Show The o o By fiction TRAPPER JOE F RiCh Richard a cnora H. H Wilkinson I Corner I I I HE BLIZZARD first of the season season season sea sea- THE son was roaring fitfully when Trapper Joe climbed over the river riverbank riverbank riverbank bank and approached his cabin Midway across the intervening clearing he stumbled over something something something some some- thing and almost fell The something something something some some- thing he discovered was a man almost buried by bys s snow now n o w Minute 3 Fiction Trapper Joe rolled the stiff form over and saw a huge pack strapped to the theman's theman's theman's mans man's back He grunted picked up pack and man and carried both Into his cabin Trapper Joe examined the pack and found that it contaIned contained contained con con- five pouches each filled to capacity with gold dust There must he reflected be thousands of dollars worth the swathed blanket-swathed P PRESENTLY figure stirred Trapper Joe stared down at it solemnly The unconscious mans man's eyelids fluttered fluttered flut flut- then opened Take it easy pardner said Trapper J Joe o e Youre coming around The man stared at Trapper Joe then sat bolt upright Where am I he demanded your cabin but but but- What happened I remember setting setting setting set set- ting out for the Post It began to snow I kept falling Then I saw But you didn't have the strength to make it I found you you almost dead I lugged you back here and nursed life back into yo your r body Youre You're safe and sos so's your gold Sure Some of it spilled out You must have made a rich strike I did A pocket I stayed too toolate toolate toolate late In order to get It all out My names name's Tim McLeary He eyed Trapper Joe curiously Kinda queer having this happen waking up and finding myself alive and and and- up and finding myself alive and and and- Trapper Joe nodded Youre wondering why I didn't leave you there to die and appropriate the dust eh Well I considered it Then thought of what a chance Id I'd be taking I thinks When he wakes up hell he'll see I saved his life wakes up hell he'll see I saved his life McLeary brushed a hand across his face His His' lips tightened I get it You were scared to snitch the stuff You figured Id I'd give you half hall hallot of ot it on account of ot you saved my life Youre a cool one all right McLeary twisted his thin lips Ups into a grin l It was good figurin at that l Mind lind ind If Il I take tale talea a sleep I feel sorta weak Drink some more soup first Warm you up inside the storm beat and O OUTSIDE tore at the tiny cabin Pres Pres- Trapper Joe slept Time passed The storm diminished in volume died The figure near the fire stirred sat up listened to Trapper Joes Joe's deep breathing and reached for a stick of firewood Trapper Joe returned to consciousness consciousness consciousness con con- to find himself bound in his bunk He struggled at his bonds After an n intermittently long time he freed himself himsel chafed his wrists flexed his muscles Then he built up the fire There was a note above the mantel Sorry old timer Ive I've been dreaming of a strike like this for years Im I'm young and can enjoy enjoy enjoy en en- joy the money Theres There's not enough for two Ive I've tied you lightly and left enough supplies to see you through the winter Thanks for forthe forthe forthe the lift Trapper Joe folded the note and put it in his shirt pocket Time to celebrate he said aloud Sides Ill I'll be to travel light sos so's I can reach the Indian village in three days' days time Before sitting down to his feast he lifted a loose board behind the chimney and hoisted up a gallon can He opened the can COln and his eyes lighted at sight of the yellow gleaming particles of dust there He chuckled and replaced the can Well he soliloquized the kid had a chance to play fair and didn't take It If hed he'd been willin wi hin hinto to split Id I'd have come half hall way It'll take him a week to reach the post By that time Ill I'll be safe and sound |