The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1903-10-15
BENTON, LOUISIANA THU URSDAY, OCTOBER
Then he dressed and went f0wa ard
to complete his toilet.

Then he dressed and went f0warc
to complete his toilet.
When, after breakfast and a morn.
ing smoke, he returned, he found one
half Of his section occupied by his
fellow-passenger of the bus.
He did not experience any surprise
at this; nor did it occur to him as
being out of the ordinary. Yet it an.
noyed him.
He picked up a paper, but could not
read. He seemed to feel the others
eyes resting upon him. So he laid his
paper aside and glanced, rather de-
family, at his fellow-traveler.
The other was looking directly al
him, and he saw the same features
that he had mistaken for his own re-
flection in the bus.
The face was aglow with amuse-
ment; the eyes twinkled; there was
the suggestion of smile upon the
face
"How far west?" Demming managed
to ask, finally.
Denver" the other replied.
Demming WINGED. He realized that
in strength, tone, pitch and quality
there was not an iotas difference be-
tween his voice and the voice of the
Other Man.
"Do you reside in Denver?" he ven
tured, after a pause.
mo, sir" the other replied, "my
home is in Cleveland"
"Cleveland?" Demming faltered, be-
ginning to feel uncomfortable. "Why,
live in Cleveland, Also"
''Indeed?" replied the other, smil-
ing. Then perhaps we will become
good friends"
Demming did not reply, and the two
gazed out of the windows at the green
bluffs rolling backward, like gigantic
waves. from the broad river.
Finally, the stranger, without remov-
ing his eyes from the landscape, re-
marked:
From Cleveland to Denver is rather
long journey for one to take for the
sole purpose of committing matrimony,
don't you think?"
Demming started and glanced at
the other, half fiercely.
''How did you learn I was going to
get married?" he demanded.
You going to be married?" the
other replied, innocently. Il did not
know it. / mean that is what is TAX
ing me to Denver-to get married."
'You-you are" began Demming,
pinching himself. But the other inter-
rupted:
1--WE seem to be two souls with but
single thought, as my Uncle Charlie
Bashford wrote when he eloped
with
Have you an Uncle Charlie Bash
ford?" Deming broke in, leaning ca
gerly forward.
Eyes, SIR" returned the other. "He
resides in Paducah-Paducah, Ky.
Why?"
Nothing" Demming replied, much
with the air of one who is crushed;
'only that IL have an uncle who an
swers to that name and he, also, lives
in Paducah."
He paused moment, as though de-
batting great question and then the
light of sudden understanding flashed
across his countenance.
That is to say" he resumed, II did
have an Uncle Charlie Bashford-be-
fore | died"
Before you - what?" the other
asked, visibly startled.
Before l died. repeated Demming.
Il must have had heart-failure or
something and didn't know it. At all
events, l am dead. l died very sud-
denly in bus. l recognize you now,
of course. You are my spirit. first
saw you in the bus at the time OF
my demise. l see that you are re-
luctant to leave me. 1t is very mind
of you, indeed"
The other gazed at him, affrighted-
ly. 1t was quite evident to him that
Demming was lunatic, and he glanced
uneasily around, as though measuring
his chances of escape. His hands
shook with fear, and a coin, which he
had been fumbling in his fingers,
dropped to the floor.
Demming stopped and picked it up.
1t was a Roman piece of ancient coin
age, and through the edge a hole had
been bored.