PLANKING POACHERS 



nippie sealed the compact. A merry twinkle 

 in the eyes of his host escaped the Angler's 

 detection. 



A telegram was immediately dispatched 

 to an old friend asking him to leave at once 

 for Pleasantdale; and the happy Angler de- 

 parted very certain that at this little hamlet 

 some word would be waiting. 



An attractive place this small town proved 

 to be and its special pride was the fact that 

 it could boast of having a hotel. There was 

 a huge sign, on one side of which appeared 

 the magic words: "PLEASANTDALE HOTEL." 

 On the other side were a few small rooms 

 attached. It mattered but little that the 

 rooms were tiny, the beds hard, the pillows 

 microscopic, and a bath-room invisible. 

 The mostly-chicory blue-black coffee was 

 forgiven when a real newborn egg made its 

 appearance. 



The morning was grand. The guides re- 

 ported that everything was in readiness, and 

 a delayed telegram stated that the Angler's 

 friend would be there that evening. 



Billy arrived in Pleasantdale at 10 p. M. 

 The Angler, the guides, and the townspeople 

 met him at the train and escorted him to the 

 hotel. 



23 



