The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1884-12-04
What Happened to the Opposition.

An immense furniture truck, with
high Slated sides, heavy wheels, and
canvas top. stood at the entrance to
Harlem Bridge Sunday afternoon. A
preoccupied looking mule and an
ancient horse with perpetual air of
encouragement about him. were hitched
to it with nondescript harness.
On the side of the wagon was board
on which was scrawled with charcoal
coke Pint"
''Step right up, gents and ladies, y
yelled the proprietor cheerfully, settling
his battered white plug hat comforta-
bly, over his right eye, and waving his
arms hospitality. 'sStep right up an
patronize ther opposition line fer ther
Pint. This ant no monopoly line.
We're plain, but luxurious. Young
feller with ther gal! carry yer over fer
i've cents a head. Cost yer ten cents
by the regler rattle traps.
The ''Young feller with ther gall sur
rendered to the brilliant inducements
offered and mounted the wagon via a
soap-box placed on the ground. Three
tough young men followed; a rotund
German, with his stout wife, seven
healthy children and two huge baskets,
were hoisted aboard; more tough young
men followed, and the cheerful pro-
prietor proceeded to hustle them about
and jam them down as if he were de-
posting furniture.
''Step right up" he yelled. This
here lightning 'spress's bound to be on
time y
80, sayr' put in a passenger, ssare
you ever going to startp We're full
alreadv.'f
''Yes, there's thirty-one aboard al
ready" grunted fat man.
Mr.. Crowley surveyed the strikers
calmly and contempfuouslv, and re-
marked: ''What do yer want fer
nickel? Want reserved seatsp This
a ut no swell taller-ho, this a Mt. May
be yer thought yer were charterin
'partment in er Palace ear.
s'Never seen sich lot o. kickers, -
muttered the proprietor as he admins
tered kick to his slumbering team.
''Yer can bet. this is the last time this
ere train starts with only thirtv-one pas
sengers. If yer want to ride in limited
'spress, with half load. yer have to
pay for it. -
The mule took toe hold, strained,
and pulled the wagon and the old horse
along.
Half way to the Point one of the hind
wheels broke short of at the axle, let
ting the corner of the cart down with
a crash that demolished the rear end
and dumped half the passengers in the
dust. The tough young men picked
themselves up and moved to institute a
riot. Mr.. Crowley sat impassively up
on the box and surveyed the wreck.
The mule resumed his ruminating atti-
tude, and the old horse seized upon the
opportunity to go to sleep.
A shade of sadness stole over the pro-
prietor's wooden face and ne uncon-
sciously sighed: ''This knocks the OPP
position.
''What are you going to do about
this?" inquired the fat man dolefully,
sitting up in the road and endeavorin9
to take the kinks out of his derby.
"Durned if l know how [ kin fix
her" answered Mr.. Crowley, referring
to his wagon.
"Hang your wagonr' chorused the
tough young men. GLOW are we going
10 get TO YAK GOlnt!
Mr. Crowley shifted his hat uneasily,
looked puzzled and hazarded: 'sWalk-
ms good, gents"
''We paid you for ride said the
.'young feller,n whose coat was now
slit up the back. ''Give us our money
back or transfer us.
Mr.. Crowley iammed his hat onto the
back of his head and replied with some
energy: 'Give back nuthin'; yer gettin'
Of cheap. Most any other feller'd make
yer pay for the damage. Yer hadn't
no call ter crowd on so. ANY fooPd
know wagon couldn't stand thirty-
one passengers. Yer can transfer YER
selves aboard the monopoly stages
1T don'd gost Something's more?"
hesitated the German, glancing with
a calculating eye over his numerous
flock.
"Well, you has check! Ifll only
cost yer ten cents. Yer don't expect
the opposition ter payit, do yer?''
The tough young men concluded to
walk. The tat German encompassed
economy by picnieing on the grass un-
der a tree. The ''felIer'' reluctantly
hailed one of the monopoly stages,
handed his gal in and paid twenty
cents.
The last words the fat passenger
heard as he started in rage to walk
back were: "Durned eff this ere don't
knock ther opposition. IN Y Com
nserctGt -Adeertiser.