"That man has disarming eyes, who is he?" whispered Vivian. She found a sudden need to fan herself with the paper program lying in front of her on the table of the elegant hall.

The short, stocky man with weather-beaten skin had locked eyes with her as he stepped up to the podium. Before him sat the wealthiest citizens of Pasadena, California. He didn't identify with them and didn't respect them. But he had headed the advice of his long-time friend and an advent supporter of his project, former president Theodore Roosevelt. So here he stood at the benefit banquet organized by Vivian's friend Beatrice .

His steady blue-grey eyes seemed to look everywhere at once and notice every detail in the room even when they bore straight through Vivian's for a brief but unforgettable moment. It shook her to the core. She mentally undressed him.

"Oh," replied Beatrice, "he is quite a specimen, isn't he? An accomplished frontiers man and famous scout and spy. He and his associate on this project, is a Boer and the two were once assigned to kill one another."

Vivian placed a white-gloved hand on her ample matronly bosom. "Imagine that! And now they are presenting a united front for this worthy cause! Such gentlemen."

As a relatively young, attractive, and extremely wealthy widow Vivian always donated generously to her friend's various causes, but that is not why she attended the benefit dinners. She came in search of fun.

"I'll have to invite your keynote speaker over for luncheon so I can endow him with a generous gift."

Beatrice missed her friend's innuendo. "Oh, he is indeed a most interesting man. When I was a girl he entertained a group of Papa's friends and their families under the cottonwood trees behind the estate, telling us of his adventures abroad. He has seen so much, traveled alone for weeks, gone for two and a half days without sleep and longer without food. We sat riveted to his tales. At one point he stopped and said, 'I'll kill that snake when I'm done with my story.' No one had noticed a rattle snake slither up through the grass and slide right between us."

Beatrice gazed into the distance remembering the scout's fantastic adventures. "He used to slink into enemy territory to gather intelligence," she recalled.

"I'd like him to slink into my bedroom," said Vivian with a sly smile.

"Vivi," said Beatrice, shocked. "You can't tame a wild man like that into a husband!"

"Who said I want to tame him or find another husband," said Vivian. "I want him to drive me wild." Beatrice's eyes widened and she remained speechless as Mr. Burnham cleared his throat and began his scripted lecture.

"We cannot wait any longer. It is time for America to find a solution to the meat shortage we face. Tonight I will outline a path to food security and convince you the future depends on America embracing hippo ranching."

_____

See the link in the comments to learn more about the historical figures of Frederick Russell Burnham and Fritz Duquesne and the weird idea that nearly came to pass. The Boy Scouts were founded in Burnham's image to create boys that were as capable and honorable as him. I can neither confirm nor deny that he was ever seduced by a wealthy widow.