" Oh, we couldn't think of taking your dinner, Mr. —.
" Walden," I finished, obligingly—'' Ken Walden,"
I thought I saw the tall girl start perceptibly, but as I looked
more closely, I was sure I had never known her, and passed it over
as a fancy. They still hesitated.
"Do take it, I insisted." " You have scared the fish out, and
I shall go home for dinner, so it will be of no use to me." Which
was a delicate lie, for a purpose.
Thus importuned, they accepted, and a moment later walked
away. Suddenly the tall girl turned and came back.
" By the way, Mr. Walden," said she, " to whom shall we re
turn the basket ? Is your home near by ?"
" Oh, as for that," I said, " I shall be down here again, more
than likely, to-morrow morning, so you can return it then."
And that night my dreams were a confused jumble of enormous
fish which swam in milk and ate eggs, and of a girl who pelted
me with stones and lunch baskets.
" Well," said Uncle Henry as I appeared at breakfast, " what's
on hand to-day ?"
" I guess I'll try ' The Point' again," I drawled. For I was
ashamed to show just how eager I was to go. " They didn't bite
yesterday, but I'm sure I'll have better luck to-day."
Once out of sight in the woods, however, my languor vanished
and I actually ran, for fear that I might be too late and find the
basket on the rock with some formal little note of thanks pinned
thereto, whereas it was my fondest hope to meet and have a chat
with the girl of my dreams.
It was with a great sigh of relief that I at last reached ' The
Point' and failed to detect any sign of the borrowed basket. So
I jointed my rod, reeled out my line, and prepared to enjoy a
moment's sport while waiting for the return of my property. My
wait was longer than I had anticipated, and finally, near noon. I
threw down my rod in disgust, and picking up my camera,
sauntered around to a position where I could obtain an unob
structed view of ' The Point.' This done, I adjusted the shutter
and with a final careless glance, pressed the button. As I did so,
something moved in the finder. I glanced up in surprise, and
there, looking down at me with an indescrible expression on her
face, stood the fair unknown.
" Good morning," I said, cheerily, rising my cap.
HER BROTHER'S SISTER