The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1895-07-12
MRS. BUCK TUPPER.


My profession is that of civil engi-
neer.
After very unsatisfactory year
spent in the employ Of certain mush-
room railroad companies l resolved to
seek shorter route to fortune by join
ing the throng that was just then rush.
ing to the silver mines OF the south
west.
But alas! for the best plans Of an un-
sophisticated tenderfootl Six months
later found myself one day stranded
in a wretched little mining town, with
out dollar in my pocket.
How | happened just then TO meet
and make friends with Col Dingler 1t
is no part of my purpose to relate
Suffice to say that when he offered to
send me seventy-fve miles into the
country with party of men who were
TO take charge of one OF his ranches
accepted without dcmur.
There were five of us, with all possi-
BILE diversity of character and bring
ing up.
Dennis O'Flaherty was brilliant
young Irishman, the son of New
York alderman. He had broken with
his family because of his disposition to
firt with pretty girls rather than to
study for ORDERS" as had been intend
ed. 81 Larkins was typical down
easter, big and rawboned, and until
six months ago he had never been be-
yond the New Hampshire hills. His
very opposite was Ross Harper, dap
per little fellow who. in spite OF his
<Nf let
very like one of the dummies 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 back
bone. Then there was Buck-Buck
Upper.
Just where he hailed from no one
ever seemed to know. He seemed to
be a part of the wild west himself, and
his knowledge of its bold, wicked ways
was something marvellous. He had a
playful habit of galloping across the
country, firing right and left simultan-
eously, or of dashing unheralded
through shops and saloons on his mus
tang Buck was an inveterate gambler,
though something of bungler, it
seemed--at least, his earnings went
regularly into the hands of the faro
bank dealer at Waho.
One afternoon, as Buck and l were
returning from beyond the canyon,
where we had gone IN search of some
missing cattle, we came upon the trail
of company of horsemen. From the
broken bits of saddle, cooking utensils
and papers that were scattered about
the gorge il was evident that there
had been a runaway. AS reading mat
ter was at premium just then, was
off in an instant and was gathering up
the papers, which proved to be of re-
cent date. So absorbed did | become
in their contents that it was some min
utes before | 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
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
clear gray, seemed to look into your
own with a sweet, trustful expression.
Several times during the ride home
regarding it with an air of pleased
ownership.
When came into the house attire
putting away the horses, found him
busily engaged in fastening the pic
ture to the smoked wall above the
chimney piece.
1T amt no place for SUCH" he said,
nodding his head at the picture, and
glancing apologetically about the room,
"but Buck Tuppers proud to give you
the best he's got"
Looking upon the matter as great
joke, when the others came in | led
them to the picture, presenting them
with mock ceremony to Mrs. Buck
Upper The name seemed to tickle
Bucks fancy, and he repeated it over
and over to himself with pleased
chuckle.
From that time Mrs. Buck Topper"
became a household word with us; but
il was not until some weeks after this
that we learned how much of reality
she had become to the eccentric fell
low. One day, when one of his chums
from Waho was in the midst of
doubtful story Buck had interrupted:
''Glmpsey, don't low that's jest the
talk a right nice woman likes to listen
to-" CHANGING significantly at the face
on the wall. Gimpsey stopped, dis
concerted and astonished. He did not
finish the story. think he went away
believing that Buck was bit touched;
indeed, am not sure but the rest of us
shared the opinion.
1t was evident that, for some reason,
a radical change had taken place in
him. He went no more on his bolster
Gus crusades, and on Sundays, when he
was off duty, l had found him several
times trying to spell out the words in
the little Bible had carried with me
in my wanderings.
For several weeks flaming bills had
been posted about announcing that
there was to be great time at Waho
on Christmas eve. However, when /
mentioned it to Upper he shook his
head slowly:
Nav, did think some about it, but
Mrs. Buck Tupper"-looking up at the