The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-08-30
"We,ye got YOU. Get down!n

his soul, with 1neXpresSlDle reluctance
and disgust, began to return from the
end of its floating thread, and reinhabit
the quarters for which it could not quite
shake off responsibility. ..,t
"Get up, or I'll shoot!" said George.
"Oh, don't shoot hims' cried Mrs.
McLane, while Bob, still motionless,
dimly hoped he would. ,..-...r
"Get up!,' reiterated john and he
did get up. His own will was inactive,
and Johns was the force that moved his
muscles. He turned around and sat up,
his legs dangling over the edge of the
bookcase, and his wet, white, ,wretched
face blankly directed toward the group
"a most ,pitiable figure. ;'t- "f
Jump down. said John; "and if
you try to escape you will get shot"
Bob let himself down without regard
to how he was to alight, and in conse-
quence was severely bruised against a
chair and the edges of the bookcase.
He stood facing the group. His eyes
mechanically sought Angles. What was
his surprise not to perceive in her ex-
preston of mingled curiosity and fright
the slightest sign of recognition! A
glance showed him that it was the same
with the others. John and George evil
IDENTIFY supposed that stheyswere dealing
with an ordinary burglar, and the others
were apparently quite as devoid of sus-
picion as to his identity. His wig! He
had forgotten all about it. That ex-
planned their singular demeanor. -"
The bald man in stockings, trousers
and shirt, caught hiding in the library
after an attempt on the silver, quite
naturally failed to recall to their minds
the youth of rather foppish attire and
luxurious locks who badeAthem good
night a few hours previous. AS this
fact and its explanations broke upon
Bob's mind, he felt an immense sense of
relief, instantly followed by poignant
perception of the inextricable falsity and
cruel absurdity of his position. He had
little time to think it over and determine
his best course. .-t t
John stepped forward, and with the
point of his cane-sword 1notiohed him
into corner, thus leaving the way clear
to the ladies, who at once hurried into
the dining-room, throwing chances of
fear and aversion upon Bob as they
passed, Angie paused at the doorway
and asked: ...,-,, =
"What are you going to do with the
dreadful man?''
Bob even then was able to notice that
he had never seen her so ravishingly
beautiful as now, with her golden hair
falling %over her charming deshabtlle,
while her eyes .scintillated with excite
ment. She would have blushed to have
been seen by him in such an undress
toilet, but, with an odd feeling of being
double, he perceived that she now re-
garded him as she would an animal.
George and 1 will attend to him.
You had better 60 to bed ,''replied John
to her question; and then he sent
George after some cord, meanwhile
quietly standing in front of Bob with
cooked revolver. ,.-r~~.., ..o-.-t.,--
Bob had not uttered word. In the
complex falsity Of his position he could
not indeed muster presenceso of mind to
resolve on any course, but regarded with
kind of faulty the extraordinary di-
rection events were taking But when
George returned with the rope and order
ed him to put his hands behind him he
said, in a tone so quiet that it surprised
himself:
"Hold on, Mr.. McLane; this joke has
gone far enough. l am Robert With
ers, at your service, and respectfully de-
cline to be considered in the light of a
burglar any further .,.a. f5.ss =.
Georges jaw dropped with astonish-
ment, and John was scarcely less taken
aback - 4"
BLAMED if he isn't" calculated the
former, after moment, in tone of in
credulous conviction, as he recognized
at once the voice and now the features
of Bob; " but where's your hair?''
Bob blushed painfully.
81 wear wig" he replied, "and to-
night, coming down stairs after you
were all abed to get my ring, which
had left on the table here, / did not fully
dress. Going back, it was my luck to
stumble over that. cursed stand in the
other room!" --, s..
"But what did you hide for?" asked
John, sharply.
Bob just touched his bald head and re-
piled: .....t.
81 heard the ladies up
John pitched the revolver on the sofa
and stood passive. Finally he said, with
a sardonic smile:
"Mr. Withers, how do you propose
to get out of this? Shall call in the
ladies and let you explain? They will
presently be wanting to know what we
have done with the burglar
at won't be necessary, John-here
| ami" said a clear voice, with sharp
ring in it that the family had learned to
know meant decisive work, and Angie
stepped into the room, her blue eyes
flashing with indignation and her lip