The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1935-11-22
Rod and Reel
BY VIRGINIA E. STRONG
q Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.

1~~-N
tenders. His apologetic grin and our
exchange of cards began warm
friendship. My games We're architec-
ture and golf; Harkness steel and
fishing.
BY the time | had constructed their
fishin4 lodge In Canada few years
later, Joe's wife was familiarly de-
pending on me to be the extra man
at her various entertainments.
Recalls 1t now, l believe the first
time noticed the fish hooks, the barb
of one caught In the eye of the 9TH
er, was during fall visit at the lodge
when rainy weather kept us indoors.
They were tackled over the big stone
fireplace.
When found them In the city apart
ment my friends occupied while built
their Normandy chateau--the only
hint OF fishing in the room-I was
mildly piqued. But when / saw them
hanging between French paintings on
the walls Of their new home. | was
intensely curious.
| couldn't tell the Harnesses that
Corot and Millet would hardly enjoy
sharing honors with fish hooks but !
did ask what special significance they
had.
Joe looked at them, quizzical
gleam In his eyes. When Is fish
story not fish story?" he Queried.
Sally made 1t a little more intriguing
by replying in low voice. when 1t
ends like a fairy tale"
''You see, Ken" Joe began, long
years ago, when Sally was young and
beautiful"
HE means, of course" Sally inter-
rupted when / was young and gull
liblel"
The male Harkness chuckled. We'll.
anyway, she doesn't dispute the young
part, Ken. She was young, you know Y
He ducked the magazine she threw
and continued. "Sars dad and mine
belonged to the same clubs We were
the only children of those widowers, so
they took us around more than most
parents do and Sally and | were
thrown together quite bit
1--WE followed the same golf tourna-
ments. watched the same swimming
events, polo, tennis oh, everything
that went on Well, McCrea, SaPs dad,
and my old man had argued the golf
championship of Valley club for over
q decade Neither one of them could
win that extra game that would make
the trophy his own"
ut was like a Kentucky feud after
they'd been fighting for twelve years, !"
Sally broke In with a pensive smile.
'9rhe feeling between them was SO
strong that the board of directors de-
cided the winner for the coming event
which was to be the thirteenth
would get the cup once
and for all. Each Of them had won 1t
six times you see"
Well" Joe sighed, "it's funny
thing, Ken McCrea died in the spring
of the following year and 1t almost
seemed that my dad couldn't stand the
disappointment Of not playing that
final tournament, for he soon died,
too r
Harkness seemed lost In his mem
cries for a minute and Sally carried
on Their deaths were quite blow
to both of us and for long time we
were like fish out Of water. But youth
has way Of forgetting unhapplness
and Joe and I-well, we just took up
the battle where our fathers had left
off,"
Yeah" my host agreed we tried
golf at first but we we're both 80 rot
ten we soon gave 1t up. Then trap
shooting became the fad and Sally
and | carried even scores for q long
time. Both OF Us had been doing a
lot Of fishing, meanwhile"
Il think / never hated anybody
quite as much as ! did Joe Harkness, :"
Sally confded, "the year the gang at
the club complained that our Inherit
ed competition had degenerated to hot
air." Sally smiled. And when Sally
smiles you just naturally smile with
her. They said they were going to
have medal struck off with pic
ture Of Ananias on 1t and present it
TO the winner !"
Harkness face simply beamed as he
went on with the story. Anyway,
Ken, for the first time In our lives we
agreed on something; we both objected
to being called liars. SO We settled
on fishing party then and there that
would decide which of us was the bet
ter man.
I'VE decided to cast on opposite
sides of the same stream and went
out the next day with fire in our eyes.
We'd been at 1t for several hours with
a couple Of trout apiece, when / felt
an awful tug on my line | played 1t
for while, slowly reeling In, con-
vinced that | had whopperl My rod
bent and ! was having the time of my
life. Finally ! gave long, steady pull
that should have landed him, when i
hear a-uh-respectably large splash. 2
Joe shook with laughter. sally, still
hanging onto her rod, had been hauled
In. Our hooks had caught just as
you see them now, Ken. And that's
the Way they've staypd trausa IL was