The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1888-09-13

I They looked into each Others faces,
ene With merry twinkle in his eye
and q broad smile over his jovial feat
4 ures: the other, with a glance long
4 drawn out, grave and solemn, that
seemed to cast shadow of gloom on
\ every thing about the scene.
sYoull do your best, and I'll do my
I Best. That's what we've agreed on.
aln't it, Zip Tifkins?"
.That's it, Ben Button, and which
ever Of us wins the other shall bear no
/ illwill."
sJust so, Zip
4 "And every thing except murder
4 shall be counted fair.
"Ehg'
sand murder, too, if you are willing
81 TO take the consequences.
s'Say, Zip, hold on!'
$50 II / should put you out of my
3 way right here" continued Zip, with
cut seeming to notice the interruption,
and draw small pistol out of his
bootleg as he spoke, ''and it would
never be found out on me, why it would
E Be oil right.
Z "But. Zip, say
s0r if it were found OUT Zip still
Dntinued, raising the pistol higher and
higher till it pointed straight for Ben's
breast, ''and | were willing to take all
he risk to get clear, which think I
am ready to do, why that, too, would
Be all right
I Hello! Ben, where are you goingP"
shouted Zip, as the former turned and
ran down the road at what seemed to
be almost breakneck speed, frequently
casting scared and anxious glances
behind him.
3 Ben, however, did not stop to answer,
but kept straight on until he was lost
TO sight in bend in the road, while
4 ZIP, bending almost double with laugh
ier, sent peal after peal OF merriment
ringing out on the balmy evening air.
"0i all the chickens in christendom
Ben Button takes the worm!" cried
ZIP, broad grin still on his face, as
no also turned and walked away.
/ Zip Tfkins, full of life, fun and
noiic, had for the last few weeks been
{ playing rival to Ben Button in the af-
Rctions of Melinda Spratt. Ben was
seriously in love with Melinda; Melin.
aas young heart was fond OF Zip, and
hlp, homeless, careless, fun-loving
nrer that he was, had never thought
mat reached into the future for ar
hour.
4 Ben and Zip had met in the road &C
eldentaIly. Ben was on his way to the
opratt homestead to lay further siege
q Melinda's heart.
for the last few days Ben had hai
ous one thought, and that was how t.
+ ger rid OF Zip as rival. So, when ht
met zip, he pleaded from the fulness o
as heart, and in the most persuasiv,
language he could command, that Iii
would relinquish all claim to Melinda
heart and hand.
lip, IN pure fun, feigned love also
saa with well-assumed earnestnes
sled IN turn to prevail upon Ben t.
xasndraw from the race. Neither, how
sser, would give in. As last resor
ney finally agreed that each should, il
iair, friendly way, be permitted t
nead his own cause with Melinda, an,
iet her decide.
vim Zip, SO far, it was only goot
pse' and as such he had made the mos
q IT as has been seen.
oea button with regularity spent tw
eaings OF the week at the Sprat
s0aaicile. With Melinda he made yer
nos, 4 any. progress into favor; wit
A npratt, however, he won golde
spnlons and stood in high grace.
0lnee the compact between Ben an
e ne latter had visited Melinda b,
s' and then she had, in a very sh
- sweet way, teasingly upbraide
s'n ior having tried to take the life ,
s constant admirer, Ben Button.
ana would it break your hear
As.nda, II he were to dieP" asked Iii
aa e eager undertcne in his voic,
s.scning her face closely.
e vould-almost-of course. If.