impelled him to follow out the instructions in the note. He
spent the next few hours repeating the address over and over again. When
he was satisfied that he had memorized it thoroughly, he tore the
strange paper into bits and sent it fluttering earthward like a tiny
snowstorm.

Larner was not a gullible individual, but neither was he unimaginative.
He was scientist enough to know that "the impossibilities of to-day are
the accomplishments of to-morrow." So while not convinced that the note
was a serious communication, still his mind was open.

The weird address insisted on creeping into his mind and driving out
other thoughts, even those of his speckled playfellows, the rainbow
trout.

"I've a notion to change my plans and go from Denver to the Frying Pan,"
he cogitated. Then he thought, "No, I won't take it that seriously."

* * * * *

Anyone who knows the Colorado Rockies knows paradise. There is no more
beautiful country on the globe. Lake County, where Larner had chosen
his fishing grounds, has as its seat the old mining camp of Leadville.
It has been visited and settled more for its gold mines than the golden
glow of its sunsets above the clouds, but the gold of the sunsets is
eternal, while the gold of the mines is fading quickly away.

Leadville, with its 5,000 inhabitants, nestles above the clouds, at an
altitude of more than 10,000 feet. Mount Massive with its three peaks
lies back of the town in panorama and rises to a height of some 14,400
feet. In the rugged mountains thereabouts are hundreds of lakes fed by
wild streams and bubbling crystal springs. All these lakes are above the
clouds.

Winter sees the whole picture decorated with bizarre snowdrifts from
twenty to forty feet deep, but spring comes early. The beautiful
columbines and crocuses bloom before the snow is all off the ground in
the valleys. The lands up to 12,000 feet altitude are carpeted with a
light green grass and moss. Giant pines and dainty aspens, with their
silvery bark and pinkish leaves blossom forth and whisper, while the
eternal snows still linger in the higher rocky cliffs and peaks above.

Indian-paint blooms its blood red in contrast to the milder colorings.
Blackbirds and bluebirds chatter and chipmunks chirp. The gold so hard
to find in the mines glares from the skies. The hills cuddle in banks of
snowy clouds, and above all a pure clear blue sky sweeps. The lakes and
streams abound with r