Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-17
THE RED FISHER

draught In my bedroom. marked off into II
tnv portions by lines of glass. would TAX,
~ze whole botteful IL could escape a pictur,
OF the Red Fisher waiting to pull me out of tn,
river of sleep. The devil may be only a super
stiton that ages haven't quite wiped off tn,
slate Of heredty; but the picture is a fact
You can see 1t on the walls Of Nugent's gallery
S74. The Red Fisher Arthur Dane
1t shows up best II you stand just beside
the left-hand seat Of the settee. You get the
1malignity OF the grin then. I stood Just there
fhen my duel with conscience began. sup
pose l am not ultra-modern. l have a con.
science.
1t was on rainy Friday afternoon three
years ago. and had a dull hour to kill.
passed the gallery. Il may as well be bored by
myself as bored by pictures" I reflected. 81
can't be more bored by pictures than am by
myself" thought so yards down the road.
l turned back and went in.
saw my own thoughts rather than the
pictures until l found myself staring at the
devil very proper Mephistophees. long. lean,
sardonic and habited In hard red. He sat upon
an overhanging branch, dangling his pointed
shoes above CLASSY stream that came from
nowhere into green wood and ran out to
nowhere again. network bag lay upon the
grass behind him, with his varied bait peeping
through the meshes a miniature Of pretty,
enticing woman. and cardinals hat: a diploma,
n seal of office, and fat packet Of bonds; a
Hechldce oL ulaHhonuS ana q presidents chair
pale young monk lay dead upon the bank
caught by saints aureole; and red faced
woman captured by wicker flask. The wine
was dribbling out and staining little white
daisy purple The Red Fisher was angling now
with pretty mannikin. wistful. elfsh girl
was swimming away from temptation; but she
looked back her round shoulder and her
\pouting mouth opened little as If she wanted
10 come back and snap. I wondered foolishly
whether she was going to be caught: morallzed
tritely upon the vanites that catch women
and men; and then suddenly
II WONDER" thought, what bait he'd use
for me?"
! turned over temptations hopefully in my
mind but could find strong enough to
haul me to the DEVILS bank. was a dull
bachelor woman, told myself impatiently
half-past temptation. and growing into an old
maid with hundred weaknesses and no grand
vice; not warm enough to nourish sin.
isn't there anything you'd risk the hook
for, Nina?" asked myself. "Surely you
aren't quite dried up yet" I looked into my
secret mind. as If it were picture book, and
the bury form of Robert Carr grew slowly
out Of the mist Within dear old Robert manly
and clever, and courteous, and kind I felt
my eyes widen and my mouth open and close
with a snap I telling the truth. did
not know before how much liked him, though
I would have said any day and anywhere that
he was the incest fellow in the world. /. f.
Well, did like him. in perfectly proper way;
liked him very much. What of It?
my dear Devil" said contemptuously
you've chosen the wrong fly! don't nibble at
the husband Of my friend. . And be-
sides he doesn't want me-"
I gasped again at the sef-betrayal Of the
last words; Redeemed and then turned very
pale. could my face In little mirror.
have a conscience. as I have said There
virtues 7 ha M rarA
for, but cherished an idea of myself as loyal
to my friends. Margaret was a cat of a woman,
and was another, but We were pals; had been
all our lives "Not her husband" said, even
in the dark depths of my mind but the heart
is deeper. That said was lost If the Fisher
man won over Robert Carr to help him angle
for me. I must fly from temptation or risk
the consequences.
"Wen.' I decided deliberately. IT take the
risk, If there is one. There isn't Robert loves
his wife. if she doesn't care much for him. She
is 10 times better looking than I. He likes
pink. smiling young prettiness He'd never
want this pale, old snappish thing. except per-
haps as friend Poor boy! He needs
some one to comfort him. Fish away my
dear Devil! I'll risk all have and am to be
a little help to dear old Bob"
I went to their house the Saturday aft
ernoon, as generally did. Margaret was ami
mated Robert gloomy She was going to
drag him away to the seaside on Monday; and
his roots are in his business and his study.
"It's all very well for you." he grumbled.
You'll have drives and excursions and dances
and whist drives. and two or three admirers
hanging around. I shall have nothing to do
but potter along the beach I hate pottering
I'd rather stay and work in town."
Don't potter" advised. Take to golf
or something. Get an admirer yourself. If
Maggie doesn't behave"
''That introduces subject for mel" Mar
garet cried gayly. Come with u.s. Neen. and
take him off my hands for fortnight. You
can teach him golf, if you like; or sailing. He'd
love that! Nag him and wake him up! Wanted,
m experienced lady, with a stimulating tongue
TO take entire charge of dull infant! You
Just ft!"
.Poor Robert" I said. my sailng's all
tight; and my tongue But don't know golf.
Don't be afraid, my dear chap. I won't add
% your troubles"
sI'm sure you won't" he declared heartily.
Come and teach me sailing. Nina, I'd like 1t"
went
There aren't too many red letter days in !,
ny calendar; but there wasn't black one in
hat fortnight. Margaret spent the days on
he pier, showing off her new hats and dresses,
md smiling at competing cavaliers. She always ,
lad a train Of adorers o! She was q pretty
She danced all the evenings. Robert !.
md sailed away the days in a 20-foot half
licked boat My father taught me sailing when ,
was child. and now taught Robert In the
venings we went to concerts and entertain
nents. walked-generally walked. o! those I
walks. never knew before that the sky was L
% full Of stars!
It did not occur to Robert to make love
o me, and I did not try swear ito put I
he notion in his mind. ! just wanted him a
o be happier, and made him. was Q fine p
al, he told rue, as scudded back before j
he wind on the last afternoon. I remember
he salt spray on my lips. and my hair blow
ag loose and the alteration in my heart when
looked at him.