Jasper County Democrat, Volume 10, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 August 1907 — By Hook Or Crook. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

By Hook Or Crook.

By TROY ALLISON.

Copyrighted, 1907, by P. C. Eastment.

“Fishing,” said Randolph reflectively, his fixed hypnotically on the blue aiuF white bob dancing on the waters of the creek, “is the most fascinating pursuit 6f mankind.” The girl had braced her pole In the crook of an alder branch and was pinning her white, linen skirt to clear her trim ankles. "I believe I have heard that men were more fascinated by the pursuit than bv- v. H, you ought to be very harp" on-that theory,” she said, peer- ’ into t!' • empty basket at his feet. ‘ Yon ist wait—that fly Is a wonder nr.d ill soon have ’em taking notice.” Mut you've promised to catch udi for dinner, and there are ten Try girls and ten voracious men v.' i can eat like a circus menagerie—to t.ay nothing of the chaperons.” “I'll not try to catch enough to go round; I hate chaperons.” He jerked

his pole up and down vindictively. “We’ve been camping for four days anti this Is the first minute I’ve had you to myself. Four chaperons are entirely too many for twenty people; that’s four-tenths of a chaperon to a couple—too rich for my system.” “And what, may I ask, is your system?” She made a grab at her pole, which had gradually slipped half Its length into the creek. “Dora Newton, you have a most Irritating habit of playing with a man’s words—and with his heart,” he said, his eyes fixed on her fine young arms, bared to the elbow. “I wasn’t playing. I was earnestly seeking Information—the desire for knowledge Is strong within me—and I really wanted to know your—system.” She lauded a tiny perch and helplessly held the rod for him to take the quivering fish off the hook. He put the fish in the basket, and they regarded the lack of proportion of basket and fish gravely. “It needs to be illustrated,” he said solemnly, “not the fish, but the system. I could teach it to you.” “I don’t know' that you are a qualified teacher.” She cast her hook In a Way that made her line cross Randolph’s. “Professor Jordan Is coming down tomorrow to stay In camp with ns two days.” and the Inference was that Professor Jordan, as a teacher, could not be discounted. “Humph! The old fossil!” grunted Bandolph. „ “Fossil? He’s not more than forty—and he certainly Is a man of brains.” “Your tone, Miss Newton, Intimates that I am a mere matter of physical hoik, and you are further aggravating aa by getting yonr line tangled In mine just aa I waa about to have a

She cast her line In a new spot with a sudden show of humility. “Well, you see. I hadn’t realized that you had attained the degree of psychic development necessary to tell—when a fish was about to bite.” “Personally,” he continued, “Professor Jordan bores me immensely. Think I’ll run up to town for the two days he Intends to Illuminate the camp with his intellectual light. Would you mind telling me If you are going to marry that dried up Greek root?" He drew In his line and fixed it for deeper water. “He hasn’t asked me—yet,” with a toes of her head that intimated she was prepared for future developments "I didn’t know my vacation was to be spoiled by that old—dinosaur.” He was delighted that he remembered the word. “Is he really so bad as all that? Sounds three or four Bbades wickeder than a Greek root, but I am glad you are at least generous enough to credit him with versatility.” “Doesn’t make any difference which bead you classify him under. If he’s coming here to spoil the party I might as well go back to town and stay. I asked you to marry me seven times last winter and couldn’t even get you to look at the matter seriously—thought maybe all this scenery and the moonlight nights and the—er—hammocks would develop a little sentiment In yonr soul, but If there’s another man in the case I have nothing more to say.” “So hammocks are Included In yonr aygtem? I never sat in a hammock with Professor Jordan,” reflectively. “I could really Imagine no greater joy than—a hammock and the fossilated Jordan,” he said sarcastically. “I have to thank you for the suggestion,” airily. “When you are in town tomorrow night, gasping for a breath of cool air, don’t think you are entirely forgotten. I shall be remembering your idea and trying the hammock. The moonlight here is fascinating,” she murmured Irrelevantly. His pole dipped down with an unexpected jerk, and with the effort to catch it his foot slipped on the edge of the bank, and he found himself suddenly floundering In the creek. He caught one glimpse of the girl’s horrified eyes, and, with an inspiration heaven born or wicked, according to the point of view, he remembered the trick he had learned In boyhood and disappeared from her sight. She stood motionless, her hands clasped convulsively to her breast When he came to the surface near her, sputtering and gasping with more energy than an expert on the subject would have pronounced natural, she j. dropped on her kuees and clutched him ; by the arm. “Oh, Dickey.” she screamed, throwing her lithe young body on the edge of the creek and reaching her other hand to him, “hold on—tight—l’ve got you!” Randolph, dripping wet scrambled up the bank and helped her to her feet “I—caught you,” she reiterated dazedly, clutching each wet sleeve with nervous fingers, her face white and tremulous. “You poor little girl, I didn’t know you would be as frightened as this,” he said contritely, unhesitatingly putting his arm around the crisp white shirt waist. “I thought you were—d-dead,” she stammered, and Randolph, looking In her eyes, was satisfied with his system. “Dora,” he said finally, the last lingering touch of jealousy dying hard, “you never loved that dried Greek root, did yon?” She freed one hand and stroked the damp hair from his forehead. “I like them—wet,” she gurgled, “but come, let’s run for the camp before you catch your death of cold.” “Humph! Much ganger of cold In this weatheri” When they reached the camp ten minutes later there were many derisive exclamations from the hammocks, and cards and novels were dropped for newer Interest “Of all the earthly spectacles!” shouted the Irrepressible brother of Dora, throwing a pack of cards on the rustic table with such energy that they scattered over Hie grass. “Have vou been divine for shellfish?"

“And where, may I ask, are the fish? We’ve been waiting dinner for them,” called Mrs. Bradley, the chaperon most to be feared. “Dickey”—Dora’s voice was an agonized whisper—“for the love of heaven try to distract their attention until I can slip Into the tent—there’s a—a wet streak across my back where your arm—er”— “Darling!” whispered Randolph fatuously. Then, walking rapidly forward, he bowed low to Mrs. Bradley. He opened the basket where the lone little perch had long since given up the struggle for existence. “Here, madam. Is your fish,” he said humbly.

“HOLD ON TIGHT!-I'VE GOT YOU!”