The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1901-08-15
the weary years in the profession to
which he had turped

which he had turned.
A knock aroused the dreamer, and
hastily stufing the picture in his
pocket he opened the door. 1t was a
card from one of his most profitable
clients, for whom he had recently won
hardly-contested lawsuit.
"Show him in," grunted the major.
grudgingly.
Accordingly in hustled Peter Van
delmeier, prosperous, pushing, self
complacent, but apparently somewhat
worried.
You have got to get possession of
that Fletcher property, that's all there
is to it, major" said Vandelmeier, as
he seated himself and moppe6 his
brow. "Oh, I know you are not a
sheriff or marshal or anything of
that kind" he went on, as he observed
the majors rising ire, "but what good
will our decision do us unless we get
possession of the property? There is
funny condition down there. A chit
of girl-grandchild of old man
Fletcher-is in possession, and she
seems to be too much for the officers.
They have failed utterly to get her out
and have about given it up as a bad
job. We have but two more days, ac-
cording to the verdict. Now, want
you to go to Cherrydale yourself. You
will have all the officers you want, but
they are frightened and need some
body to direct them. Name your own
fee, of course, but you've got to go.
You know how important it is to our
general plan that we get possession" ."
The result was that Maj. Gillespie
found himself the next afternoon at
the depot of the little town of Cherry
dale, some 40 miles from home.
After making some inquiries at the
country tavern he decided to begin op-
erations at once, so as to end the dis
agreeable task as soon as possible, and
was driven to the Fletcher homestead
on the outskirts of the town. He went
to get the lay of the land and left the
officers sent with him. at the tavern.
He found an old-fashioned country
place-a big, homelike house sur
rounded with great trees in the midst
of farm of great natural beauty,
rolling meadows and fruitful fields
traversed by ripping brook.
by George, I don't blame anybody
for wanting to keep such place." said
the major to himself, as he left his
carriage and walked up the shrub
lined lane.
In response to the knocker a grim
old woman opened the front door far
enough to let the major see that it was
fastened with chain inside, and in re-
sponse to his request to see Miss
Fletcher was told to wait on the porch
and she would see him there. AS the
major stood smiling at the crude at
tempt to thwart the edict of the law,
and inwardly fuming al the trivial ne
cessity for taking him so far from his
snug bachelor apartments, the door
opened and Immediately he heard the
chain rattle into place again. Turn
ing, he lifted his hat to the girlish fig
ure in the doorway. 1t was perfect
type of budding womanhood, the
ma jor noted briefly, just before his
eyes rested on her face. Then with
start the hat dropped from his hand
and he grasped the railing for sup
port.
"Amy!' he gasped. his hand seeking
his brow with gesture of bewilder-
ment. For there before him in the
flesh stood Amy Lester, the sweet
heart of his boybood, just as she had
looked on the day he had left her to
go to the war. Not a day older, not
a feature changed! And he knew she
had died these ten years ago. Had he
lost his mind? Had paresis overtaken
him in the prime of life? He stood
transfxed, with trembling limbs and
staring eyes.
"Amy Fletcher, if you please, SIR"
replied the young woman, with some
spirit. "And what is your business
here. may I ask?"
ried Robert Fletcher, of course, al
though he had never known Fletcher's
antecedents. This must be her daugh
ter. Gradually he mastered his agita-
ton.
81 must beg your PARDON" said he,
with courtly grace. "You reminded
me so strongly of an old and very dear
friend"
"You were a friend of mammals,
then?" inquired the girl. "Her name
was Amy Lester"
eyes; she was once very dear
friend of mine," replied the major,
gravely.
The girl. who had been standing de-
family, with eyes flashing, softened
visibly.
ooh, I'm so glad you came. I'm in
the most dreadful trouble, and they
are trying to take the old place away
from me; but they won't do it. I'll
never let them I'll die first. Grand
pa told me never to let them do it, and
that they had no right, and I won't.
But it's so hard for girl who don't
know anything about business or law
or anything to combat all those men.
l need friend. Indeed do, and if you
were a friend of mammals you will be
my friend; l know you will. You will
helm me. won't YOU? You are so big