The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1912-04-12


call nicely distributed" said Noonan,
blithely.
1t happened that Lonnie was
away most of the hunting season, and |
only came into camp at intervals. In
the spring, when the water burst the |
Ice on the rivers, he came home, and
the long wait had only made Mrs.
lstence
us that him?" she asked, when |
Noonan pointed him out, stalking |
leisnrely up the main street of Three |
Cheers, his old coonskin cap, with its
dangling tail, hiding his face from
sight, his three hounds at his heels.
1.-THE poor fellow"
"And why do you call him that. Mrs,
Buss?' queried Dan, tenderly. Hes
fine figure of man."
I'm thinking what lonely life 1t
Is he leads" said Mrs. Buss. And
dangerous, too, no doubt"
"The lumber trade is more so. I've
been shaking hands with death all
winter long and no body to sympa.
thize with me-
go long, you artful creature"
laughed back Mrs. Buss. merrily
you haven't missed a day coming
down here. Go tell Lon Herrick
want to see him"
HE won't come"
"Try him"
Dan carried the message and
brought back the answer dutifully. 1t
was simple and withal uncompromis-
ing.
''He says he does his own cooking"
Mrs. Buss' lips set firmly and then
parted in a laugh. And her answer
was enigmatical.
HE doesn't know me-" she said.
where do the trappers and hunters
around these parts sell their pelts ?"
There's a fellow comes through
about this time and buys them up
from Laramie. l can get his name II
II you want It,"
Get it" said Mrs. Buss.
About a week later Three Cheers
was startled to find an announcement
In Mrs. Buss' window. 1t stated that
therein was the agency for Barclay &
Burden, furriers, of Laramie, followed
by tempting list of prices for pelts
Lon considered the situation from
all points. 1t looked strategic to
him, and yet he was modest man.
and knew not the limit of woman's
patience. Several times he spread
out his seasons catch and looked
them oyer-deer.- beat fax.--wnlfr -pt.
ter and coon skins. He resented Mrs
Buss' assumption of authority. 1t had
been part of the yearly excitement
the visit of the buyer to his cabin, and
the swapping of stories over the sale
Yet the second week after the sign ap
peared in the bakery window he went
down to the camp bearing his catch
with him and a look of resignation.
He had purposely chosen midafter.
noon for his visit. The other men
would be up In the timber then. He
wanted as few witnesses as possible.
Come right I'M" called Mrs. Buss
cheerily. as his long shadow fell
across her threshold. She lifted a
smiling, contented face from her knit,
ting. why, hello, Lonnie," she said.
Got a pretty good catch there, have
MT your"
Lon said nothing, but he dropped
the pelts.
"Shut the door, DEAR" added Mrs.
Buss. "And don't get nervous. I'm
not going to hector you a bit. Sit
down and talk"
Hadn't we better look the pelts
over first?" asked Lon bewilderedly
Plenty of time. / only took the
agency so as to make sure you'd have
to come here to see me. The day
got here. and found out you were
away, just switched round and
changed my name and went to work.
Lonnie. don't you get lonesome?"
81 do my cooking" Lonnie started
| to explain, then out of the corner of
his eye he caught a glimpse of the
table with its freshly baked pies and
cakes, and huge loaves of white
bread.
Not this kind. Mostly corn cakes
and bacon"
you could go hunting in the sea-
son." began Mrs. Herrick, late Buss.
She glanced up, met Ions eyes. and
blushed slowly. you ought to be
ashamed of yourself to make me set
all the traps. Why don't you say some
thing?"
Then Lon rose awkwardly, and
reached toward her.
! There amt anything to say
honey" ne laughed. 81 never heard a