White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-06-27


"You are looking in splendid heaitn,
Mrs. Budlong," he asserted, quite as IL
that lady ever had looked otherwise.
Eyes, the change benefited me
greatly" A stranger might have gath
cred from the plaintive note IN her
voice that prior to her trip she mad
been an invalid.
"You, too, found the Western coun-
try Interestingly"
ooh, very! AT heart, Mr.. Cone,
am a Child of Nature, and the prim-
tive always appeals to me strongly.
Mrs. Budlong hesitated and seemed
debating. Having made her decision
she asked in an undertone:
Il can trust you?"
absolutely" replied Mr.. Cone with
emphasis, which intimated that the
torture chamber could not wiring from
him any secret she chose to deposit.
81 had a very peculiar experience
in the Yellowstone. l should never
mention it, if you were not more like
brother to me than stranger. IL
is altogether shocking"
| Mr.. Cones eyes sparkled.
"Purely in spirit of adventure l
took a bath in beaver dam. 1t was
in a secluded spot, and so well pro-
tected that l went in-er-I did not
wear my bathing suit. The birds
twittered. The arched trees made a
green canopy above me. The sun
shine sparkled On the placid bosom OF
the water. A gentle breeze, warm,
sweet scented caressed me as drank
in the beauty Of the scene.
"Then l plunged in-the tempera-
ture was warmer than tepid-del1ght-
sprite, or something, as l swan out
to the middle and found footing.
The bottom was rather oozy, and there
were green patches floating on the
surface Otherwise, it was ideal.
| Noticing a brown spot on my arm,
touched it. 1t was squashy and
pulpy. Then it moved! A leach
and 1t sunk a million feet into me as
soon as | attempted to remove 1t.
was black with them, If you will be-
lleve me, literally covered. Repulsive
disgusting lood-suckers, sucking my
blood like vacuum-cleaners, MI. Gone!
Imagine my horror.
Mr.. Cone tried to.
Another w oman would hav
screamed or tainted" Mrs. Budlont
continued, "but | come Of differen
stock, and ancestry will tell at sucf
moments. l am a Daughter of the
Revolution and my father fought al
through the Civil War as a sutler
Not sound passed my lips as l go
back to shore, somehow, and, veal
from loss Of blood, sank down to con
slider how to get rid of the teaches.
I'm emergencies l am a resourcefu
woman. Recalling that had mattel
only one little match-in my sweat
er pocket, it occurred to me that
might build smudge and smoke then
off. l scraped some leaves together
struck my match, and, just then"
But just then Mr.. Budlong, who hat
stopped to look after the trunks
scuffed in the doorway, and In hi
eagerness to greet Mr.. Gone forgo
completely the narrative Mrs. Budlon
was reciting for his benefit. Nor di
he ever hear its termination.
Even as the proprietor stood at hi
desk wondering If the later train ha
brought any more prodigals, commc
ton on the veranda was followed b.
the appearance of Mr. and Mrs. Henri
Appel.
Mr.. Appel was using stick AM
walking with such difficulty that MI
Cone hurried forward and asked witt
real solicitude:
my dear friend, whatever is tn
matter? Has your old enemy Rheu
matism again got it's clutches on you?
Rheumatism" Mr.. Appel snorted
you lie on your back with 200
pounds on top Of you and see hoy
you like it,"
Mr.. Cone was puzzled and said sc
Mr.. Appel explained tersely:
"a bear walked on me-that's al
that happened. A silver-tip stood Of
the pit of my stomach and ground hi
heel into me-"
"Tsch! tsch! tsch!" Mr.. Cone
eyes were popping.
IF 1t were not for the fact that In
quick in the head my wife would be
widow. l was in my sleeping bag an,
saw the bear coming. / knew wha
was going to happen, and that ha,
one chance in thousand. 1t hashe
through my mind that horned toa
when threatened with danger will In
fate itself to such an extent that
wagon may pass over 1t, leaving tn
toad uninjured. l drew a deep breath
expanded my diaphragm to its great
est capacity, and lay rigid. 1t was al
that saved me-"
Again Mr.. Cones tongue against hi
teeth clicked his establishment at thi
extraordinary experience, and whil
he congratulated Mr. Appel upon hi
miraculous escape he noted that h,
was wearning souvenirs of his trip il
the way Of an el1-tooth scarf.pin an,
a hat-band of braided horse hair.
Gazing absently through the door
way and comforting himself by think
ing that perhaps he, too, had laten
heroism in propitious circumstances
he did not see Miss Eyester, who ha,
come in the side entrance, until sh'