The Red Cloud chief., 1912-04-25
Ions Catch

Lon Herrick was up in the hills
trapping that week. Therefore 1t
chanced that out of the whole com.
munity at Three Cheers he was the
sole male absent when Mrs. Buss ar.
rived. She came without warning,
even as q stray cat, and had settled
herself in the inglenook of Three
Cheers heartsome hearth by the time
Lon came back.
"She's a fine specimen of woman.
Lonnie," said Noonan tentatively, yet
with a sort of submerged enthusiasm.
"About thirty. eight, maybe"
"What did she come after?" asked
Lonnie, who was sober and eau.
tious individual.
ITO make living. same as the
rest OF us. She's opened up sort Of
home bakery"
cts the first hook they put into
U.S." said Lonnie. "Is she fat?"
"She's what an onloOker might
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
Buss more Indifferent to his ex.
istence.
rs that him?" she asked. when
Noonan pointed him out, stalking
leisurely 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."
'1'm thinking what lonely life it
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, y
laughed back Mrs. Buss, merrly.
You haven't missed a day coming
down here. Go tell Lon Herrick l
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 fellow comes througi
about this time and buys them up
from Laramie. ! can get his name Il
il you want it."
"Get It," said Mrs. Buss.
About a week later Three Cheer!
was startled to find an announcement
In Mrs. Buss' window. 1t stated tina
4 therein was the agency for Barclay
Burden, furriers, of Laramie, followed
by a tempting list Of prices for pelts
Lon considered the situation from
all points. 1t looked strategic t,
him, and yet he was a modest man
and knew not the limit of womanl
patience. Several times he spreat
out his seasons catch and looked
them over-deer. bear, fox, wolf, OF
ter and coon skins. He resented Mrs
Buss' assumption Of authority. 1t hat
been part Of the yearly excitement
the visit Of the buyer to his cabin, an,
the swapping Of stories over the sale
Yet the second week after the sign ar
peared In the bakery window he wen
down to the camp bearing his catcl
with him and look Of resignation.
He had purposely chosen midafteI
noon for his visit. The other mel
8 would be up In the timber then. FL
wanted as few witnesses as possible
Come right in" called Mrs. Bus
+ cheerily, as his long shadow fel
y across her threshold. She lifted
smiling. contented face from her knit
ting. "Why, hello, Lonnie,' she sait
Got a pretty good catch there, have
MT you?"
Lon said nothing, but he droppe
the pelts.
. "Shut the door. DEAR" added Mr.
Buss. "And don't get nervous. II
not going to hector you a bit. 81
II down and talk"
ii y Hadn't We better look the pelt
| I'd, over, arst2". asked Lon heYildsrsdl,
"Plenty Of time. only took tn
agency so as to make sure you'd hav
to come here to see me. The day
got here, and found out you wer
away. just switched round an
. changed my name and went to worl
Lonnie, don't you get lonesome?"
II do my cooking" Lonnie starte
to explain, then out Of the corner {
his eye he caught glimpse Of tn
table with its freshly baked pies an
cakes. and huge loaves OF whit
bread.