them, rushed in to see what the fun was. Ernest
took one good look over Frank's shoulder. "Jumping Jehosaphat!" he
ejaculated, making room for Sherm. Sherm gazed his fill and glanced at
Frank.
Dick came to first and hazarded a guess. "The ladies--God bless
'em--they've been to town and bought out a market."
"Nonsense, there isn't a fish market in the burg--men sometimes peddle
fish round at the houses, but they never get out here. They've been
fishing on their own hook."
Dick turned on Chicken Little, who was watching them demurely. "If you
don't tell us how you worked this I'll----" He advanced threateningly.
"Fished," she replied laconically. And neither coaxing nor threats
extracted any further information from the ladies that evening.
After supper Marian remarked carelessly: "Frank, there are more fish
than we can use, don't you think it would be nice to send some over to
the Captain?"
But it was Marian herself who finally let the cat out of the bag the
following morning just before Alice and Dick left. The train would not
leave until evening, but they were all going in to make a tour of the
Indian remains and to do some shopping. Frank was driving for the guests
and Marian; the youngsters were with the Captain. Marian reached down
under the seat to push a satchel out of the way of her feet, and to her
surprise, came in painful contact with a fish hook. She pulled up a
bunch of line and several hooks.
"Oh, I wondered what became of our lines," she said carelessly. "Wing
must have put them in for us."
She looked up to find both Dick and Frank regarding her with interest
and Alice looking reproachful.
"Methinks," remarked Dick, gazing at the heavens thoughtfully, "I see a
great light."
"I knew they'd let it out," Frank replied meanly. "Women are clever, but
a secret is too many for them every time."
The day was cloudy but sultry. Collars wilted and little damp spots
appeared between their shoulder blades if they ventured to lean against
the backs of the seats.
Leaves were curling in the corn fields; the prairies were parched with
the heat. Frank got out and examined several of the ears of corn just
heading out in a field they passed.
He looked sober when he returned. "Forty-eight hours more like to-day
will finish that field. It's a trifle better on the bottom lands."
Marian and Alice scanned the heavens. "That cloud bank off to the south
looks hopeful," said Marian after several minut
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