White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1924-06-06
The Dude
W rangler
Caroline Lockhart
Copyright, Doubleday. Page & Co.

Copyright, DOuDleoAy' EASo q ~. =
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CONTINUED from Last Week.
In the brush where Mr.. Penrose had
been sleeping TRANQUILITY other things
were happening. In the midst of his
slumbers, dream in which he
thought he was being dragged to the
fire like calf for branding came to
him. The@dream grew so real that
it awakened him. He received swift
and unpleasant impression that he
was moving, then he was startled to
find that he was not only moving, but
moving so rapidly that the canvas
bottom of his tent was scraping on
the rocks and brush over which it
travelled.
Mr.. Penrose was enraged instantly.
At best he had little patience with
practical jokers and none at all with
one who had the impudence to awak-
en- him. He called out angrily.
Mr.. Penrose, who had raised him
self on his elbow, laid down and was
about to begin where he had left of
when his domicile resumed its jour.
ney.
| Now thoroughly aroused, he sprang
up and tore at the flap-fastenings.
"This is going to stop right here!"
he cried, furiously. II do not appre-
ciate this odious Western humor. You
have chosen the wrong person to play
your jokes on!"
He reached for the pointed fishpole
which was lying in its case In the
bottom of the tent and stepped
through the opening.
A hurley figure in big overcoat
stood in the deep shadow confronting
him.
Mr.. Penrose was barefooted and his
soles were tender but he advanced far
enough to bring the pole down with a
whack upon the head Of the intruder.
"Woof! Wool"
The answer raised his hair and gal
vanized his whiskers.
"Woof! Wool" A great paw
famed the air-he could feel the wind
from 1t, plainly as it reached out to
cuff him-and the claws on the end
of it tore the front of the flannel shirt
in which he slept to ribbons.
"Woof! Wool" And then a roar
that reverberated through the tim
Der.
Mr.. Penrose swore afterward that
the hot breath of the brute was in
his face, but the statement is open to
question since at the first "Woof" he
had fallen into his tent backward.
No one dreamed of the adventure
Mr.. Penrose was having until he ap-
peared among them with his shirt
bosom in shreds and trembling like
an aspen In one hand he carried a
sizeable chunk OF bacon.
"This," he cried, brandishing 1t, as
what I found tied to my teepee!"
The explanation was obvious. Some
one had baited his ten for bear on
purpose and since there was no way
of obtaining evidence against the cul
prit, Mr.. Penrose in his unreasonine
rage accused ever. ,ody.
Ever since ! line, you have all
had a pick on mel" He glared al
them. you needn't think you're. sc
smart haven't seen It,"
Everyone was SO surprised at the
accusation that they could only stare
speechless, at him. With his white
beard, rags, and barefooted, Mr.. Pen
rose looked like the Count of Monte
Cristo telling the world what he wal
| going to do to it as he added, waving
the bacon:
"I'm going home tomorrow-to Del
aware-back to my peach orchard
and If anyone of you ever say 20,
know me-much less speak to me-
shall deny it. I'm done with the Who'll
caboodle of you'll"
Protestations were useless and e
forts to dfssuade him from his pul
pose of leaving. The next mornin
he packed his bag and started dow
the road without saying goodbye t
anyone.
His departure reduced the party
half its original number, and that wa
bad enough, but when by lunch-tim
Mr. Appel had developed a soreness
which led him to believe he was II
jured internally and should consul
a physician, the situation became II
finitely worse to Wallie and Pinkey.
The evening was gloomy one a
compared to others, and although the
built a campfire as usual, there wa
none Of the customary gaiety aroun
it.
Mr.. Stott sat alone on his saddl,
blanket lost in meditation of a son
Der nature, and Pinkey and Miss Ely,
ster whispered apart.
Wallie was in no mood for conve
sation, while Mr.. Hicks, with the de
icacy which now marked his ever
action, smoked alone in the shadow
making no effort to intrude himse
upon his betters. Even Red" M
Gonnigle, reclining on his elbow sta
ing into the embers, seemed pensiv
and disinclined to take advantage {
the opportunity which the silenc
gave him to hear his own voice.
only Aunt Lizzie Philbrick remain