The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1875-10-07

.'Safe enough now, I guess!" ex-
claimed Judge Turner, of one of the
southern Illinois circuits. The Judge
had been interrupted in telling story
when the accident occurred, and was in
a hurry to resume.
ssAs l was saying" said he, ''he
hardly looked like professional horse
thief. He was little and quiet, and had
always worked away steadily at his
trade. 1 believed him when he said
twas his first ofense, and that he did
it to raise money tO. bury his child; and
was going to give him an. easy SEN
tence, and ask the Governor to pardon
him. The laws have to be executed,
you know, but there's no law against
mercy being practiced afterwards.
Well, the Sheriff was bringing him from
jail to hear the verdict and the sentence,
when short man, with red hair,
knocked the Sheriff down, and off gal
loped that precious couple for the Wa
bash. saw the entire-"
ssThe deuce!'' interrupted the pilot,
again dropping his glass.
The Judge glared angrily; the passen-
gers saw, across the shortened distance,
one of the chums holding by root to
the bank and trying to support the 9th
er, whose shirt hung in rags, and who
seemed exhausted. hs@t
'sWhich ones hurt?'' ask the Cap
tain. ssGive me the glass;
But the pilot had left the house and
taken the glass with him.
The Judge continued:
/ 81 saw the whole transaction through
the window. / was so close that saw
the Sheriff S assailant's very eyes. I'd
know that fellows face if saw it in
Africa.
"Why, they're both hurt" exclaimed
the Captain. ssThey've thrown coat
over one, and they're crowdin' around
the other What the - They're
comm back without 'em-need whisky
to bring 'em to, Isuppose. Why didn't
I send whisky down by the other boat ?
There's an awful amount of time being
wasted here. What's the matter, Mr. !.
Bell?'' shouted the Captain, as the boat
approached the steamer.
Il ssBoth dead - replied the officer.
4 s.Both? Now, ladies and gentle
men, exclaimed the Captain, turning
towards the passengers, who We're
crowding forward just below him, 81
want to know if that isn't a streak OF
the meanest kind of luckp Both the
Chums gone! Why, won't be able to
hold up my head in New. Orleans. How
came it that just those two fellows were
: knocked out?''
4 "Red tumbled out, and Black jumped
!, in after him, nreplied the officer. s'Red
must have been caught in an eddy and
tangled in an old trees roots-clothes
torn almost off-head caved in. Black
must have burst blood-vessel-his face
looked like a copper pan when hi
, reached shore, and he just groaned ant
! dropped
The Captain was sorry--so sorry tina
The sent a waiter for brandy. But th'
Captain was human, business was busi
! ness, the rain was falling, and a biz
. log was across the boats bow, SO b,
:. shouted:
4 ssHurry up and bury 'em, then
J You ought to have let the second boat
crew gone on with that, and you hav'
gone back to your soundings. The.
was the chums to be sure, but nov
. they're only dead roustabouts. Below
= there! Pass out a couple of shovels!
= stPerhaps some ladies would go dow
= with the boat, Captain-and a preach
er, too, if there's one aboard,' re
marked the mate, with an earnest bu
, very mysterious expression.
= stWhy, what in thunder does tn
" fellow mean?'' soliloquized the Cap
: tain, audibly. "Women-
preacher-for dead roustabouts? Wha
: do YOU mean, Mr.. BelI9'N t
ssRed's woman, - briefly RESPONDED
the mate. s .-e&
The passengers all started-the CAP
2 tain brought his hands together with
tremendous clap, and exclaimed:
. ssMurder will out! But who'd hav
thought was to be the man to find ou
e the secret of the Carmi Chums? Cues
r. I'll be the biggest man on the New On
Ileans levee, after all. Yes, certainly
of course some ladies IL go-and
y preacher, too, if there's such ma
aboard. Hold up, though-we'n a
,lgo. Take your soundings. quick, an
IIWe'll drop the steamer just below th
S point and tie up. wonder # there
. preacher aboard?'' - s..s.,,'
q No one responded for a moment
/. then the Judge spoke: 39 9fssil
ri assBefore I went into the law I was I'll
Iregularly settled pastor of a Presb.
ttefian church, . said he.2 .''I'm deei,
hi edly rusty now, but a little time will g
/ able me to prepare myself properly
S Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. =
le The sounding boat pulled away an
a. THE Judge retired to his state-roon
!, The ladies, with very pale faces