The Ordway new era., 1920-10-22
The Biggest Fish
BY KATE EDMoNDS

we do?"
The other girls looked out over the
bay. The tide was coming in through
the channel and the blue waves were
little white rltfled caps. A few sail
boats scudded before the wind and
down at the harbor entrance were a
score of small black specs.
1.-The men are fishing down there"
remarked Edith Dale; small bluefish
they catch them in the channel when
the tide runs swiftly"
81 would love to go a-fishing," Polly
Knight said. you know l have al
ways lived inland-it must be fine
sport to be out there where the wind
is blowing-and then come home and
broil the fish-um!"
They all laughed at Polly's hungry
manner, and Edith jumped up and ran
down the path to the beach. Put on
your oldest rags" she called over her
shoulder; II am going after Jake
Doods-he will take us out there, bait
our hooks, take Off the fish and-ev-
erything!"
"We must take some lunch." Madge
declared, but there was instant pro-
test. at will taste so flshy." objected
Polly.
wait until we get back" advised
Laura Relyea, "then we will have
fresh fish and-rll put some potatoes
to bake in the fireless cooker"
The girls disappeared in different
directions, for the work at the shore
cottage was equally shared. Mrs. Rel
yea, who chaperoned the party,
watched them complacently, wonder
ing if It was wise to let them go out
on the bay aIone-and then remem-
bered that Jake Doods was an ancient
but trustworthy mariner who would
rule his comfortable old dory with an
iron discipline as he would four
masted schooner sailing down Eastl
AS the girls left The gate, charming
sunbrowned lassies In middles and
short skirts with sensible shoes, she
waved farewell with a gay parting
word. "a prize for the one who catches
the biggest fish," she promised.
They waved back at her and disap-
peared beyond the last cottage. After
a while she saw Jake Doods boat
chugging out toward the channel. Jake
was there and the four girls, all wav-
ing handkerchiefs and sweaters. Then
she went into the kitchen to make a
plate of fudge for the successful fisher
maiden.
Jake Doods stopped his engine and
Unanswered his craft into a position
between two jutting rocks. Here the
girls might sit comfortably and fish,
while Jake smoked his pipe and did
all the disagreeable things that girls
detest about fishing
"Oh-h-h-h-h, I've caught darling
one" squealed Madge as she swung
in a wriggling victim who maliciously
sprinkled silvery drops of water from
his tail. "Ja-kew
Jake responded manfully and
Madge's prize was dropped in the
creel. Edith caught the next one. and
Laura caught two, one after the other,
but poor Polly never caught one,
though Jake Doods put on the choic-
est bait and took infinite pains to show
her all the little tricks about catching
fish. Although the fish must have
thought Poly was the most adorable
of fisher maidens, they refused to be
caught, and so her blue eyes took on
a look of woe and her red lips became
very determined.
Better luck next timel'' the girls
called each time Polly drew up her
empty hook.
"They steal my bait and swim away
=" she protested.
"Never mind, miss" comforted Jake,
'T've seen folk have luck like that
| 6Sb oil DIV and nary a hIta thap yyhap
it's time to go home they hook the big
gest fish in the bay. Don't you worry,
miss. there's lots of luck about fishin',
and no matter how many is caught
there's plenty left in the sea just as
good ms the biggest" After which re-
markable statement Jake subsided into
deep silence, and n fresh pipe.
Polly looked reproachfully at the
backs of the men In the next boat
they were having heaps of fun over
their fishing, she could hear them
laughing and there was one big hearty
laugh that she liked. "He must be
the big man in the white flannel shirt"
she decided. "He has rather nice hair
straight and rebellious." strong
sunbrowned hand came up and rum
pied the hair once more. and the
head turned ever so little. Polly
glimpsed a strong profile. HE is a
dear, believe" she thought, and then
she forgot everything save that there
was tug at her line.
"a whale!" cried Edith delightedly.
"Oh, Polly, dear, l believe you are
really going to catch oner'
Polly stood up with very pink cheeks
and shining eyes. One or two of the
men in the next boat watched her, but
Polly was oblivious to everything save
| tho fnct TINT she Ind caurht tho hIr.