The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1900-06-14

o purpose; for droughty as tits. the
furze don't set itself alight."
Him as done it knew what All wa.
about, settin' of it afire SO near the
houses. All reckoned as suspicion
might fall on them as lived in 'em."
This was daring whisper to get
abroad; but one of greater import
still was that which mentioned the
name OF tipsy old charcoal burner
who had been working in the pine
woods for the last three weeks. dur
ing which time small fires, soon To-
Called, had given rise to several
lived excitements in the neighbor-
hood.
How the present fire had originated,
however, was of minor Importance
just then. The one thing to be done
was to limit its extent and to extin-
guish it as speedily as possible. Judg-
ing by appearances, this seemed un-
likely to happen, for the gentle
breeze grew and grew till it was
ruffied into small gale and sent the
flames flying before it in mad career.
Thick volumes of gray smoke began to
ascend from the other side of the hill:
moreover, these smoke columns ap-
peared to rise from various points.
This was startling sign. and the
watching women understood it's sig
nificance. Joan West was watcher
no longer; flying home, she reused
every available man. and saw them
off in a strong brigade for action at
the front. Then, throwing the cares
of butter-making aside, she short
ened her skirts, tied on a sun-bonnet
and followed in the wake.
A wild sight it was that greeted
the eyes of many onlookers as the sun
rose upon clear and yellow sky with
promise of another day of brazen heat.
From three distinct points ascended
dense columns of smoke already lurid
with flame. Wherever the gaze turned,
there destruction was advancing with
giant strides.
The hillside was now swept bare;
but the fire, having reached denser
growth. crept insidiously on, defying
all efforts to extinguish it. The flames
had already leapt over the road which
divided the hillside from the dark
pinewoods. The tall trees were in the
grip of the fiery foe.
So hot was it that the gentlest
breath of air famed it to fresh fame.
The heavens became hidden by the
thick pail which hung overhead. while
beyond and on every side destruction
ragged Still, men battled with it brave
ly. Exhausted often with the immense
exertion at fearful heat, they threw
themselves down at full length to
rest for q moment and to regain
fresh nerve for the struggle.
Joan West and one or two other
women worked in the rear, beating
out such struggling fires as threat
ened to revive their energy, but still
as the morning wore on, the outlook
appeared as hopeless as ever.
| In one glade the fiery forces seemed
to have concentrated. Down in its
murky depths it was possible to dis
tinguish several of the figures looking
like the genii of the fire, as they
moved hither and thither in the very
midst. Among them Joan thought
she deserted the well-known form O
Will Larkins, and SO sure did sh'
become of the identity of that sturd!
figure, swaying a mighty bough il
his strong arms, aa4 he beat and bea
at the obstinate flames, that she wa
impelled to descend and follow.
If Will should see her, he might biz
her roughly to go back; but she woul'
chance that. She must foliDw!
Not far from him the girl distin
guished another form which sh
thought she knew-that of disrep
utable charcoal burner, and h
seemed to be approaching Will. Tha
, he bore her lover grndge Joan knew
for he had been caught poaching o.
several occasions. and the gamekeeE
: er had threatened to ''have hir
: up"
, Above the roaring of the fire cam
the sound of their voices in hot dispute
: and Joan hurried over the smoking sol
S Neither of the men had yet perceive
1 her, for their faces were to the oppt
e site slope.
Suddenly she saw the older man all
g a quick and heavy blow with the thlc
stick he carried right over Wills hea'
: It came with such crushing force tha
: the hand it struck was constrained t
: drop the bough. Will staggered bacl
: and Joan, uttering cry OF pain an
anger, as though she herself had fe
the force of the blow, hurled her bong
). at the cowardly assailant, and dartin
= forward, threw her arms about her 10
y er as though to protect him from fu
S ther attack.
d 20, Will" she sobbed, "are you hurt
al At first he seemed inclined to shall
r her off.
l, "Go home, grill" he cried. hoarsel
r But look into her tender eyes. stream
ing with tears, and the wall of separ
IS ton between them crumbled to not
q ing.
The charcoal burner cast curio'
1 - \