The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-09-10

dies were hurried on, but made a sorry
showing in the great dinning hall. Pres
emily it was reported to Mr.. Mortimer
that nobody in the establishment could
find the cause of the difficulty and that
the electrician telephoned for could
not be there for an hour or more. Ran
dolph went over and whispered to Nor
timer and the two disappeared. In a
few moments the recalcitrant lights re-
sumed business and shortly after the
two men reappeared, Randolph with
cuffs somewhat soiled, and coat wrink-
led, and Mortimer explained that the
party owed the illumination to Mr..
Randolph. who had found the trouble
with some difficulty and corrected it.
Fannie looked at Randolph curiously.
He was very different man than when
he stumbled awkwardly into the room.
There was conscious power in his face
and perfect self-possession in his car
riage. Before leaving she. sought him
out and said: =-
"Mr. Randolph, I want to apologize
to you for my rudness. 1t was ill-bred
and inexcusable from any point OF
view"
"Do not mention 1t. I beg of you" he
replied heartily. II appreciate the
fact that I am very much out of place
here, and if look like / feel, a most
legitimate object Of ridicule.''
Fannie flushed rs she had not
since school days.
THAT makes my position the more
humiliating," said She "I will be
glad to make some amends if you
will call on me. Our carriage is at
| your disposal, and / will be glad to
show you some of the sights
He started and looked at her ear.
hestly. She met his gaze unfiniching-
! ly, but still crimson.
Il will come," said he.
He called the next day, and she
took him for long ride through the
park and drives. An incident oc-
Cured which attracted her atten-
tion. The library was all torn up
by workmen putting fireplace in
the chimney. Desiring to show the
visitor picture recently purchased
it became necessary to go through
the library. Randolph paused where
the workers were busy, and said:
"That will smoke, the way you are
doing it,
"It can't be put in the other way
replied the mechanic in charge, "be
cause of the original construction
of the chimney. See?" and he point
ed to the obstacle.
Randolph smiled, and taking an en-
Z yelope from his pocket made a few
d gEswift marks. "Here," he said
'sThat's the way to do it."
The mechanic looked at the draw
| ing and exclaimed: Eyes, sir, tha
will do it, sure thing. But I neve
heard of fixing chimney that way
, Randolph smiled and passed on
, Fannie looked at him in admiration
His power to do things gave her
sort of awe Of him.
During the ride she drew him ou
: as to his life in the west. He was a
frank as child. He had worked ou
J a plan to irrigate an immense vale
i in Nevada and transform tens o
thousands of acres of useless Ian
into fertile farms. His plan wa
, perfected and had been carried ou
enough to demonstrate its practice
+ bility. But he had run out Q
, money. 1t would require vat
, amount of money to work out tn
plan, and get hold of the '~nd SO a
{ to secure a proportion of the bene
: fit. A great railroad was ready t
E penetrate the valley with branc
: as soon as they saw evidence Of tn
5 plans being carried out. He had com
E east to interest capital enough to d.
: velop his plans. 1t would requir
] about s1,0o0,00O to complete the irr
4 cation system and secure control {
: the land. She listened so eagerl
e and asked SO many questions that h
+ was delighted, and came again an
: again to see her. She found a re'
interest in the plans of this enthus
E ast to rehabilitate desert, an
: poured over the scheme and tt
: principles it involved with an appl
cation she had not displayed sin'
: leaving school.
) Hence, when he came to her OF
" day with white face and told h,
$ that Mortimer and the crowd wit
n whom he had been figuring hs
). thrown the project IN the air, 81
felt nearly as badly as he did.
i 'They admit it is the most allu
ing thing they have ever had offer'
e them" he exclaimed, passionatel
). "but they don't know for certain
o Irrigation will irrigate-great hea
ems! what have been about for tt
l. past five years if / don't know abo
that?'
], He said he would make one mo
e trial with another party OF capits
d lists with whom he had corresponds
!. But 1 know what they want
o get all the profits and give me than
e and salary for my share. B
y they won't get it excepting on n