The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-01-18

"You look as though you was loaded
fer bar. Guess you'll get all tired out
fer nOthin'." he shifted.
swell. that's my funeral, and you
don't have to come to It'll" snapped the
young man, and turning away, he
was soon lost to sight.
Wessner had been foremost among
them in voicing his contempt for 1.-THE
tenderfOot," and he smiled audibly "a
Crosset plunged through the bushes.
The young man had found his gibes
rather the hardest to stand; but he
knew what a drawback he had been
to the party, and he had the good sense
to take his medicine as quietly as pos.
sible.
1t was getting near the time for the
mems return and Wessner was busy
getting the dinner. He heard slight
cracking of twigs.
Guess the baggage smells dinner
and is goin' to be first on the grub
list" he said to himself.
But when Crosset did not appear at
the end of about ten minutes Wessner
came and looked about.
BET that was fox" he thought
Gee! wouldn't like to get him!"
Remembering the dinner and his re.
Sponsibilty as cook, he gave up the
idea of a hunt and turned back to his
duties. There was going to be treat
in the shape of Il dessert of wild honey
he had found in Il bee tree lie
chu"k!ed as he thought Of the delight.
cd surprise uf the men.
AS he nrarcd The shed he thought
ne saw something moving inside. With,
deep disgust he wondered ''if that bag.
gas" has got ut that honey"
The next instant he saw the shaggy
coz, of /" large grizzly bear intent on
in!l!n, short work of tho dessert
N"sSner turned and shinMcu ND the
nearest tree. The branch he was
sam2ing onto was net y very Siron.
one ;titt he was in constant terror lest
it should break. From his vantage
point he could see the grizzly clearing
oil the dishes With nralnrSs and dis,
lGltch. 1t seemed hours that he hnl.
70 that limb and waited for someone
to appear. He heard Il cracking of
tWi.sS. and fearful lest it should he an.
other bear. WAS quiet. But no, it was
1.-The baggage"
Hold ont" he yelled. "rhrrc's 8
grizzly in the Kitchen! Up tree!
Quick"
Instead Of taking his advice Crossct
came toward him.
keep still" he Kissed, and crcpt
along toward the shed.
The next instant Il shot rang out.
The bear turned and sighted Crosset
and bounded toward him. A second
shot caused rcd stream to spout from
his throat. but scarcely halted him
Wessner held his breath.
1t was all up with 'the baggage"
But the bear almost upon the man, ran
against the rifle and received the third
shot In his heart. His great claw tore
open Crossct's sleeve as he toppled
over.
Just then the tramp and talk of the
approaching party was broken with
rapid firing and the Shrek of u man.
Crossct rushed off to find Fendrick In
the grip of another grizzly. Fearful of
shooting his friend if he fired, Crosset
brought the butt end of the gun with
all his strength down on the head of
the great beast. AS it turned upOn him
he plunged his knife into it's throat and
it fell.
The other two men who had either
been too far away or too frightened to
be of any use carried Fendrick, who
was too badly torn to walk, to camp.
Fendrick was rather too exhausted
to speak. but not too far gone to laugh
when he beheld the cook up the tree.
AS they came upon the carcass Of
the other grizzly the men with one &C.
cord stopped short and looked at "the
baggage" Their gaze made the young
man turn away In such elnbarra ssrnent
that he called to the cook to get busy
If he wasn't too tired"
Fendrick full of admiration and graf.
itude. started to express himself, but
was stopped by Crosset, who observed:
swell. I've done rather good DAVIS
work, for I've found the vein you are
looking for just about q quarter of =
mile from here"
CrosSet had made good.