W. C. Tuttle

“ There they saw her. She was tied to a tree and seemed to be exerting every muscle to get loose. She was dressed in a faded calico dress and her dark-brown hair tumbled in confusion about her half-bare shoulders. ”

“ Three hours later they sat humped up on their bunk and watched the door of the shed, a splotch of black in the half moonlight, and prayed that the cougar would come before they lost too much sleep.
“Don’t light that cigarette here,” cautioned Ren. “Go back near th’ door. If that cat saw th’ light he’d never show up.”
Sig tiptoed to the front of the cabin and sat down on a box. Ren sat by the window for a few minutes and then joined Sig.
“Give me yore papers and I’ll roll one, too. I reckon it’s uh little too early fer Oscar to show up yet.” ”

“ Sabe?”
“Always misunderstood,” mumbled Ren. “Th’ human race ain’t never understood me. Mother misunderstood me; father follered suit, and now you—Siggie, my old pal—you turns on me.”
“Misunderstood!” Sig turned in his saddle and gazed reflectively at his partner. “Ren Merton, if you was ever entered fer th’ human race you shore was scratched. Yore nose ain’t right—too long. Yuh got uh bad case uh squints in both uh yore eyes, and yore mouth, which was cut too wide in th’ first place, ain’t shrunk none a-tall. Shoulders? ”

“ They walked around the shed but were unable to size up their catch, as the shed had no windows. They could hear a sniffling at the cracks of the door and suddenly a heavy body was flung against it, but the heavy bar on the outside held it fast.
“Want to go inside and look him over?” queried Ren.
“Not in his present state uh mind, I don’t. That cat is shore some irritated and when they gits fussed thataway they’re plumb informal. How do yuh reckon we’re goin’ to acquire his carcass fer shipment?” ”

“ Cougars ain’t woodchucks nor snowshoe rabbits, and I’m thinkin’ aloud that you’ve gone plumb out of yore class this time.”
“We’ll git him,” snapped Sig. “One of th’ fellers told me that th’ last they saw of him he was lopin’ up th’ trail, and that means he’s liable to hive up in our cabin. Bein’ as he’s uh house-bred animule, it stands to reason that he’s goin’ to hunt human company soon’s he gits hungry or gits scared of th’ dark. Sabe?”
Ren nodded and they turned their horses and rode on up the trail to their cabin about two miles away. ”

“ I suppose th’ shed is empty?”
“Uh ha,” nodded Ren. “I’m apologizin’, Sig.”
“Aw, Ren, I reckon misery likes company.”
“Well,” drawled Ren, “she’s got it.”
Half an hour later, with adhesive plaster covering most of their bodies they laid down on the bunk and rolled more cigarettes.
“I wonder which one was Oscar?” mused Sig aloud, but Ren was deep in thought and made no answer.
Finally Ren drew a deep breath and turned to Sig.
“Them movie people take big chances, don’t they? Jist think about uh girl playin’ with Oscar. Tame? Say, I shore hope I never meets uh wild cougar, Sig. ”

“ As I orates before, Miss Reynolds, if there is anything I can do fer yuh, why——”
“I do wish we could get Oscar,” she replied reflectively. “There goes poor old Nortie up the hill with a broken heart, and I know that Jack Markham is awfully put out about it too. ”