The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1898-03-24
VOL. XXXVII.
SUPPER FOR THREE,
Copyright 's'7 By Charles B. Lewis
Copyright, 1897.

Bhropshire were in the habit OF speak
ing of my Uncle Thomas Taylor as
miser.. but this was a slaDder on the
character of the man. Over in Lin
colnshire, many years before my story
opens, he had been made the victim of
q designing rascal and left heavily in
debt. He meant to pay every shilling
he owed and N time he had receipt in
full from every creditor. He had
worked hard, lived poorly and pinched
his pence for years, asa the people of
Shropshire, not understanding his
worthy motive, called him miser aud
were not at all neighborly.
When l went to live with my Uncle
Tom for a year he was out of debt and
had money in the house. He was
buyer and seller of live stock. and Of
ten he was away and l was alone on
the little farm. No help was employed.
The man had got used to living alone
and doing for himself and he made no
change when able to do so. 1t de-
yolved upon me to cook, milk the cow,
and care for Nepig and the poultry,
but still had time on my hands for
fishing and roaming about. One Oc-
tober day, as my uncle was preparing
for trip which would take him three
days or more, he overhauled his money
box and counted up its contents, which
amounted to $3.50. This box was al
ways kept buried in one corner of the
cellar, and after the count it was re-
placed. We had never talked of rob-
bers but once, and then Uncle Tom
had cautioned me not to betray the
hiding-place of the box unless to save
myself from torture. n five-pound note
and handful of silver were always kept
in an old dish on the top shelf of the
pantry, and if hard pressed l was to
offer that.
The day turned out dismally, and
1t began to rain soon after noon. The
day probably made me nervous, for l
found myself thinking of robbers and
wondering if l had not better remove
the money. Buried where it was rob-
Der might search all day and not come
across the spot, but towards night
dug up the box and carried it out in
the rain and thrust it among the roots
OF rose-bush growing beside the
kitchen door. Then took the old dish
frcm the pantry and covered it up in
the hole where the box had rested.
had no good reason for making the
change, and after making it was an
cry with myself for being SO silly. We
had no firearms of any description
about the house, and though the doors
were fastened at night push from
strong arm would have carried any of
them off their hinges. Before night
came on l had finished my outdoor
work and was feeling little more
cheerful. 1t was close upon six O'Clock,
and was eating bowl of bread and
milk by the light of candle, when
the kitchen door opened and in walked
stranger. There was plenty OF
tramps about, and some of them were
nervy fellows, but It struck me at once
that this fellow was a more dangerous
character. He had an ugly, deter
mined look on his face, and as he
smiled at me across the table. it
brought out cruel expression around
lis MOUTH.
"Well, sonny" he began, after
look around, "you don't seem to have
10 word of welcome for visitor"
"Who are you?" l asked.
"As to that. names don't count.
What l wants is a cheerful welcome
eupper-a pipe-a mug O something
perhaps bed. l begs yer parding fur
not knockin' on the door, but We
needn't furgit yer manners cause l did.
Am invited to supper?"
l asked him to sit down to the table,
and minute later l placed bowl of
milk and half loaf of bread before
him. He ate ravenously and without
word between mouthfuls. For five
minutes l had good look at him, and
sized him up as bad man.
More!" he growled, as he finished
what had given him.
There was another half loaf and a
iull pan of milk. He filled his bowl
and emptied it twice over. and when he
had finished it he pulled dirty pipe
from his pocket and said:
There's tobacco lying around here,
ana | want pipe O it before begin
TO talk"
My uncle always kept box of
smoking tobacco on the shelf. and
reached it down. The fellow looked at
me IN very ugly way as he filled and
ngnted his pipe, and he had taken a
uozenwhiffs before he thickly observed:
The uncle is away and you are all
slone. I've come fur the money in the
mouse. II you gives it up without any
nonsense l takes it and goes on. If
!eu don't ties you up and burns your
'eet with the candle till you thinks
you yr is Tophet. Whichever way it is
bound to git the Doodle, and if
sous We got sense you won't make me
1ouoie. sn, Will ye give it up?'
mere is no money in the house, I
.sy aiy replied. looking him square in
'ne eyes as said it.
ns! tut! boy, but don't give me
~ such yarn as that. Tom Taylor al
Tss seavss money behind him whep be