The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-05-16

the red hood fit by the door and gate of
Mrs. Leigh's residence. He sprang
after her, and when he reached the
sidewalk the CHASTITY, distorted face of
the Unhappy mother was peering through
tt open door. He heard her shrill cry,
"My boy, my boy! Has any one seen
my boy?'
"Did not woman bring him to you'll"
he asked.
"No, no. Oh, if you have heart,
take pity on ne and bring me my boy!"
He waited to hear no more, but pressed
down the street in the direction the
woman had taken. The crowd was so
dense that it was slow work, but at last
the street became clearer, and far ahead
the gaslight shone upon red hood hur-
rying along.
Rufus knew no help was to be obtain
ed from the police just then, and pre-
cious time would be lost in seeking it.
He was brave and quick -witted, and
knew that to trace the woman to her
den would give the only hope of rescue
for the stolen child. -.
Up one street and down another the
pursued and pursuer fed onward. At
the entrance of narrow alley the wom-
an paused, gave swift look around,
and turned into it. Rufus reached it
just in time to see the red hood disap-
pear through the door of an old tumble
down tenement-house.
He knew the alley very well;
"Theives' Alley" it was called. Even
during the day it was an unsafe place;
but he knew, too, that the thieves and
pickpockets who inhabited il were all
busy that night reaping rich harvest
in the Madi Gras crowd. He moved
cautiously to the broken window of the
house the woman had entered. The
sash, perhaps, had once been glazed,
but not pane of glass remained in it.
He could easily peep in, and hear and
see every thing in the squalid little.
room. He saw the woman throw her
self down on a chair beside a pallet
where gaunt, sick-looking man was
lying. .,r
"What's the matter now?" he cried
in hoarse voice.
"Look here, Jim!'' she cried, lifting
up the head of the sobbing child.
=" Here's bread, and meat, and medi-
cine, and every thing we want. He's
rich Mrs. Leigh's only child, and it Just
coined to me like windfall, without
my lookin' for it. Well hold on to
pretty young master here, till his rich |
folks plank down handsomely, I tell
you"
You're regular gallows-bird,
Liza" growled the man, " and forever
up and about some risky business that'll /
stretch our necks some day. You're a
fool, too; for how long do you reckon
it'll be before the police is on your
track? Where will you be then, wo-
man?"
'.Far enough from here" laughed
the woman. "I'm just goin' to take off
this young gentleman s toggery, and
put on something more suitab1e-like for
travelin' For we're goin' a.travelin',
him and me, while you work the wires
here. You amt too sick, Jim, to do the
head-work, and then when we know
their highest figure, bless you, I'll step
in, charitable like, and get the reward.
But amt found out my sonny's name.
Tell your nanny, honey you've got
to call me nanny, mind), what does
your ma call you?'' uIos osIhi
go mamma, mammai'' cried the
poor child, sobbing as if his heart would
break. "Take me home! won't
stay here! l hate your doubling ND /,
his little fists, and striking at her.
: You hurt me, you ugly woman! Let
me go!"
"Hallo! what temper you've got,
young un! You needn't rip and tear.
This here fine suit is got to come of, and
your pretty white face won't be so white
when I'm done with youi''a
The man raised himself on his elbow
with scowl. "Of all fools, Lisa you're
The greatest. The squallin' brat can
ak and tell on you wherever you 90.
How do you expect to get him on the
boat, or anywhere else?T'
g. AS if there amt laudanum in the
World" she answered, CONTEMPORARY.
Hell be still enough fore five done ,
With him, and a dose every day will
Keep him quiet-like.
Rufus had heard enough. He crept ,
cautiously down the alley, and then set .
1T at runs He never slackened his f,
peed until he reached a police station ,
md told his tale. In spite of all haste, ,
however, some time elapsed before the i,
ulcers and he stood at the door of the :
louse. Scant ceremony was used in
pening it, for it was latchless and aiar. ,
They were not a minute too soon, for
lisa stood in the middle of the room.
ood on, and the child lying limp and
in her arms. As the Off /
ers entered, she made a rash towards '
be door, but was caught before she 5
cached it, and the child torn from her c
rasp. She did not utter sound, but t