down the rifle" the fisher girl did
not see the man who stopped a mo-
Fment on the road above and then pass
ed along out Of sight.
On the opposite bank OF the brook
stood a large tree, whose low-hung
branches Just cleared a backwater.
The slender rod whipped. and by a
clever cast the girl placed the lure
temptingly In the shadowy spot. A
sudden jerk on the line, and 1t started
on down stream! Quickly the girl
yielded the slack she held in her left
hand, and the reel hummed.
On the opposite bank of the brook
fully snubbed the line and held 1t ten
tatively taut. With sudden slight
moyenentlof her rod she started to
reel IN. At this moment small urchin
appeared 10 watch. Carefully the girl
played her fish. AS the line short,
ened there came splash and the flash
of a mighty tail.
Gee. but that must be whopper!'
sang out the small boy excttedly. But
the girl was thinking h-rd. Not ex-
pecting anything like this. she had ne
elected to bring landing net.
The strain on the delicate rod was
increasing. Il bent nearly double. She
did the only thing she could think Of
In the emergency; walked backward
land literally dragged her catch up the
shelving shore. Fortunately he was
we'll hooked. and her gear was of the
"oh, gollyi" exclaimed a voice close
heeidei i''but amt he the pippin!"
The girl looked into the freckled
face OF the small boy. But she was toe
intent on her task to answer.
With unwinking eyes the urchir
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 ex
claimed over the speckled beauty
Gee! Bet it's big as the one old Pea,
body caught here. Golly! I'm going
now and tell him about It'll" And the
small boy disappeared.
The fish proving too large for the
creel, the girl put 1t in a knapSacl
she carried suspended from he,
shoulder, and, climbing up to the road
unjointing her rod on the way, seated
herself in the gray roadster and soor
WAS merely part Of cloud OF dust
yanishing in the distance.
The small urchin had slowed dowr
to walk when he met the man II
SLOUGH hat and mackinaw returning
Say, mister" he said, bursting witt
importance, "you ought to a seen the
pippin the lady Just caught in the biz
pool. This bigl" And he measured a
least yard with his grtmy hands.
shat so?" said the man. "Bu
you're exaggeratlng little, aren't you
sonnyf"
"Jest you go there and see it your
self" returned the boy, starting of
again on the run. The man quick
ened his pace, but when he reached
the pool no fair angler was in sight
That evening, seated in tho lounge
OF his club, the sportsman was re
lating the incident to several com
psnions, who received 1t with the
customary skepticism One Of them
laughed. you didn't fall for that kid'i
yarn, did you, Hammond? You know
the spall boys power to exagsera
'swell, it's an accepted fact AROUND
here that some unusually big trout
TOR this part Of the country have beer
taken from the Pebbly Brook pool
md 1--WE always put a lot ofsfGith II
tes Hammond spoke rather louder