Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1934-04-27


turned reluctantly but helplessly. as
the rod drew backward.
! "Come home, old timer!" Steve cried
| as, reaching for his landing net. he
| walked into deeper water where the
kingly old veteran drifted with the
| flow.
1t was then that he saw the canoe
and it's occupants. He gave sharp
nod but did not speak. He shook out
| his net. stretched his arm. AS the net
all but slipped beneath him, the fish
rolled over. churning the water and
sank from sight. Drake Strengthened
quickly, cautious lest he defeat him
self in the very moment Of victory.
He was within few yards of the
canoe. then, and as the fish sounded
and came up again the Laird stirred.
He snatched up his own long-handled
net and leaned outboard. ready to take
the fish as he came past.
"Don't do that, please! IF can't
take him alone, won't take him."
Drake called.
He did not so much as glance al
the Scot again. He came to halt.
lifted his rod higher, dragged the fish
nearer. Then, with a sharp, de-
cisive thrust of the net, he slipped
it beneath his quarry. lifted him out
with swinging movement and re-
Taxed his weary right arm.
For an instant the fish lay still,
curled in the mesh, gills working, and
then he began to strain. The great
fan slid up beyond the frame Of the
net and Steve, knowing the danger,
knowing that no fish is an anglers
prize until he Is killed, waded to the
bank.
swelling sense of achievement
filled him. He was needless of the
fact that the Laird had landed and
was approaching.
| When the old man came close, how
ever, Steve looked up. He grinned be-
cause he had done what he set out to
do and because he had done even
more: taken this fish under the eyes
| of the old recluse himself.
I But when he had looked into that
other face his smile died. Never in
any other countenance had he seen
that particular rage which now flood
ed MacDonald's.
we've taken my fish, mon!" His
voice vibrated, vein on his forehead
leaped out into welt.
"Your fish, Mr.. Macdonald? didn't
think it was"
Didn't think! Didn't think! Meb-
by so! But ut's tn fish I've worked
over summer after summer; tn fish
I've dreamed on winter night after
winter night! md who may We be to
come on anther's property md poach
md pillage md kill what's anither's
right to take?"
His voice rose and in it was all the
jealousy, all the bitterness that can
come to one whose dearest ambitions
have been thwarted.
Steve thought quickly. Instead Of
having the Laird's admiration as re-
ward for his accomplishment, he had
won only animosity. and animosity is
poor beginning for friendship.
you're mistaken. sir" he said.
''This isn't your fish. Come here.
Look upstream. Watch"
He led the other few PAGES to
vantage point, the old man suddenly
silent but obviously suspicious. After
a moment, in against the far bank
great fish rose.
"See! Isn't that where your fish
lies?"
Almost reluctantly, the Laird nodded
assent.
"This fellow of mine was two bends
above. He lived all alone He's too
big to tolerate company. He's even
bigger than the one you've been work
ing on, if I'm any Judge"
The Scots fingers commenced to
rummage in his beard. He drew a
long breath and Steve felt relieved
but on the mans words his heart sank
again.
GAY! Yoonger muscles! Yoonger
wits! A bigger trout, likely, than yon
fish" His tone was bitter. bigger,
as We say, than tn one who's defied
me these years, but ut's unseemly for
a yoong man to belittle tn abilities
of his elders"
He turned then toward his waiting
canoe and Steve stood with hopes fall
ing to ruin about him.
But nothing could be done except
. to stand there speeches. and watch
Macdonald slowly seat himself in the
canoe. The Laird did not so much
as glance backward at Steve. He
looked older, somehow; his shoulders
were not as firmly squared as they
had been something had aged him
this evening.
Steve opened his lips, on the point
Of stammering an apology but when.
after hesitating, he spoke it was no
stammer, no attempt to excuse him.
self. Dangling the trout by the gills.
he called almost casually:
"Mr. Macdonald, whatll he weight"
liant We scale WI ye?"
mo, sir; and it's a long way back
to headquarters"
"What kind of angler are We, not
havin' scale handy?" The Laird
peStured for halt on that haze me