Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-03-19
I
Ions. Catch
tCopyrirht. 1911. by Associated Literary Prs.sl

CHANGED 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 ipglenook Of Three
Cheers heartsome hearth by the time
Lon came back.
"She's fne specimen of woman,
Lonnie," said Noonan tentatively. yet
with a sort of submerged enthusiasm.
About thirty-eight, maybe"
What did che come after?" asked
Lonnie, who was sober and eau
uous individual
"To make living, same as the
rest OF us. She's opened up 8 sort oil
home bakery"
"It's the first hook they put into
u.s." said Lonnie. 'Is she fat?"
"she's what an onlooker nigh,
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.
as 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.
"The poor fellow"
"And why do you call him that. Mrs.
Buss?" queried Dan, tenderly. Hes
a 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 day coming
down here. Go tell Lou Herrick
want to see him."
"He won't come"
"1ry 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 through
about this time and buys them up
from Laramie l can get his name II
il 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
herein was the agency for Barclay &
Burden. furriers. OF Laramie, followed
5y tempting list of prices for pelts.
Lon considered the situation from
Ill points. 1t looked strategic to
aim, and yet he was modest man,
md knew not the limit Of a woman's
patience. Several times he spread
out his seasons catch and looked
;hem orer-deer, bear fox, wolf. OF
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 tc the camp bearing his catch
with him and 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 in" called Mrs. Buss
cheerily. as his long shadow fell
across her threshold She lifted
smiling. contented face from her knit
ting. why. hello. Lonnie." she said.
Got a pretty good catch there, have
mt you?'
Lon said nothing, but he dropped
the peits.
"Shut the door. DEAR" added Mrs.
Buss. "And don't get nervous. I'm
not going to hector you bit. Sit
down and talk"
Hadn't We better look the pelts
over first?" asked Lon bewilderedly.
Plenty of time. l 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 glimpse OF the
table with its freshly baked pies and
cakes, and huge loaves of white
bread.
ILL., move, pakcE