River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1895-04-18
MRS. BUCK UPPER.
By MATTE n. HoTELER.

After q very uUNfl htI2FA NEhE
spent in the employ II certain mu>h-
room railroad companies resolved 10
seek sho-te. route 20 fortune 10y join
ing the thrung that was just then rush
ing to the silver mines of the south
west.
But alas. FOR the best plans 81 an nm
sophisticated tenderfo0t. Six months
later found myself one day stranded
in vretched little mining town, with
out dollar in my pocket
How I happened Just then TO meet
and make friends with Col Diugler it
is no part 81 my purpose TO relate
Suffice To- say that when he offered tn
send me seventy-five miles into the
country with party If men who were
10 take charge Of one Of ms ranches l
accepted without demuT
There were five Of ms. with all posi-
bile diversity IL character anu bring
ing mp.
Dennis O'FIaheriy was a brilliant
young freshman. the sun of a y
York alderman lie had broken with
his family because 81 his disposition to
fiirt with pretty girls rather than TO
study for orders. ~ had been intend
ed. ii Larkjn> was q typical down
easter, big and rawboued. and until
six months ago he had never been be-
voud the New hampshire hills His
very opposite was Ross Harper, a dap
per little fellow who. in spite of his
sombrerO and brace If pistols. looked
very like one Of the dummies that used
to adorn the front of his clothing store
hack in Cincinnati but for all that ne
was piucIsy and clear grit to the back
bone. Then there was Buck Buck
Topper.
Just where he hailed from no one
ever seemed to know. lie seemed to
he a part 81 the wild west himself. and
his knowledge Of It's bold wicked ways
was something marvellous lie had a
playful habit 81 galloRing across the
country. firing right and left simultan-
eouslv. or IF dashiug unheralded
through shops and saloons on his mus
tang. Buck was an invetcrate gambler.
though something 20 bGngler. il
seemed at least. his earnings went
regularly into the hands of the faro
bank dealer at Vahs.
one afternoon. - Buck and ] were
returning from beyond the canyon.
where we had gone m search of some
missing cattle we came upon the trail
Of a company nf hor>emeu. From the
broken bits 80 saddle. cooking utensils
and papers thar were scattered about
the gorge. D. was evident that there
had been a runaway. ~ reading mat
ter was at premium Just then. ] was
of in an instant and was gathering up
the papers. which proved - bc IL re-
cent date. - absorbed dId become
in their content, that II was some min
utes before noticed that Buc.s also
had dismouute,I and was examining
with great interest something that he
had picked up from the roadside.
II proved to be the photograph Of
woman a fine. oval face. the slightly
waving hair brushed simply back from
the low. broad forehead The eyes.
that You would have sworn were a
clear gray. seemed Ia loolS into your
own with sweet. tr~stful expression
Several times during the ride home
Buck took the picture from his blouse.
regarding IT with an air 81 pleased
ownership.
When ! came into the house attire
putting away the horses. ] found him
busily engaged in fastening the pie
ture to The smoked wall above the
chimney piece
1t amt no place fov such" he sail.
nOddiug his head at the picture. aud
CHANGING apnloyeticallya bout the room.
"but Buck Tupper'S proud To give You
thc hest he's got.
Looking upon the matter as great
joke. when the others came in led
them u the picture. presenting them
with mock ceremony TO Mrs. Buck
Topper The name seemed To tickle
Buck fancy, and he repeated 1t over
and over To- himself with a pleased
chuckle
From that tune Mrs. Buck Upper
became household word with u>; hut
IL was not until some weeks after this
that we learned how much of a reality
she had become Ia the eccentric fell
low. One day. when one of his chumS
from Waho was in the midst of a
doubtful story. Buck bad interrupted:
"t;ImpSey. don't low that's jest the
talk a right nice woman likes To listen
20" CHANGING significantly at the face
on the wall tiimpSay stopped. dis
concerted and astonishcd lie dld not
finish the story. ! think he went away
believing that Buck was a bit touched:
indeed am not sure but the rest Of uS
shared the opinion
II was evident that. for some rcaSon.
n radical change had taken place in
him. lie went M more ON his bolster
ous crusadss. and on sundays. when he
was off duty. I had found him se~eral
times trying - spell ont the words IN
the little Bible I had carried with mc
in my waudering>-
Tor i vcrJl weeks flaming bills had
been posted about announcing that
there was u be great time az Waho
on Christmas eve However. when 7
mentioned IL 10 upper he shook his
head slowly:
Nav. did think some about il, hut
Mrs. Buck upper looking Up at the
picture with a half smile Il lowed il
she was here she'd rather I wouldn't
Seeing that . was disposed to listen. /
he went On. II never had no bringing /
nm. hut sort a felt from the first a.
though that picture Was a token. an ! |
SAYS. Some day vou viii Ind that /
woman. herself Buck Tuppcr- Ofcourse |
Inever could he fifteen for such. sigh
ing humhly .-but I made M ms mind /
10 he decent an >quar, anyway
For more than month we dad been
annoyed by cattle thieves. hut in spite /
80 the fact that -,c hsd hecu rc-en- |
forced by a daring couu;.ny of men. /
they continued 10 elUdc ". enc bright !
moonlight night however. we came /
down upon q party Of them Our men |
At once opened fire. At first they /
showed fight but a. we far ont /
numbered them. their leader. with a 1
signal to h-~ men. pat spurs 10 his 1
horse. and in moment thcv were gal I
Looping down III, gorge, with several of /
Nur party ~ pursuit
They had gone br; short distance /
when >hc. Jonb effect. ana the horse /
OF one ~ III, outlaws f,ll dead
LarsiI> and Eurric,. forward 10 pre- /
vent tn riders csc. ~. hui a. we l;fted =
the sal ,ic hy 'irh hc had been pin (
toned a. the g md. the long coat and /
broad >-uhr,-rp fell back disclosing |
the fact tHat ouI artive was woman. /
= this moment 'u, IF the men came {
Caa1Ping b0ck with tie new that F.
Buck had bceH shot. This mt an end /
To the pursuit, and we hurrieu back to /