Fooled The Game Warden

FOOLED THE GAME WARDEN

And the State Game Warden’s Two Deputies

AT WHITMORE LAKE

News of Their Coming Proceeded Them and the Boys Had Fun at Their Expense

Whitmore Lake, April 30.-Monday afternoon the state game warden from Lansing, accompanied by two deputies, dropped off the train here for the purpose of nabbing some of the fish destroyers and law defiers, and they were soon closeted with ex-Deputy Warden Dan Stollecker, who fixed a good, stiff price to row the trio over the placid waters of Whitmore and gather in 15 or 20 depredators with the anticipation which always accompanies in such cases of big fat fines. All arrangements were made in detail, a dour-oared boat secured and promptly at 9 o’clock the hawk-eye of Dan Stollecker pointed out a fishing light over at Stilsonburg, two miles distant. The quartet immediately clambered into their craft and each man grasping an our they swiftly glided from their moorings and shot through the smooth waters like an arrow from a bow. Dan Stollecker, who is of a very communicative disposition was doing some loud talking which could be heard from the shore and the warden sharply reproved him for his indiscretion as the spearers would hear them and the jig and division of fine money would be up the flue. Dan collapsed and relapsed into silence. It was an ideal night for fish spearing, not a ripple disturbed the bosom of the lake and its surface was as a mirror. The quartet got within 50 rods of the light when out it went and everything was as dark and quiet as the tomb. The party searched every clump of sea reeds and suspicious spot to find a boat loaded with fish-spearing depredators, but search how and where they may not a boat could be found. But Dan cast his lynx eye again around the horizon and behold at Todd’s point the flaring torch was casting out its bright light, illuminating the whole horizon and thither the vigilant quartet rowed until within the unseeing distance the glim was doused and another search made for the offenders but without result. Just then away across the lake at Lavender’s point the shrewd Stollecker called the warden’s attention to a fish-light and in their imagination they could see the spearer bring into the boat large pickeral and bass, although the light was over a mile away, and the four oars were bent in their effort to at one splurge shoot into the midst of the spearers, but alas they were again doomed to disappointment, for at just such a distance from the light it would go out and so did the hopes of the quartet.

The sequel is as follows. The warden and assistants were in Ann Arbor and made arrangements to go to Whitmore Lake. A friend of the boys here phoned out to look out for the fish warden and of course it flew like wildfire, but the boys thought they would not let them come for nothing and they stationed themselves around the lake with torches and by arrangements kept the wardens interested and warm chasing up the phantom spearers. This they kept up until 12 o’clock when the quartet disembarked with soiled linen, blistered hands and empty purses, and sad, weary and disgusted officials. Come again.