The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-02-10

Two envied boy fishermen established
themselves upon bank upstream,
with hooks and lines thoughtfully
brought with them, and poles which
they fashioned from young saplings.
They took mussels from the shadows
for bait, and having gone to all this
trouble, declined to share with friends
less energetic and provident the per-
quisites and pleasures secured to
themselves.
Albert Paxton was one person
who proved his enterprise. Having Wis
tied the spot some days before. he had
hired for his exclusive use throughout
the duration of the picnic an old row.
boat belonging to shanty squatter;
it was the only rowboat within mile
or two and Albert had his own uses
for it. Albert was the class lover and,
after first taking the three chaper0n
teachers tout for a row." an excursion
concluded in about ten minutes, he dis
embarked them; Sadie Clews stepped
into the boat, pocket camera in one
hand, tennis racket in the other; and
the two spent the rest of the day, ex-
cept for the luncheon interval, solemn
ly drifting along the banks or ground
ed on shoal. Now and then Albert
would row few strokes, and at al
most any time when the populated
shore glanced toward them, Sadie
would be seen photographing Albert,
or Albert would be seen photograph.
ing Sadie, but the tennis racket re-
manned an enigma. They were six
teen, and had been engaged" more
than two years.
On the borders of the little meadow
of baskets there had been deposited
two black shapes, which remained I'M
disturbed throughout the day, a closed
guitar case and a closed mandolin
case, no doubt containing each it's
of these went they seemed to be Of the
same leisure class to which Sadie's
tennis racket belonged, for when one
of the teachers suggested music, the
musicians proved shy. Wesley Ben
der said they hadn't learned to play
couple o. broken strings he didn't know
as he could fix up; and Ramsey said
he guessed it seemed kind o. too hot to
play much. Joining friends, they or
ganized a. contest in craftsmanship,
the target being a floating can which
they assailed with pebbles; and after
that they skipped" fiat stones upon
the surface of the water, then went to
join group gathered about Willis
Parker and Heinie Krusemeyer.
No fish had been caught a lack of
luck Grossly attributed by the fisher
men to the noiseAnade by constant adj
vice on the part Of their attendant
gallery Messrs. Milholland, Bender,
and the other rock throwers came up
shouting, and were ill received.
"For heavens sakes," Heinie Kruse-
meyer demanded, "can't you shut up?
Here we just first got the girls to keep
their mouths shut a minute and al
most had big pickerel or something
on my hook, and here you got to up
and yell so he chases himself away!
Why can't nobody show a little sense
sometimes when they'd ought to? A
fish isn't goinN to bite when he can't
even hear himself think! Anybody
ought to know that much"
But the new arrivals hooted. "Fish !"
Ramsey vociferated. "Ill bet hun
dred dollars there hasn't been even a
minny in this creek for the last sixty
years !"
''There is, tool" said Heinie, bitter
ly. "But I wouldn't be surprised there
wouldn't be no longer if you got to
keep up this noise. If you'd shut up
just minute you could see yourself
there's fish here"
Ramsey leaned forth over the edge
Of the overhanging bank, dirt preci-
pice five feet above the water, and
peered into the Understandable depths
below. The pool had been stirred,
partly by the inexpert pokings of the
fishermen and partly by small clods
and bits of dirt dislodged from above
by the feet of the audience. The wa
ter, consequently, was but brownly
translucent and revealed its secrets re-
luctantly; nevertheless certain dim lit
tie shapes had been observed to move
within it, and were still there. RAM
sey failed to see them at first.
where's any ole fish," he inquired,
scornfully.
look I" whispered the girl who
stood nearest to Ramsey. She point
ed. There's one. Right down there
by Willis hook. Don't you see him?"
Ramsey was impressed enough to
whisper. as there? don't see him.
I can't"
The girl came closer to him and, the
better to show him, leaned out over
the edge of the bank and, for safety in
maintaining her balance, rested her
left hand upon his shoulder while she
pointed with her right. Thereupon
something happened to Ramsey. This
touch upon his shoulder was almost
nothing, and he had never taken the
slightest interest in Milla Rust Ito
whom that small warm hand belonged).
though she was the class beauty, and
long established in the office Now all