Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1893-04-08
MRS. BUCK TUpPER.
My profession is that of civil engineer

shorter route to fortune by joining the
throng that was just then rushing to tho
siver mines of the southwest.
But, alas, for the best laid plans of an
unsophisticated tenderfootl Six months
later found myself one day stranded in
wretched little mining town without n
dollar in my pocket.
How happened just then to meet and
make friends with Colonel Dingler 1t is
no part of my purpose to relate. Suffice
to say that when he offered to send me
75 miles into the country with party
of men who were to take charge of one
of his ranches | accepted without demur.
There were five of us, with all possible
diversity of character and bringing up.
Dennis O'Flaherty was brilliant
young Irishman, the son Of n New York
alderman. He had broken with his fam
lily because of his disposition to flirt with
pretty girls rather than to ''study for
ORDERS" as had been intended.
ST Larkins was typical down easter,
big and rawboned. and until six months
ago had never been beyond the New
Hampshire hills. His very opposite was
Ross Harper, a dapper little fellow who,
in spite of his sombrero and brace Of
pistols, looked very like one Of the dunn
mics that used to adorn the front of his
clothing store back in Cincinnati, but
for all that he was plucky and clear grit
to the backbone. Then there was Buck
Buck Tupper.
Just where he hailed from no one
ever seemed to know.
He seemed to be n part Of the wild
west himself, and his knowledge of its
bold, wicked ways was something mar
velous.
He had playful habit Of gallop-
ing across the country, firing right and
left simultaneously, or Of dashing un-
heTalded through shops and saloons on
his mustang. Buck was an inveterate
gambler, though something of a bungler
it seemed-at least his earnings went
regularly into the hands of the faro bank
dealer at Waho.
One afternoon as Buck and were re-
turning from beyond tho canyon, where
we had gone in search of some missing
cattle, we came upon the trail Of com
pany of horsemen.
From the broken bits Of saddle, cook
ing utensils and papers that were scat
tered about the gorge, it was evident
that there had been runaway. AS
reading matter was at n premium just
then, was off in an instant and was
gathering mp the papers, which proved
to be of recent date.
So absorbed did become in their con-
hot l>x,fp
noticed that Buck also had dismounted
and was examining with great interest
something that he had picked up from
the roadside.
1t proved to be the photograph of a
woinan-a fine, oval face, the slightly
waving hair brushed simply back from
the low, broad forehead. The eyes, that
you would have sworn were clear gray,
seemed to look into your own with a
sweet, .rustful expression. Several times
during the ride home Buck took the pic
turc from his blouse, regarding it with
an air of pleased ownership.
When / came into the house after put
| ting away the horses, l found him busily
engaged in fastening the picture to the
smoked waI above the chimney piece.
1T amt 10 place for such," he said,
nodding his head at the picture and
glancing apvlogetically about the room,
but Buck Tuppers proud to give you
the best he's got"
Looking upon the matter as o great
| joke, when the others came in led them
to the picture, presenting them with
mock ceremony to Mrs. Buck Tupper
The name seemed to tickle Bucks fancy
and he repeated it over and over to him.
self with q pleased cluclzle.
from that time "Mrs. Buck Tupper'
became q household word with us, but i,
was not until some weeks after this that
we learned how rnuch Of q reality she
had become to the eccentric fellow. Ont
day, when one Of his chums from Wnhe
was in the midst Of somewhat doubt
full story, Buck had interrupted:
"Gimpsey, don't 'llow that's jest tn,
talk right nice woman likes to lister
to-" glancing significantly at the face o.
the wall. Gimpsey stopped, disconcert
ed and astoEished, but he did not fnisl
the story. think he went away believ
ing that Buck was bit touched; indeet
| 1 dlA uOt SURF Dut tldt tuc ICoI " u
shared the opinion.
1t was evident that for some reason
radical change had taken place in him
He went no lhore on his boisturous cru
sades, and on Sundays, when he was OF
duty, had found him several times try
ing to spell out the words in the ittl
Bible had carried with me in my wan
derings.
For several weeks flaming bills he.
been posted about announcing that ther
was to be great time at Waho O.
Christmas eve. However, when l mcr
toned it to Tupper he shook his hea
slowly:
NAV, 1 did think some about it, bu
Mrs. Buck Tupper"-looking up at tn
picture with half smile-"I 'llowed
she was here she'd rather wouldn't"
Seeing that was disposed to listen h
went on: II never had no bringin up,
reckon, but sort O felt from tho fir.
as though that picture was token, a
I psys aoma day you'1l find that uyoma