"Well, sah, Colonel, it's--it's sorter--moist, Colonel!"

"Um! Well, it'll be better by to-morrow, I expect, when we go fishing.
And be careful of my rods when you take the grips off. If you so much
as scratch the tip of even my oldest one, I--I'll--well, you know what
I'll do to you, Shag!"

"Yes, sah, I knows, Colonel!"

"Very well. Give that boy a dollar. Maybe he never read Walton, and
that's why he's so ignorant."

Colonel Ashley settled back in his chair, and, with unfurrowed brow,
read on:

". . . you shall see or hear him leap at flies, then if you get a
grasshopper, put it on your hook with your line about two yards long,
standing behind a bush or tree where his hole is--"

Once more the colonel was happy.

Shag sought out the discomfited newsboy, and, chuckling as had his
master, handed the lad a dollar.

"Say, what's this for?" questioned the lad, in astonishment.

"Colonel done say to give it to you fo' hurtin' yo' feelin's."

"He did! Great! Say, does he want a book--a, paper? Say, I got a