BentonS
hake swung north to pick up Highway 55 which would lead him to Benton and then on to Cape Girardeau. He was careful making turns and kept his speed down until he got used to hauling a trailer behind the truck. Jim’s bass boat was a beauty, sleek and well-appointed with a big Evinrude mounted on the stern, a sun awning, and a pair of padded fishing chairs. There were even two extra cans of pre-mixed fuel. It was the kind of boat a serious fisherman would be proud to own, and Shake didn’t want to return it damaged in any way.
The town limit sign reminded visitors that Benton was the seat of Scott County and claimed a population of about 600. If that was true, the majority of Benton citizens likely lived on outlying farms or old homesteads. The center of commerce, such as it was, se
