The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-08-18
! Swinger's Discovery.

CWlNGER went forth in the evening
y to ride in an open car. He had no
destination in mind. There were sum
mer gardens to the north. with bands
playing under the trees. The season
had just begun, and Swinger told him
self that he would not visit a garden
until there came Il warmer evening.
lie walked until he came to the State
street bridge, and then he looked along
State street south from the rivera
broad and straight thoroughfare,
twinkling with electric lights. The
whole way ahca, of him Was in Il soft
glare from the myriad lights which
clustered in the show windows or were
studded against the buildings.
Through this glare the ears were creep
ing. forward and back and across. The
sidewalks, even at this hour, swarmed
with the uneasy multitude.
Far above him the roof garden
showed as an angular constellation of
stars. Swinger looked up and could
see the tiny figures of men and women
along the railing. The roof garden pro-
rided entertainment to his liking some
times, but on this evening he felt that
ii vaudeville show would be a tircsome
mockcrv.
Presently he came TO a corner from
which a trolley car was about to start.
There were several invitin" seats. and
the car would take him far out in
Ogden avenue, to the half-rHral suburb
of Iawndalc. 1t occurred to him that
Lawndale would have no charms for
him, so he did not take the ear.
He found that he had turned from
State street ana was going toward Wa
bash avenue. A cable train bound for
Cottage Grove avenue met him at the
corner and he climbed aboard Since
he was out merely to kill time and get
the fresh air why not Il South side car?
The South side was one of the great
divisions of the city, and well deserv-
ing of an occasional visit lie Iounged
back in his seat and the fresh breeze
cooled and chilled him until he had to
button his coat.
Clickcty -clack. clickcIv-clack. went
the rattling wheels, and Swinger. with
y
keeping time with the swift beat on
the rails, did not know when the car
passed Twelfth street or when it
bumped across the rails at Sixteenth
street or swung in Il bold whip-crackcr
fashion around the corner at Twenty
second street. lie was having long
and confidential talk with the paragon
OF young women when the conductor
touched him on the shoulder and
asked "Transfer:'
Why not transfer, since it COS! moth
ing, and Swinger was out for IN IN
dehnlfe ride? He named cross street
along which, to his positive knowledge,
there was an electric line. \ few mo-
ments later he jumped off at the ccrner
and waited for an electric car.
lie might have aliShted at some other
corner. 1t was by mere accident that
ne chose the particular line which
would take him within three blocks
oI the Hadley house. AS the car APP
preached the street Swinger began to
ASH himsclf If it would not be advisable.
'haslnuch rs he chanced to be in that
neighoorhood. 10 walk down to the
mouse and meet Jim Hadley. Besides,
ne had standing invitation to cali at
.he house. and although this would not
oe "cail." still he felt that he would
oe welcome if he should drop in. and
a'u1ough he was not positive he would
see her he decided that if she happened
oe at home he might possibly eN-
pam why he had sent the flowers that
'oIhlng, providing he had not made a
suncient explanation in the note which
followed the flowers.
No", us We all remember, SNineer
asd not the sligh,es, intention of going