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THE FLOWERS COLLECTION VOLUME XLIV—NUMBER ELEVEN. Jttlm.nta, Ga. t IVeek Ending May 26, 1906. 50c PER YEAR—SINGLE COPY 5c. (Tarpon Fishing in Texas Declared Ring of Sports By HILTON CASTLE. Written for The SUNNY SOUTH. O the sea angler, the coast country of southwest Texas is abundantly Interesting, for herb the metropolis of the tarpon world, the favo rite home of the king of game fish, game fishes. southern waters. Its popu larity as a game fish came into vogue in 1885. Until within recent years Florida was the chief resort of tar. pon fishers. But today southwest Texas has a fame that has girdled the tarpon world. The tarpon is found as far north on the Atlantic coast as Long Island, but not in sufficient number to insure good sport. Along parts of the Florida coast and along the gulf coast of Louisiana and Texas they are plentiful; chiefly around Galveston inland, and in Aransas Pass channel, near which are the towns of Ftockport, Corpus Christi and Tarpon. These places may be reached over the Sap road from San Antonio. CONDITIONS ABE IDEAL. Speaking of the last named famous fish, edited by *.\Ir. Caspar Whitney, fishes, edited by Mr. Caspar Whitney, the Editor of Outing, the author says; “The midsummer tarpon grounds of Aransas Pass are tempered by a cool, constant breeze. The health conditions are apparently perfect, with a complete absence of malarial taint and few, if any, mosquitoes. In fishing from 8 to 12 o'clock, or four 'hours, daily, and some times in the afternoon, the angler may expect to take from one to five tarpons a day. “The time of my visit was considered an unfortunate one, owing to the fact that the recent floods had filled the waters with -mud; which seriously inter fered with the fishing; yet, at its worst, I doubt if there is anywhere else such tarpon fishing, or so many fish con stantly in evidence. Texas should add the tarpon rampant to her escutcheon, as sooner or later the fame of this splen did fish and the remarkable fishing found along her shores, will become one of the prime attractions of the region.’’ MARCH TO NOVEMBER. Fishing for tarpon with rod and line is accounted the finest sport to be had in America. The season at Aransas Pass is from March to November. Of the three ways of fishing for tarpon, trolling, har pooning and bottom fishing, the first the popular at Aransas •... •... •... •., named Pass. The tarpon hunter goes out in the channel about half a mile in a small boat, which has a square cut stern. .His throne is :• chair, roped to the boat, and facing the stern. The guide, facing the same way, sits behind and keeps a strict watch. The bait used is a live mullet, but Texan tarpon are very accommo dating and will rise to even a stale bait. Aransas Pass holds the record for the largest single day’s catch, which was on June 9 last, when I 17 tarpon were caught. On June 13 twenty-four tarpon were caught here by Air. T,. G. Murphy, of Indiana, which is the largest in dividual single day's catch on record. The number of tarpon caught this sea son, March, 1905. to June 15. 1905. are 1,065. These numbers place Arapsas Pass at the head In the tarpon world. They were sworn to, by anglers hailing from New York, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma and Texas. Tarpon are not killed here as in former days, except ror the purpose of mounting them for trophies. When not wanted as trophies they are cast back into the water afVer being gaffed. Many ladies have become noted anglers in the Aransas Pass waters, among the number being a daughter of General Trolling for Tarpon at Aransas Pass, Texas—Showing the Way They Fish. Borrowed Plumes By LESLIE THOMAS. N the corner of an otherwise oVnpty corridor carriage sat the Honorable P» ter Ing ram, regarding with com placent eye the reflection in the small hand-glass which he held before his face; and although his sole remaining hirsute adorn ment clustered more partic ularly to .Ills head, he smoothed down an imagi nary parting carefully, giv ing a grunt, or two express ive of satisfaction as he did so. The platform without was apparently deserted, and, having halted for a brief interval at a litth-frequented station, the train was now slowly gathering sliced; hence Mr. Logram's disregard of con ventionalities in the matter of attention to iiis toilet. Suddenly, however, the sound of rapid steps and the panting of a runner caught his ear through tin. open window. Evi dently a belated passenger was ma..,ng one linal sprint in the effort to board the moving train. Warning shouts same from a zealous official anxious for tho safety of the new arrival; then an ad jacent carriage door slammed violently. “Idiot!" muttered Mr. Logram, testily. “Deserved to be killed! Why couldn t he have allowed himself more time ?” He .picked up a wig of thick, black hair 'from a box on the seat beside him. "Might as well try this on, too,” he said to himself, ruminatively, setting it upon iiis head. He adjusted its position with tin;' nicest precision, so that the neat parting rested exactly in the center. “All this makes one feel quite a child again,” he thought, smiling. "Much better than having a chap from Clarkson's down, by Jove! Good thing that fellow, whoever he was. didn’t get in here just now, thouga. He’d have disturbed me at a most inop portune moment, to put it mildly. He brought the glass nearer. • * • That seems to fit very looks almost natural, in fact, limelight it won't be noticeable.” "Ys. very useful tilings, aren t they? said a quiet voice at the door. “Come in handy now and again.” The ' Honorable Peter turn'd abruptly on the intruder, an individual attired in a top hat and frock coat, with obvious but unavailable—pretensions to smart ness. Ills clothing was somewhat dis arranged. Ids tic awry. His face was red, as if from r coni exertion; indeed, he still mopped it at intervals with a silk handkerchief of various shades of blue. “I beg your pardon,” said the Honor able Peter, icily, when lie could speak. “Don't mention it!” beseech*d the new comer. airily, with a wave of the hand. “Don’t mention it at all! I was only say ing what useful things those By ’H'm! Well — In the gad!” he cried in amazement; “why, If it isn’t ’Daddy’! Good old ’Daddy’!” And lie advanced with outstretched arm. Mr. Logram was somt what taken aback at first. Then his choler rose. “What the ” he spluttered. “How dare ’’ “Hardly knew you at first—with all that black hair,” said the top-hatted gen tleman. calmly. "It's a darn good wig that. Shouldn’t wonder if it took all tile 'tecs' in, either. Why, you’re got up tit to kill—absolutely regardless,” he added, admiringly, weighing uip the Honorable Peter's outfit with a practiced glance. •' 'Daddy,' your'e a. marvel—a (perfect marvel!” “iJow dare you, sir!” Mr. Logram brought out at last. “I've never seen you before in my life, sir, and—and don't want to again! 'Daddy,' indeed! Of all th.e pieces of impertinence !” lie gasp ed. The other man broke into a roar of laughter. Good—deuced good!” he chuckled, jjmuscdly; "but it won't wash with me, you know.” He prodded Air. Logram’s ribs playfully. “Quite right, lie went on, sobering down somewhat, “quite right to keep up the game before a stranger. But I ni ail right, old chap— though you've never met me, as you say.” He went into fresh paroxysms. “I'm one o' the boys, I am,” lit ev- plained, confidentially. “Name o’ Car- shot!—Jimmy Carsliott. They've often told me about you down at the club. Be sides”—-he looked at Air. Logram half- reprovingly—"you're a public character, you are, you know. They've got a copy of your.'physog.' at every big police sta tion in England, I should think!” “Do you mean to imply ?” The Honorable Peter was comparatively calm now. "Course they have! You know that as well as I do," said Air. Carsliott, sharply. "1 quite liold with being property cau tious—and all that. Don't blame you at all,” he added, indulgently. “Needn't try to ’conie’ it over me, though, ’cause it won't wash." "But. look here,” Air. Logram expos tulated, “I’m not the man—the—er— friend of yours that you suppose.” "Oh, alieese it!” said Jimmy Carsliott, rudely. “Be sensible, do! To come to business, now. Have you got such a ■thing as another o' them wigs and a change o' duds for me in one of those bags o' yours? if so. I'll hire 'em from you for the day.” *T have not!” said the Honorable Peter, firmly. “Your conduct, sir ” "Tell you. why,” Air. Carsliott con tinued, unmoved. “I had two of 'em from Scotland Yard—Jenkins and a pal of bis—in plain clothes, you know—on my track at the last station, and only managed to catch this train and get away from ’em 'by the skin of my teeth. They’re sure to wire on, too, you know, according to their usual unpleasant cus tom; and tilings'll look rather awkward for me at the next stop.” “That's not for half an hour,” Mr. Logram reminded him. “Oih, good egg!” commented his com panion, cheerfully. "May be able to do a bit of a change in that 'time. Ducky thing, rather, me hanging on to this train. Bit of a dash it was, I tell you. Then, you see”—reminiscently—“I was just walking along to find a nice, com fortable carriage, and who dliould I catch sight of but you, ’Daddy’! ‘Here's a bit of luck for you, Jimmy, my boy,’ I thought. ‘Here's a positive genius; here’s one of the shining lights, so to speak, of the profession to ask advice of!’ Now, surely you can give me a tip or two! You’re an older hand at the game than what I am.” The Honorable Peter shook his head helplessly. He was past speech. "Oil, well,” said the top-hatted gentle man, sharply, "if you've nothing to sug gest ” He shrugged iiis shoulders. "By the way,” he added, suddenly, for got to mention it before—chaps at the club were talking about it tilie other night. Hard luck on you, I call it!" re flectively. “I expect you've heard, though. What I mean to say Is—your wile's on your track again. Thought 1 d just .mention it." "Aly what?” asked Mr. Logram, sharply. "Your wife,” repeated his companion, firmly. “Your old woman. You know ( your first—the Newcastle on.” “But you're in error, my good sir. I am unmarried,” said Air. Logram, fiercely. Jimmy Carshott whistled expressively, then lifted a reproving finger.^ “Oh, you naughty old man!” he re marked, playfully. "Mean to say that last one at Sheffield—O oh! His^ face assumed a shocked expression. A\ ell, she's after you, anyway. Better be care ful.” The Honorable Peter made a remark of no importance. Then he rose hastily and began to collect bis luggage. I think it would be better." he said, frigid ly, “if I were to change into another compartment, Mr.—er—Carshott. I wish you good day." "Oh! Don't want to get mixed up with me when the ‘tees' look in. eh? I quite understand, p'r'aps? Righto! I know my place. I shan't interfere with you. By-by!” Air. Logram. scorning reply, picked up bis bags and moved off toward the ad joining compartment. But it was full, and as he came to the end one he caught sight of a familiar face through the glass. "Lady Parkinton!” ho stammered, bur riedly. “Lady Parkinton and her girls! AY hat infernal luck! Now what am I to k?o? I must get rid of this"—he raised a hand to his head—“somehow. I can't very well take it off in the corridor, either. If any one should see me * * * And, besides !” Disconsolately, he wandered back to his former carriage. Mr. Carshott. from the corner in which he was lounging, his feet upon the seat, looked up as he en tered. AA’ade Hampton, who counted thirteen to her string during her visit a few sea sons ago. Among a number of enthusi astic millionaires who delight in the sport here is the sou of famous Hetty Green. HUNTER TARPON. The tarpon travels in schools oif from one huundred to many hundreds, and it is considered somewhat dangerous to get into their midst. An immense school of these fish was seen in 1903, driving multitudinous shiners before them which, when they neared shore, they rounded up, much, the fisherman said, as a cow boy would round up his cattle. The water being very clear, they could ea sily he seen. Occasionally tlic bull tar pon, the leader, would make a gigantic leap. R. ports are that as many as a hundred tarpon were to be seen leaping in the air at once. Short work was made of the shiners when the shore was reached. As the tarpon is the prince of leaners, and one of the most beautiful of fish, the picture presented must have been one to be remembered. “Tarpon fishing,” says the wizard. Edl-. son, “is better than all other kinds of fishing because of those silver leaps.’’ Pome of these fish exceed eight feet in length, and weigh more than two hun dred pounds. They have been known to jump to a height of 12 feet. MOLTEN SILVER. A feature of the tarpon is its large and beautiful silvery scales, which are some times 4 by 3 inches in size. YA'hen the sun’s rays strike them, as the fish leap into the air, the effect is of molten sil- v r. The scales an’ sometimes sold as souvenirs, tied with a blue ribbon. Unfortunately, the meat of the tarpon is not tempting, though some oelieve it could be worked up into a dainty disli bv an expert chef- The fish makes a good- fertilizer. Because of its great beauty and abundant pugnacity, the tar pon has earned the title of the Sun King." Tarpon Caught Off Rockport, Texas. »et througn want you for “Hullo!—‘back again?” be remarked, pleasantly: "Thought you wouldn’t be able to tear yourself away from me like that. Here, I say.” he interjected hasti ly. "don't be an idiot now! Keep that wig on. or you'll be recognized as r,ure as eggs. As It Is. you may all right. I know they that Liverpool affairs.” i What could he say? though Air. Log- ram, in despair. Presently a slackening o? speed heralded their arrival a: the next station. Mr. Carsliott withdrew Ills head from the window. “Be careful not to say anything that'll give mo away,” lie said, beseechingly. “Kid 'em for all you're worth, mind!” And lie deliberately set himself to crawl under the seat. “Alight hang that rug o’ yours over the edge a bit,” came in a sepulchral voice from the depths; but Air. Logram affected not to hear. The train stopped. Outside, on the platform, an inspector and two consta bles walked along, peering with care into each compartment as they passed. As they opened the door abrutly, tne sound almost awakened the Honorable (Peter Logram. for lie grunted, and shifted his position slightly before com • posing himself again for slumber. “Beg pardon, sir.” The inspector’s tone, as he tapped the sleeper on the shoulder, was distinctly apologetic. “Haven't seen a chap in a top hat and frock coat, small black mustache and dark complexion, I s'pose? We’re after him, you see, sir—and he seems to have given us the slip. Shouldn't have trou bled you, sir, only ” Mr. Logram opened his eyer lazily. “Eh! Have I seen what?” He waxed indignant. “How dare you come here dis turbing people like this! Can't you at tend to your own business without my help?” “All right, sir; all right! Don't you worry. If yo-u ve been asleep, of course * * * ’’ The two constables followed the Inspector in. “Just going to look arounl a bit,” the latter explained. He gave the Honorable Peter, who sat hud dled up in a rug, a half-suspicious glance. Tho search could not have been called a prolonged one. Rough hands presently dragged Jimmy Carshott. dusty and dis consolate, into the light of day. Mr. Logram watched tho prisoner de scend. with his ecort, to the platform. His curiosity even led him, imprudently enough, to thrust his head out of the window to see the little procession de part. “Come along. Slim Jim,” said one of the constables, almost rudely. “We go' you at hist, my fine fellow! These ’con fidence' dodges can't go on forever, you know. Wonder you didn't try on your games with that gent in your carriage.” Struck by a sudden brilliant idea, en • tirely foreign to his nature, he turned to the Honorable Peter. “Didn't lose Continued on Third Page By R. E. VERNEDE. The Lady (EX The Novelist By R. E. n R. MORTON AIILL—Lady AVittingdale. Air. Hill, my dear, is the author of 'The Sin of Lady Pi^ndcrly.’ Airs. Levy-Cameron, hav ing effected the introduc tion, surged away toward her other guests, which was a very creditable thi. g to do, considering how dearly she would have loved to stop and listen to what the two had to say to one another. The piquancy of the sit i- tIon ’ of course, lay in the fact that Lady AVittingdale was the L d. AVittingdale of the scandal, which Hill hid taken lor the plot of his novel. . All that h;ul become public in ronec- tion with the AVittingdale affair—ail c on secmently. that Hill knew-was that the lady had love-not. p. rhaps. w sclv but most, most innocently—a „i :n who was not her husband, and that Sir .Tam s Wittingdale, finding her one day with the other man at the station from which pc o pic do sometimes start for Paris, had be haved most atrociously, thrown her over to the gossips and gone off mountain- climbing in the Andes. Hill, as a novelist, . had selected the most consistent and moving explanation. This was that Lady Wittingdale (“Lad,- Prenderly,” as he called her), was a love ly and noble-souied woman, who had married a mere Philistine ana brute. Then the artist, Gabriel Reyman, ap pears. He Is her soul's counterpart, (AA hy not? Novelists can mutch souls as easily as a shopgirl will match you a strand of wool.) Inevitably, the twin souls decide to take the boat-train for Paris, en route for Italy and some beau tiful palace overlooking the Adriatic, where they would watch sunsets—(ili.I was rather good on a sunset)—and their hearts would rush together. The climax—in the book—was, natural ly.. Sir James' accidental appearance on the platform, just as Lady Prenderly lias decided for the sake of her virtue, to forfeit her ticket, go home alone and en dure tlie pitiless hard future uncomplain ing. But Sir James (who is seeing off a Belgian actress) declines to believe ia his wife’s innocence, behaves like the brute lie is, and goes off, leaving her to the tender mercies,.of the town. It was a noble vinnieation of a peerless woman and it had gone into eigut eui- tions and made H.ll something o. a lion. There was a moment’s silence, during which Hill, after a hasty glance at the little lady with tile big dor.i.ouse eyes, looked anyw.here but at her. Then she spoke: “1’ve read your book. Mr. Hill,” she 6aid, in just the low, sweet voice as of a flute that he had ascribed to Lady Pren derly. “I don’t know,” slie said, with a little sigh, “if I ought to forgive you for what T understand you have done. It isn’t—it wasn’t—just like that. But*- I wonder how you knew? It seems so strange “How could any one look at you with out .guessing?” said 1111. fervently. Ho was so relieved at her attitude that he did not pause to reflect that until that moment he had never set eyes on her. In his book Lady Prenderly had been de scribed as having a starry beauty ai! her own. “The only thing I can forgive myself,” he continued, “is mv failure to draw you as—as wonderful as you really are.” “Oh. hut you mustn’t say that.” Lady AA'ittingdale replied. “It's true.” he ventured boldly to say, and was not snubbed. “T thoueht T.ndy Prenderlv fenr'ully sweet.” said Lady AA'ittingdale. “I wish I were indoe.1 more like her." “Phe was the cold type.” ni!l declared, “of which you arc th* form and living representative.’’ Lady AA'ittingdale did not seem to mind. On the contrary, she seemed to like it. U"ill and she had quit - a long conversa tion and ATrs. Levy-Cameron had quite a difficulty in separating her two lions and distributing thorn fairly among an other wise rather dull and commonplace com pany. Alorfen Hill asked leave to call, and the leave had been granted. Lady AA'it tingdale occupied Sir James' house, not a hundred miles from Portman square. There if you again choose to look at 1t that way, as Hill did choose to look at it. siie was working out her redemption for having been too virtues. The fact that it was her husband’s house and a com fortable one—central, as house agents say, for theaters and shops and other places of entertainment—made her none the Jess saintlike in Hill’s eyes. As a .matter of truth, it was not sym pathy that Lady AA’ittingdale asked for. so much as that subtler form of friend ship which helps one to forget. The actual topic, upon which Hill had based his novel, was naturally one which the lady shrank from discussing. But, after a little while. Hill was content not to know. F* r one thing, it was so clearly her wish. For another, there was Ga briel Kayinan. That creation of his own had become distinctly annoying to Hill. Hill d'dn’t even know what t^ie prototype’s name was, but he knew that Lady AA'itting dale, as well as Lady Prenderly, h id been in love with him. AVithin a month Hill realized that Lady Prenderly was only a pale ghost beside the warm and living Lady AVittingdale. And Lady Wittingdale had begun to think that Mr. Morton Hill wasn t such an idiot as she had supposed from read ing his absurd book. He could really behave quite nicely. He had been a little trying to begin Continued on Fourth Page. m /}