The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1886-01-14
BELLEVUE, La. THURSDAY,


had flee, and those that remained were
perhaps the most cultivated who had
been with us. In those hazy days of
late summer and early autumn there
was little to do but sit on the piazzas
and watch the changing lights on the
hills
General Randolph was here and there
and everywhere. l have seen much of
the world since, and Alice, my wife, is
a keen judge of men and things, but
We can both freely say that he was the
! most fascinating man we have ever
met. He had keen intellect and was
brilliant in conversation. His fund of
| information seemed endless. He would
| sit on the piazza an hour at a time,
| twirling the little cane which he always
carried, discussing favorite author or
telling funny story or pathetic incl
dent of his army life. We asked no
| greater pleasure than to watch the
| lights and shadows of his wonderful
| eyes.
The ladies were charmed with him.
One of my cousins mixed his brandy
and water nightly, and a rich young
widow, who had many suitors at her
feet, received his attentions with evil
| dent pleasure. But he had the tact
which made no one jealous or unhappy
in his presence. Not pang crossed
my mind in thinking that Alice would
travel with him. He was my ideal of a
Southern gentleman and my only feel
ing was one of pleasure that Alice
would be so well taken care of.
He formed special friendship for a
| gentleman who had school in the
neighborhood. l remember that one
evening as we sat in the parlor he
asked this gentleman to purchase for
him number of books dnEing visit
to New York. He wrote down from
memory the titles of at least one hum
dred of the best of books, and our
friend readily promised to do as he de-
sired, and give the privilege of his dis
count. The General also proposed to
bring his brother to our friends school
and offered a generous subscription to
aid him in his work
He stayed two weeks and then left
for a few days. He was expecting to
return and bring his brother, then take
Alice on their journey.
He came back, but his brother was
not with him.
Harry came to the depot" he said,
| in explaining, "but was suffering so
much from felon on his hand that /
had not the heart to insist on his
coming. He will be here in a few
days"
But all pleasant days must end, and
the last of our pleasant season came
He and Alice started. He had left a
substantial check in the hands of our
friend, and we were all sorry that we
might never meet him again.
fingered few days to gather my
things together, and was spending my
last hour with my uncle and his family,
when our friend, the Professor, came
suddenly into the room with dazed
look, saying:
General Randolph's check has been
returned"
We could not believe our ears. Gen
eral Randolph dishonest! Impossible
My uncle telegraphed at once to his
clerical friend in the East. Alas! DIR.
B. knew no such man. He was blind,
and wrote by means of secretary, SO
that his signature had been easily
forged.
I Twas crazy, maddened! Alice had gone
with him! WhereP o, where? took a
!, detective and started in search of her
i. | gathered my own savings, the bank
furnished more money and I determ.
: ined to find him and bring him back to
: justice, dead or alive.
II We followed them to New York, but
they had left the day before. We traced
them by means of small cane which
he had left to be marked at ieweler' s
! store. It was to be engraved: .'Fron,
Randolph, of Virginia, to Bush, of Ken
tucky," and was to be sent to Lexing-
ton, Ky. We followed them to Cincin-
natl. / recognized his handwriting on
the register of one of the hotels in an
assumed name. As 1 pointed to it the
clerk laughed and said:
"I'd ike to collar that fellow. He
played us the neatest bit of froguery that
I've seen for many a long day. He
went to the theater one night and
brought back with him chap that he
picked up there. They were as thick
as hops. They must room together.
had charge OF the safe and as they
came to the desk to get the key, your
friend said to the other in the airiest
tones-you know what way he had
with him-(Yes, I knew: Now, you
must excuse me, sir; but of course we
never met each other before, and
think it would be better to leave our
valuables in the safe over night. have
a package of papers beside me that is
worth good deal, and, with your per-
mission, I'll take check for it, The
other chap did the same, leaving a
watch and quite sum of money. Now,
| what do you suppose that internal
rogue didf Early in the morning, be-
| fore the other fellow was awake, he
slipped his hand into his pocket, got
out the check, dressed himself, came
down and handed it over to the clerk
Ga different one in the morning, you
know, and received the watch and the
money, leaving his friend his package
of papers. worthless, of course. You
may be sure we haven't seen him
since"
| We then visited the chief of police,
y