The Raymer enterprise., 1922-05-18
On the Edge Of
Civilization
sy HAROLD sihcLAM.

~~Ss'b"s 1'sA' "es0a NrnspApef Uuion
y would die Of fright" declared
Meta Farbes. u am sure would
Why. Just thirk Of II. Bsauty-way of
ON the very edge Of civilization. wild
animals, savages and mountain out.
laws! No, thank you. not for mel"
"But David will be- there" explained
Beatrice Merrill the bride OF q week
and she spoke IN simple confident
way that indicated her brave bright
husband to he a power Of valor and
strength In her estimation.
"Wen. that Is good deal. will
confess" admitted Netta. But David
cant be with you all Of the time, can
hef II he's going To he the great cat.
tie king he thinks he Is, he must have
lot OF work TO do I'm sure you will
faint at the first sight Of fierce COW.
boy, and us to those India ans-think Of
seeing them creeplng-creeping-
creeping through the grass, with their
hideous tomahawks and scalping
knIves--ugh" and the Imaginative
miss shlvered In inclpient Mysteries.
Beatrice only smiled sweetly, Opt.
mistlcally.
And when the eventfuI departure
came, every stage Of the journey ac
complislled seemed to carry Beatrice
into new realm Of delight. Then
when a cnvalcade Of genuine cowboys
came At Last Limit to accompany
them to the ranch their honest loyal
admiration charmed the pretty bride
and she felt that she was going among
true friends.
There are no bears" size wrote OK.
ulfingly To Meta two weeks later
"The Indians are poor harmless crea
lures who come To the door begging
only once In awhile. and make you
glad 10 be able to be charitable. And
the boys-dear rough. honest fellows
who come around bashful and proud
OF their little sister. as they call me.
and who would die for me. n l asked
them. And Davld-oh. so grand and
splendid when he goes on on a horse
that would scare you!
AS 10 the mountain outlaws-booh !.
Once there was a few Of them. but
they have been driven Of the trail.
Come ont and see ME. and see what
real men look l!ke!"
David the day before had made q
famous sale and had gone of to q
distance TO negofiate for a new herd
Most of the men had accompanied
hirl. The others had been given n
holiday and had gone to Last Limit
whore circus had come along.
Reatrice went about her pleasant
homo tasks happy rs Il sprite. singing
merri'r. planning with delight a IA.
nous strawberry pie Of gigantic proper.
'i"nS for her formidable horde when
'hrr should return, rnvenous and de.
''"h'r", ~ supper time. She had gath.
cred great apron full Of the rich.
lr""ious fruit In the irvine about a
quarter 0f n mile from the house.
"'hc" 'hc heard shots and shouts In
the distance.
Then suddenly Beatrice uttered a
si,nrD cry, There hurst from a coEess
great. shaggy bear.
II went faint" determined Beatrfo.
-"Al'hongh I hardly know what 10
do Ct denr!"
Seeking refuge or eatables. the
hear tore through the little house gar
den. aimed for the open cellar doors.
darted down the steps. and than--
'"1fsice ran fast as she could ,jreached
the house, Slammed down the celia.
doors.
What an exploit to write to Nettn
about ! What grand thlng,to narrate
to her husband!
Beatrice railantly took down the
house rifle from the antlers over the
dining room clock and placed II on
the table, I..rn she got the axe from
the yard. Mex, she ad(ied the poke :
to this waIlke equipment.
About m hour later, I,eatr'ce hear,l
the tramp Of horses and the sourd Of
human voices along tile trnil. Six.
mounted men came into view. Their
leader doffed his hal as lie drove up
to The doorway where Beatrice stood.
I'VE are looking for stray bear"
he began.
oh. yes" announced Beatrice eag-.
erly. n great ferocious monster"
mot at uil--a harmless, roothless old
animal escaped from the circus but.
valuable as trick bear. and 500
Offered for Its capture"
"why what Is thisy inquired Day.d
Merrill, us he and his hearty crowd
sat down to the smoking supper that
evening. and he found IA little heap Of
bank notes under hlsl plate.
Then Bentrlce told her story. with
dancing eyes. And David, swung her
up IN the uir and kissed her at its
termination. while the enthusiastic
cowboys gave "Huzza r with an al
miring echo for their brave 'littls