The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-09-09
eton with her uncle's birthday o;ft -of

F0 "oiiais Iact and artlculated it
10 manner that was really masterly.
but IN an evil hour she became tainted
| with fancy for homeopathy; and after
that, of course all was over between ns
Such is lifer' ''''
| The Doctors agreement to engage a
nght-watchman quieted Harry's appre-
hensions for the time being; but a few
| weeks later he returned to the attack
once more. g | say, Doctor, have you
got that night-watchman yete''
Yes; some time ago.''
! wen, he don't seem to do his duty
| then, for I've passed this way at ali
hours OF the night and have never seen
hm. Are you quite sure he's to be
| "Wait and seem replied the Doctor
oracularly.
And Everett waited but did not see.
The invisible watchman remained as in.
Visible as ever; and Harry, out of pa
tlence with his old friend seeming in
1atuatlon, had almost decided to take
] some decisive step on his own author
lty' when "a new complication intro
duced itself into the drama. This was
nothlng less than the Temporary retire-
ment OF the Doctors veteran man
servant-popularly known as ssOld
Sam whose health had begun to give
way SO manifestly that his lnasterinsist-
ed on sending him into the country for
a three months holiday, replacing him
with another. man who had volunteered
as promptly as if he had been keeping
ms eye ON the place for a year past.
1he' newcomer was a grave-smooth-
faced, taciturn man, who moved as
| nofse!essiy as a shadow and seemed a.
tliving combination of the two proverbial
requisites of a good servant, silence and
But although the doctor and his
friends highly approved of this model
domestic, there was one man who did
nots That one was Harry Everett, who
lost no time in announcing his opinion.
T Look here, Doctor--I don't want to
be always bothering you about this rob-
berry idea; but it's fact that the new
fellow of yours is up to- some mischief.
! was coming home pretty late last
night when ! caught sightof him stand
ing at the garden-gate. talking to. a
couple of men. One of them happened
to turn his face to the lamplight as l
passed and knew him at once for a
noted thief who goes BY the name of
Badger Bill xs2x4,v .5a.-
Indeed? Are you sure of that?''
"Qulte sure. You know never for
get face I've once SEEM ,',1. Am
''Ah! In that case, it time for me
to act" The last word was so curious
ly emphasized that Harry, who was not
wanting. in shrewGness, began to lsus-
peet that his persistent warnings to the
Doctor had been spperfuous, after all.
apdathat the ODD gentleman was quite
equal to the emergency.
This suspicion was confirmed one
evening rahoutsa week later, when the
Doctor dropped in upon him iinexpect-
ediys saying: I. Give me- some dinner,
my, boy. You've no enlightenment for
this evening, | know; SO I'm going to
be very benevolent and find you some
amusement myself. Have you ever
read, The Count of Monte Cristo?'e be-
cause you're. going to see a chapter, of
III dramatized tonight and pretty sefec- 4
lively too, flatter myself.n .nslAa HDiIfYl
g What do you meanw asked Ever
Iett, staring. 5o4a "ts ato'ie asf
".Why, you see, told my servants, a
few days ago, that l should be. away
from home tonight and my cook natu-
rally Sided Che chance ofsgetting leave
for an segening out;' consequently, the
house will be under the sole charge of
that worthy man-servant of mine,
against whom you're SO unaccountably
prsjudioeda NIes quitepossible that the
two honest gentlemen with whom you
saw HIM talking the othernight maybe
kind enough to enliven his solitude with
visit; and So i@s's@
Harry sprang to his feet, and cut
caper. worthy of dancing dervish,
swapping his fingers by sW&y ofEAecornz
paniment. "Capital! frst-rate! | see
it af now. But come now, Doctor; why
on earth couldn't you tell me before
that you We're up to the Whole game,
instead of letting, me make. a, fool of
myself by preaching to man as smart
as any six of mepn 1a,FHiAq oHnsJHSs
- Never mind, my boy" SAID the
Doctor. laughing. df {. Your warning was
kindly meant, all the same. Eat your
dinner--yeualf soant before the even
ing's over | can promise you-and
then wen have our talk .'.., ,.i.-9g,
Dinner over, the Doctor lit one of the |
cigars (which were, his |
sole luxury, and proceeded to expound
his plan Of action. I've locked up the |
outer room that opens into my my ysteri-
Gus chamber, which puts two strong
doors between il and the robbers. Nv |
estimable servant will warn them Of |
this, and they Il try the witdowinstead.
He llslet them in bg the garden door,
and give them the old ladder that lies
beside it to mount bye WeRhhide M the
stable, which-thanks to my keeping
my broughan1 elsewhere-has been un-
used SO long that no one. would dream
Of suspecfing it; bdt. | can open the door
easily enough And then -
And them" broke in Harry eagerly,
" Wen go for them the minute they ap-
pear. It'll be fine chance to try my
new revolver
"Better leave it at home,'' said the
Doctor quietly; 1--WE shall want no
for this job" s-.. 4
"Why, are you going to mesmerize
Ehe fellows?' asked Everett, completely
sT E.s II F6sfsEs
Wait and see. = chucklad the Doc-i