The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1902-02-27

BENTON, LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1902
sugge ted Jake. All hands scrutip

sugge tied Jake. All hands scrutip
lied the floor.
"Well, well!" said the conductor, i'm.
patiently. you'll have to pay your
fare then"
ITO be sure" said Old Slouch, mis-
erably, and he felt for his II cents,
"Well, declare" he exclaimed in we'll
simulated amazement. "I haven't any
money"
"What!" roared Tim. Had Old SLOUGH
been himself he would have detected
something very like CONSERVATION in
his friends tone. As it was, he saw
only ridicule and he took fatal step.
"That is to say" he went on, pull.
ing himself together, nothing but q
$50 BILL"
"Oh!" said Tim, plainly relieved.
THAT'S all right" said the friendly
Jake. "Pll pay 1T. Here you are"
And he gave the conductor 40 cents.
Tim rose and sauntered up the aisle.
"Come and have smoker" he said
to Old Slouch. The latter responded
with alacrity. Here was his opportun-
ity at last. But as the door of the
smoker closed on them Tim broke out:
"Say, old man, you nearly scared me
into fit. had only enough to buy
my ticket one way, but I came along
because l knew I could borrow a dol
lar or two from you"
Old Slouch collapsed. II near fell
on the foor," his tormentor went on,
"when you said you didn't have any
coin, but when you mentioned the
fifty, why, Tknew it was all right"
"But it ain't," Old SLOUGH replied,
| weakly.
"No?" roared the other.
"Not cent" said Old Slouch, huski-
ly. 81 was going to borrow from you -
"Well," said Tim, when he had par
tally recovered from the blow, you'll
have to touch Jake"
"Rather not" said Old SLOUGH, short
ly. "You do it."
Rather not myself" Here the two
looked in opposite directions. :
Zone of US has got to-" said Tim at
| last.
match you for it, from the dis
tinguished author. So they matched
| and Old Slouch lost.
1t spoiled his day. Tilly was dis
| posed to be nice to him, but he was
so taciturn, thinking all the while Of
| the unpleasant task that awaited him,
that she turned in despair to Tim,
who had never been in better spirits
in his life. 1t was beautiful moon
light night and they planned to re.
turn to the dock in time to catch the
| last train for town, which left at ten
o'clock.
They were about mile from shore
when the wind died out. They drifted
| idly for half an hour. Jake looked at
his watch.
"We'll miss the train and have to
stay all night at a hotel, if there is
one in the place" Horrible visions OF
hotel bills crossed Old Slouch's mind
Then he had an inspiratio
"Let's row for it, he suggested
And row they did-rowed as they had
never rowed before, he and Tim. The
night was warm, and the two oarsmer
were perspiring and breathless when
the boat finally ran her nose on shore
At the same moment they heard the
whistle of the approaching train. AL
hands ran for it and scrambled aboard
Just as the train pulled out.
"All due to your splendid rowing
said the painting lilly as she sank into
her seat. SIT was awful good work. II
I ask you both to my wedding for that.
!! "Wedding!" shouted Old SLOUGH and
! Tim in chorus.
"I'm to be married to Mr.. Jimmy
Grenner in the fall" said the blushine
| maid.
Silence fell upon the downeast suit.
ors-a silence deep and wide.
"Tickets!" said the conductor.
Old SLOUGH fed to the smoker in pur.
suit of Jake. He had no objection te
borrowing from him now. Alas!-N
Y. Times.
:.