The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1880-01-29

always be sure of the character of the
tenants ON this fioore, and never asso-
ciates with 'em!'' aanf 4 M
Here in a room, not over 1Ox1O, is a
family of six Italians. Here they cook
for aH-here all sleep-here each one
breathes in the awful smells and odors
Of the direst poverty. They look up
and mutter as old Maggie opens the
door and enters, and she calls out:
&c Not word of sass will take from
any of yees! i'll want to show a gen
tleman through this building, it isn't for
such scum as you to complain and jab-
ber!p NJ. ssl.ya az tf-i4.$ Err
lam A GRATEFUL WIDOW. ..
"Ah! now, but I'll show you the
fastest room on the fioore!" whispered
Old Maggie as stumbled down the dark
hall after her. 15o5 114H 5H T
She opened the door of room 11x13.
It contained two backed chairs,
a bed-lounge, a pine-table, stove and
a stand. On the floor were two old bits
Of cheap ingram carpet.
80" have brought gintleman to seethe
elegance of your room," said the cd
woman to pale-faced, cadaverous fe-
male of 80, who sat sewing at one of the
dark windows.
il" It's a bad day, sir,'' observed the
woman as she rose up. elf my room
pleases you ! shall be glad. can't af-
ford downstairs rent, but / do believe
l have the eosiest, richest room in the
house,
+" Indade you have! That pine table
never cost less than fifty cents with that
new leg to it! It's none of the rest of
'em who can have rugs on their foors!"
"And I'm so happy and so grateful"
continued the occupant; +" have got
now all / ever wanted in house, and
there's nothing more to look after. l
don't want to seem to put on airs, but
them as has the best things should put
on style, if any body does"
y All the furiture she had would not
have brought S. at any sort of sale, and
a bird could not have lived in that foul
smelling room half day. llU ,1sl9ia1ij
land now,'' said Old Maggie, as we
gained the fourth floor, eye must not
expect to, see any art or richness up
here, because these rooms are only three
or four dollars per month, and are taken
by poor people.'' IT, aoe :fa'5r3lie
H. .a19d THE APE IN THE DARK sire
ellis daughter is scrub-woman, and
she supports him!" whispered the old
woman, as she pushed open the door of
a dark, back roem.s -as---
: For moment could make out moth
ing, owing to the gloom. The old wom-
an went in ahead, stumbled around, and
finally there was yell, q scream and a
struggle.
7 n g For Heavens sake! what's the mat
terpl'l l called. tr ~. a .tnl alit
:" Nothing!" replied Maggie, after a
fierce tussle lasting half a minute.
,"There! yesGppery old devil, I've taken
the conceit out of We for the third time
this week, and I guess yen begin to
learn who is boss shere!' ial - :, u.
Opening the door to its widest extent,
l saw an old stove. two beds of straw
and rags, pine table and three OF. four
pieces of crockery on a shelf.
-Ji'' It's the ould ape!" explained the
woman, as bundle of something rolled
over on the floor. "Here! let me bring
him out intoithe hail." af N .4if.
Was it an ape? / thought so for half
a minute. It was little old man, SO
bent over that his back formed an arch.
His face was like dried beef in color,
his mouth shriveled up, his head bald,
and his nose and chin were thin and
sharp.
He's q human being!'' explained
the old, woman, as l looked down at
him. re 'a'@S 1H3 sol iHTiH
s,-s'' How old is hePll'.1sna9 ii fEmg
Nobody knows
70 ssWhat does he doen Z. -ist'& sl}oaa
81 "He hasn't been out of that room in
five years-not once! He cackles and
chuckles and yells like a lunatic,
and he's wicked as wolf. lAhi
you Satan! Will you bite me again -
- She held up hand from which blood
was dripping, and the ape gave cackle
of delight and leaped away and stood
with hands and feet on the floor, like a
wild beast, and uttered such scream
of rage that jumped back.
ssAh! he dasn't hurt We! - the wom-
an called out. "The way I subdnes
him is to grab his throat. and shut off
his breath! How'd on a bit till I make
HII0 mao. 'tasftFt = iffE = t'ri Az "a E&3-t
d She united her apron, waved it at
him, and Kissed and spit. His eyes
flashed red and green, his claws raked
the floor, and he spit like a. cat and
yelled like panther in his fury. He
never once stood on his feet, but dashed
up and down the hall on all-fours like q
dog.
5A" How he'd like to get hold Of
yees!" laughed the woman, as the
ape fixed his horrible green eyes on my
face and clutched the air with, his long
fingers. = s'j'i','<- 399'aati
/ backed down past his door, the
woman followed, and the beast sprang
in with a yen and scream, and scat
tered straw all over the room in his
great rage. .4f g.s.g.z......E AS. .,...i.,,
LIES MIDNIGHT.
"And good luck to him!'' muttered
the old woman as we went down the
hall. If ye have another apple roll it
into this room here, for it's little enough
the children get to eat. i3