Montgomery County sentinel., 1929-03-08
She Was Huntinc
a Hero
BY AID scHUsTER

hANE no OOJectlon 10 yoNr hea
ing athletic and indepen, 1T"
Carolines mother spoke slowly. "hlt
doesn't It strike you that you afy, in
tolerant OF those who have other
tastes?"
"Mnybe So" the girl ans cred
lightly. "But this l know. am going
West to the mountains. am going
to see big strong men who fear Moth
ing and who are Of a different bed
than those I have known. am "o,ag
to escape from the sissles and the
highbrows and when I come back
well, maybe I will have entirely re.
formed"
Caroline. In the mountain cabin,
waited for the hero OF the open
spaces and the first mnn she ruw,
other than old Abe Potter. who with
his wife owned the retreat, was lie.
roy Boone. Boone was tnll and slen-
der lie wore nose glasses and spoke
In a low voice. Except for his woods
mans clothes he looked like college
man. Caroline was disappointed and
yet Leroy was the only man within
sight"
II have been waiting to meet man
of the West" she said giving him one
Of her best smiles. "I want to learn
all about the customs and people"
"It Is probable you will find us
much like the men of any other
place" He was amused at her en-
thusiasm.
"You don't understand. come
from little town In the East am
vigorous and Independent, In place
where girls are quiet and ladylike ind
men are studiOus and timld, wish
to forget books and science. and live
with the trees and the hills. When
meet man I want him to ba
miner, hunter, or even a stage rob
ber. Can't you seer
The man OF the West removed his
spectacles, drew out handkerchief
and cleaned the lenses with delibpra.
tion.
"They don't rob stages out here any
more" he snid. "und most Of the cow
boys have gone in the movies" After
moment Of deliberation he added,
Maybe, by hunting long enough I
could scare you up a man whose IA
ther had been cattle-rustler?"
II see," Caroline was offended. You
do not understand. But II life Is so
unexelting here why are you In the
mOuntaInsl'
II might be a tourist like yourself
but I'm not. You see work for the
biological survey"
'Mercy. that's a queer thing to hive
in the hills II means college educa-
tion and books; that you are stu.
dent and not a real wild westerner
after all. didn't think" she caught
herself before cOnfessing she did not
think his appearance was promising
and continued, ~ didn't think 1t
would be so difficult to meet the kind
Of men I've read about.
When Leroy Boone came by again
he brought her a rare flower he had
found on the trail and again he smiled
oddly when he saw she was not
pleased.
"YOur western man." he said, "the
one you have pictured, would not have
picked flower and carried It so care
fully. No-I think he would have
been shooting the lights out OF a ga
loon or resculng leather-skIrted girl
from the hands OF the vlllalnOus fore
man OF rival ranch. It's too bad
there Isn't a motion picture house up
here" He went his way. walking
lelsurely as man with plenty OF
time.
"He's angry because didn't thank
him for his flOwer.' Caroline decided.
SWELL as soon ns he understands I
do not wish biological surveyors bring
Ing me DOsles. ] will he better satls-
fed. I Gun see plenty OF men IKE him
at home" And when she returned to
the cabin she said nothing TO the Pot
ters OF the man who had no place In
her picture or Bcheme
Several times more the girl met
him and ut last she admitted to her.
self there was something In his quiet,
almost tolerant manner that attracted
her even while II exnspernted. But
she would not surrender. She had
taken the superior attitude and until
he proved himself hero. wOrthY Of
his environment, she would continue
disdaInful. BY the time she came to
leave they were as well acquainted as
the peculiarly strained situation
would allow.
II am sorry sou are going he sud,
"sOrry because ] will miss you and
because you should stay long enough
to get the real values OF our West
Was the man going to proposef
And what would she sayl Caroline
felt suddenly her values had changed
and that she was. going to miss him.
Then came that tnntalIzlng smile md
the banter which enrnged her.
"If I were the sort you Lave been
looking for would kIdnap you. throw
you over horse and tnke you To the
parson. But as II is, can only
"Say gOod-by," finished Caroline
and she hastened 10 the cnbin vow.
ing she would be glad to forget this
man who had no right TO pretend to
be Of her West.
AS Abe Potter drove her over to
the station he mentioned Boone.
"He works for the biological sur
vey," he said. drawing the words out
Importantly. "'rhey hires him to hunt
mountain lions. Lnst week he got five
In one dayr'
For five minutes Carolinr was ri.
lent. Then tImIdly she said, "Mr. Pot.