The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1885-03-26
"HANns up ..l.a
A Condition Tending to Make One Anxious


/ don't know of anything that makes
a modest, retiring man feel more un-
comfortable than to sit in railway
train, holdingup both hands, while in
front of him stands fellow that looks
like a hurriedly arranged Mephisto-
pheles in tramp Faust company, lev
elinga six-shooter whose muzzle seems
to open like the mouth of ashungTy cat-
fish. A man may have fought duels aud
may have. the reputation of being as
firm as the architecture of Themistocles;
but when an ungainly citizen. wearing
a.mask, throws up areyolver and says;
what time did you say it wasp he
win not repeat an old joke and reply:
''Same time it twas this time yester-
day." but hands his watch to the dem
onstratiVe stranger This is not surmise
with me. argue from foundation of
truth, plastered with the cement of ex-
perience. was a passenger on the
railway train recently robbed near
Little Rock. Just before leaving Pine
Bluff, friend came to me and said:
81 wish you would take my watch up
to the city and leave it with a jeweler.
It stopped the other day and I think
there must, be something the matter
with it; indigestion, probably
Of course I consented, desiring to ac-i
commodates my friend, as l didn't owe
him anything. / put the dyspepeic time
killer in my valise, but after the train
started, fearing that some one might
mistake my luggage for his own, took
the watch out and wore it, not without
a slight thrill of pleasure as the, gold
chain caught the rays Of the lamp over
head 90 bIBo9 2gsd4nE .95iizgf 30 {
When within short distance of Little
Rock, the train suddenly stopped. The
rapid firing of pistols without seemed to
assure the passengers that tax collectors
were in the neighborhood, for every one
began to show signs OF uneasiness, but
before we had time to engage in those
little ~speculations and humorous re-
marks which frequently delight an ap--
tpreciative company, very tall fellow,
followed by several companions, en-
tered the car and made a remark which
| understood to mean 'hands up"
The passengers readily accepted my
Interpretation of the remark, and fol-
lowing my example,, held up their
hands. felt sorry for one poor fellow,
He only had one arm with him at the
time, and his piteous imploratiops that
somebody would lend him another hand
for a few moments were quite enough
to have moved a gall of flint. The
Captain of the gang was very gentle
MI nd -ork 1ry
mistake while taking off the valuable
watch which the Pine Bluff man had in.
trusted to my keeping .5s, sse. - :
''Look here, William the Kid, or what
ever your name may be on the present
occasion" said /, .'this watch does not
belong to me. I am only taking it mp
to town for friend 10 IL won't run, so
wait until it is repaired. - ais'
looked around to see if the audience
were applauding my presence ofImind
and determination to be faeetious. No
one smiled, but an old man who was So
fat that he filled one seat and bulged
over on another, groaned. and said:
"Wonder why some fellow don't shoot
that fool.' 'sazss's 81 - s8 Ii ind
"Notyour watch. ehP P''' said the leader,
IuSglng at Gne chaln. fS q
mo, sir; belongs to Colonel Met. L.
Jones, Of Pine Bluff ''.s3'I pr i 0S I
49," THAT so? Why, 1 am glad to know
it. Colonel Jones is a friend of mine
and am sure he made mistake in
letting you take it. i There now, it's all
right. !"
Look hear, boss,', said an old negro
who was being searched, ''mebbe yer,
doan know it am ergin de law ter ack
like yerse'f is er. dom. Pse dun had
all my property made ober in de name
o. my wife, an yer amt got n" right
ter take er lady's propertypdis ef way.
i doan mine seein er man posed en-, !
but when er persun poses on er lady.
WY ensI--yas, sab, yas, = AS a pistol 4
barrel came up under his nose; take
de lady's property, sab. Got no bus ness.
wild hit, n0how. -
g When the robbers allowed the tram to
proceed, everybody got mad, and after
we were under way, one man drew a
pistol and swore that no rooster in
America could ! rob him, and then
remembering that he had lost his watch,
added. ssagaih. 'tzgiss 800 rs bsE1asi -tl&a
an 1t makes no difference how cool and
frosty mans temperament may be, it
is quite difficult TOR him to keep from
feeling anxious and uncomfortable.when
a burly fellow levels pistol and says:
Throw up your hands EOpie. p Read
IN ". Y. Merctfry. r' , 2a 3 Q eai
The United States Supreme CodrE
has recently decided3that s'a lunatie. or
person affected with insanity, is. adInis-
sible as witness if he has sufficient un-
derstanding to appfehend the, obliga-
ton of an oath, and is capable of giving
a correct account Of matters which. be
has seen or heard with referenceto TO the
question atS issue: and whether he.
had that understanding is question
to "a be determined BY. the court,
upon examination Of the party himself
and any competent witnesses who can
speak as to the nature and extent of his
insanity. - III
d Handsome fortunes have been rnads
in the Kennebeg ice business, but the
man who showed the Kennebeckers how
to do it,awho Introduced Kennebec ice
to the world and gave it its first boom,