The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-05-28
On the Anise-
Seed Trail "
By H. S. CANFIELD.
Copyright, 1895, by Daily story Pub. Goa

set Country club Willie Delay sat
with one leg thrown carelessly on ta-
BILE. He hicked the boot on it with a
hunting crop and puffed Turkish ci-
rarette that burned with a smell like
the smell of decayed weeds and punk.
Willie in talk was horsey. With him
were Reggie Van Duyck, who was dog
gy, and Algy Remsen who was foxy.
"That new hunter of mine," said
Willie. sis a wonder. Short barrel,
big chest, clean legs. stifie we'll set out.
muscled like Sandow. I'm thinking
that he'll come close to seven feet in
the clear"
"Saw the pack awhile ago." said Reg
gle. "Looks weil-aw. But the little
gyp with the tan over her eyes is too
keen-aw. Needs more work and whip
and less coddling-aw. That man
Brown isn't any good-aw.'
"He's good on making the bag" said
Algy. ''Saw him mixing the seed this
morning. He's got some sort of prep
aration he puts in-won't give away
the secret-that makes it smell like an
old dog fox in spring Offered him five
pound to tell, doncherknow."
Dick Manton came up to the group.
"You mean that you offered him $685.
he suggested.
"That is what said," Algy respond
ed slowly. "Five pound"
'If you're going to talk American
dollars in English currency" said Man
ton, "you want to talk them correctly.
The English do not know any such sum
as five pound What you offered the
whipper-in was 'f'-pun.'
'Aw!" said Algy. Manton walked
away. Willie took his leg down and
leaned forward. His smooth, narrow
face had purpose in it. Hes getting
a dweadful cad," he said. Don't knoW
how he got into the club. He's only
lawyer-fellow, you know, and he cawn't
ride. I'm suah. Wonder why he joined?"
ITO be near Marian Granger" said
Reggie.
"To be near Maid Marian" said
Algy.
Willie was silent for moment. then
said: "Well, we're all epris with her,
aren't we? The thing must be settled
somehow. and we've got to get rid of
this chap Manton. Tell you what I'll
do He fiicked his leg lazily. "Pll
ride you for her. In the hunt to-mor-
row the fellow nearest in at the death
to have a clear field for six months, the
two others to drop out"
agreed" said Reggie and Algy in
breath.
"As for Manton. he can't ride, but
heard to-day he'd bought horse and
a suit of pinks. The horse was sold to
him by Jock Ormsby. You'd never
think it, but it's that devil, Mephisto!
The grooms call him the 'Gravemaker.
you know. He's got the temper of
Satan and has hurt three men in a
year. Buying that horse shows how
little Manton knows. If he tries to
ride tomorrow all three of us will
have to race the Gravemaker and get
him going. He ought to spill Manton
at the first jump and cure him of the
Country club and Maid Marian at the
same time"
They snickered in concert. Willie
took an absinthe, Reggie took a ver-
mouth cocktail, Algy took creme de
.menthe.
The Cohasset Country club was made
up of the sons and daughters of the
rich men of Massachusetts, city. Its
objects were social converse and rid
ing after pack Of hounds trailing the
scent of a bag of anise-seed which had
been dragged over the country in the
early morning by a couple of lads. The
course lay over fairly stiff land, con-
tanning ploughed field or two, a brook
and some fences of hedgeplant. One
of these fences had ditch ten feet
wide running along it and was source
of secret terror to every mmber of the
club. The Cohasset was an expensive
and exclusive organization, and it
made merry after the fashion of all
country clubs. Late that night. be-
tween waltz and two-step, Willie,
in burst of confidence. told Marian
Granger of the agreement reached by
himself and friends, saying nothing of
Manton. The girl, very handsome and
self-contained. looked at him with
wide eyes. Indeed" was all she said.
'Yes," Willie went on his tongue
aoosened by several absinthes. 81
shall be your most devoted for six
months at least. You haven't seen my
new hunter. Van Duyck and Remsen
are not in it,
A smile of amusement came into her
fine eyes. You are certain to win o.
she asked.
Sure" he replied.
Excuse me, them" she said "Here
is Mr.. Manton. / promised this dance
to him"
Swinging slowly in her partners
arms, she told him of the wager-tolc
1t lightly, but ne could see a shadow
OF resentment in her face. He was q
young felloW of not many words and
positive manners. He started on a
hunt tor Willie and found the three OF
them in the buffet. He had made ur