“A splendid idea!” Doris approved. “The poor man probably hasn’t tasted home cooking in years.”
“Or any other kind, if what the tradespeople say is true,” Dave interposed.
“Why not take half a cake?” Marshmallow suggested a trifle wistfully.
“Greedy boy!” Mrs. Mallow laughed good-naturedly. “Never fear, you shall have your cake for luncheon. I’ll bake another while you are fishing.”
As soon as the breakfast dishes were cleared away, Doris and Kitty set forth with the chocolate cake carefully wrapped in waxed paper. They approached the cabin in the woods somewhat timidly, wondering if the dog would take offense at their visit.
Doris knocked firmly on the door and after a minute or two the miser opened it.
“We’ve brought you a cake,” Kitty announced.
“A cake?” the old man repeated in surprise, running a grimy hand through his unkempt locks of gray hair. “Well, that’s nice of you, I’m sure.”
He accepted the package rather awkwardly, and shifted from one foot to another as though at a loss to know what more to say. Yet as he unwrapped the cake, he gazed at it hungrily.
“Were you aiming to go out on the lake today?” he inquired after a little hesitation.
“Why, yes, if we may use your boat,” Doris said with a smile.
“It’s a little late in the day for good fishin’, but there’s a west wind, so maybe you’ll have luck. Step inside while I get my hat and coat and I’ll show you where the boat’s hidden.”
The girls entered the shack, glancing about with more than casual interest. It was quite bare of furniture, but was much cleaner than they had expected. A cot occupied one side of the room; there were two chairs, a desk, a battered table with a drawer, a small chest, and a cook stove. The walls were lined with built-in shelves, scantily stocked with groceries. A pair of snowshoes, a rack of books, and a bear skin completed the wall decoration.
Mr. Jay placed the cake in a covered box, and took his hat and jacket from one of the nails behind the door. Then, calling his dog, he bade the girls follow him to the waterfront. Halfway to the shore they met Marshmallow and Dave, who by this time had rounded up their fishing tackle and bait.
The old man led them to an old log which was nearly hidden by overhanging tree branches. The boat was chained to the log, and after unlocking the padlock, he handed Dave the key.
“I wish you’d fasten it again when you get through fishing,” he requested. “The boys hereabouts cause me trouble sometimes. They seem to think it’s smart to set my boat adrift.”
“We’ll take good care of it,” Dave promised Mr.
Jay.
“How are you fixed for bait?”
“We have a plug, some worms and minnows,” Marshmallow informed him.
Mr. Jay took a queer feathered object from his pocket and offered it to the youths.
“I don’t know whether you go in much for artificial bait or not, but I’ve found this jigger mighty useful. For some reason the fish rise to it, when they won’t touch another bait.”
“Why, thanks,” Dave stammered, taken by surprise at the old man’s generosity.
“I guess you have everything you need,” Mr. Jay went on quietly, tossing the anchor rope into the bottom of the boat. “Be careful you don’t upset!”
Without waiting to see the young people off, he turned and walked hurriedly back to his cabin.
“Say, he doesn’t act very miserly!” Marshmallow burst out after the old man was lost to view. “He’s given us his boat and everything. Guess the townsfolk were crazy when they called him a miser.”
“I thought he was aloof at first,” Doris added, “but he seems to want to be friendly with us. He looked so grateful when we took him that cake.”
“I’ll bet he doesn’t get enough to eat!” Marshmallow declared.
The fishing tackle and the minnow bucket were loaded into the boat, and the girls took their places. Marshmallow and Dave pushed off and assumed the burden of rowing. The boat skimmed lightly over the water. Crossing to the far shore, the party dropped anchor and Doris, Marshmallow, and Dave brought out their rods. Kitty refused to take a hand but sat contentedly in the middle of the boat, watching the ripples on the water.
Apparently the fish were not in a hungry mood, for they declined to partake of the appetizing bait which was dangled before them. After perhaps half an hour Marshmallow hauled in the anchor and the party moved on to another spot.
Scarcely had Doris dropped her line over the side of the boat, when she felt a sharp tug. A large fish flashed out of the water like a streak of silver, and the battle was on. Marshmallow and Dave had no time to offer advice, for very shortly they, too, were rewarded with strikes. Kitty squealed with delight and nervous dread, as fish after fish was neatly landed.
“We have a dozen nice ones now,” Dave observed presently, surveying the string. “What do you Say we journey homeward?”
The others were beginning to tire under the hot sun, and the thought of luncheon made them willing to end the sport for the day. Marshmallow seized the oars and struck out for the distant shore. After he had rowed steadily for ten minutes, the sweat trickled from his forehead, but still the shore appeared as far away as ever.
“This old boat doesn’t make much headway,” he puffed, resting on his oars.
“You might go faster, if you’d take up the anchor!” Doris laughed.
“Jumping toads! Have I been hauling that rock all this time? No wonder I thought the boat was heavy.”
Sheepishly Marshmallow hauled in the anchor and again took up the oars. This time the boat shot smoothly across the water.
“What shall we do with all these fish?” Dave questioned, as he helped Doris alight a few minutes later. “We can’t eat them all.”
“Let’s take Mr. Jay a few,” she suggested. “He gave us the boat and we owe it to him.”
While the boys were making the craft fast to the log, Doris and Kitty took four of the largest fish to the cabin. They found the so-called miser sitting outside the door, smoking his pipe with the indolent ease of one who did not have a care in the world. He politely arose as the girls came up, and after a slight hesitation accepted the fish which they offered him. Yet, as before, it seemed difficult for him to put his appreciation into words.
“Keep the padlock key,” he insisted, “and use the boat any time you like.”
The girls did not remain to talk, for they saw that their presence embarrassed him.
“You can tell that the man once knew a better life,” Doris said in a low tone, as they went back to the shore to join their friends. “Did you notice how he instinctively arose, when we came up?”
“Yes, and that wasn’t all I noticed. Doris, he’s especially interested in you.”
“What makes you think so?”
“He keeps looking at you in such a queer, intent way.”
“Oh, I guess that’s just his way,” Doris passed it off.
They found Marshmallow and Dave waiting for them on the path, and the four made their way to the cabin. As they approached, they caught the appetizing odor of meat cooking.
“Guess Ma didn’t have any confidence in our ability to bring back a mess of fish,” Marshmallow laughed. “I sure am hungry!”
“So say we all