The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-07-09
II don't remember seein' you about
here BEFORE" he said.

II don't remember seein' you about
here BEFORE" he said.
smiled and replied: "No, you never
have. l have never been here before"
What right have you to look at the
directory?" he returned. That's for
people who belong here"
"Oh, I presumed on the courtesy of
the house." 1 replied, good-naturedly,
and glanced about the room. Every
body was smiling and evidently enjoy
ing the episode. Besides" l resumed
II thought l might buy cigar and thus
become customer of the house,
"They don't sell cigars here!" retort.
ed the imp more shrilly than before.
Moved by spirit of banter 1 said:
II had intended to give you ten cents
for your savings bank, but since you
seem SO cross guess I'll keep it for
good-natured boy know"
An expression of the utmost malevo-
lence distorted the features of the imp
an expression beside which his for
mer appearance was angelic by con-
trast. In disgust turned to the direc-
tory. Finding the address sought 7
turned to pick up my hat, which 1 had
laid aside when entered, and depart.
My hat was not there. 1 turned sharp
ly. to the imp. There he stood gazing
at me with queer expression of min
gled malice and apprehension. 1 was
thoroughly provoked.
"See here" I said, sharply. "Where
is my hat?"
"Never saw yer hat" he croaRed.
"Put back that hat this moment, or
I'll shake you out of your Clothes" l
| threatened, hoarse with rage.
| The imp darted away. Turning, OBJ
served that all the people in the room
| were eyeing me with evident distrust
and disapproval. What had occurred
10 change their pleasant smiles to
these lowering glances could not i'm
| agine Still fuming with rage l stepped
to the counter and addressedfhe clerk.
81 wish you would see that my hat
is produced Immediately" l said, an
grily. Il don't propose to be made a
fool Of"
81 never saw your hat" he replied,
sharply. what are you talking
about?"
This angered me beyond bounds.
| Turning half about, so as to face both
the clerk and the people in the room
who were regarding me SO unfavor-
ably, shrieked:
Evidently this is den of thieves.
You can keep the hat, and be id to
you"
No sooner had spoken than I was
seized by burly negro-a porter l
| thought from the momentary glance
l got at him before | shot through
the door, across the sidewalk and into
the street, after receiving two stupen-
doGs blows in the face from black
| fist. As / sailed through the door l
caught a fragmentary glimpse OF a
grinning imp with red eyes full Of
malice.
l lay stunned, the blood streaming
from my face and an unbearable pain
in my left eye. A policeman rushed up,
and heard dimly, as in dream, some
body explaining to the officer that l
was drunk and quarrelsome. Present
| ly was bundled into patrol wagon
and taken to station house, where my
injuries were examined by a surgeon,
who announced that the sight in my
left eye had been permanently de-
stroyed and my face otherwise badly
disfigured for life. On the following
day l was taken before magistrate
and after brief trial, during which l
sat in daze, was sentenced to 80 days
in Jail for being drunk and disorder
ly." attempted to make some sort of
a defense, and to enter protest at the
injustice, but the blows dealt me by
the negro had left me so muddled that
/ was incoherent, and injured rather
than helped my cause.
rhe next day my head cleared some
what, and during the day l came int
possession of newspaper. With what
horror and amazemcnt you may imag-
inc 1 saw displayed in big black type a
sensational and horribly false account
of my arrest and what purported to be
the incidents that led up to it. 1t
stated that had been drunk and fight
ing in hotel of doubtful reputation,
that the police had been long trying
to break up the gang of toughs that
frequented the place, and the magis-
trate had decided to make an example
of me. having caught me red-handed
1t gave my full name and ad-
dress and occupation, secured from
cards and letters found in my
pocket. There were plenty of sa-
lacious details that never had the
slightest foundation in fact, among
other things saying that was regular
habitue of the place, and that I had evi-
IDENTIFY had been leading dual life,
posing in one city as respectable
business man, and in another in
dulging in wild orgies and consorting
with the most disreputable characters.
1 had no sooner finished reading the
account than telegram was handed
me. 1t was from my employer dis.
charging me and bitterly reproaching
me- for having abused his confidence