The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-07-14
A Captured Bandit
Uristnal.l

COTI8mal.l
"Stand ana deliverr'
Put aside that gun. have nc
thought Of resisting you"
The man lowered his weapon, but
was ready to raise It again at a mo-
ment's warning. The traveller contin-
ued:
''As sure as the sun rises and sets
you will at last be captured, and in
this country you brigands, when taken,
invariably suffer death"
Death Is about the common lot Of
ALL"
mot death by the gibbet."
mo. All men do not rob as openly as
we bandits. but all men are more or
less robbers, and perhaps even You, II
your wife and children were starving
ting bread for them. would stop trav-
eler and demand his purse"
lis 1t possible! Have you wife
and children?"
II have. My wife is as good wo-
man as ever lived. She is In daily
dread Of my capture and death. Ihave
a son. He is sturdy little fellow,
frank, brave and honorable. His >fu-
ture is inevitable. The son Of brigand.
one who has ended his career on the
scaffoid, oil avenues will be closed to
him save the calling Of his father
Yl,v< xvyhV, do Nn< oA
est callingr
The brigand smiled grimly. 1T Is
amusing" he said. ITO hear the imprac-
ticable suggestions made to those who
are held in vice. l might as we'll say
to you, unarmed as you are: Your
purse does not belong to this man. You
have no right to give it to him. Be-
fore I can live an honest life I must
be born anew, for I must first expiate
my crimes by death"
The traveller sat musing. The bandit
saw that he was thinking and seemed
inclined to let him think. He swung
his gun over his shoulder and waited.
They are looking for you now. be-
Ieve," said the traveller.
They are"
Suppose you should give yourself up
for life sentence instead Of being
captured and executed"
"My wife and child would starve."
Him." said the traveller and thought
again.
Suppose" he went on at last, "you
could get light sentence, few years
| and some one would provide for your
| wife and child while you were In pris
! on?"
what would I do when came
! out?"
Suppose place were provided fol
your
IT would gladly surrender on thoss
terms. Indeed I should welcome my
punishment. Whatl Have this horri
BILE load lifted7 See my wife's face re
leased from the perpetual care 1
wears7 Know that my child would no
be doomed to suffer as have suffered
One who would do this for me shoult
worship to the end Of my days"
The traveller said nothing for som'
time. He was trying to work out th'
problem.
Every WELL" he said at last. III yoa
will 60 with me, give yourself up ant
serve your sentence will agree tha
it shall not be longer than three years
l will provide for your family durin,
your imprisonment and upon your re
lease will take you into my service"
your
"Yes, l."
But how can you guarantee that
shall not be executed? How can yo'
assure me Of short term Of imprison
ment?''
II give you my word that I can ant
viii see that both are given you"
"And how do l know that this Is no
merely a plan to save yourself from
robbery and to hand me over to the pc
lice7'
II give you my word Of honor"
The two stood looking into each 9th
er's eyes for a time. then suddenly tn
bandit threw away his gun and, ad
vancing, knelt before the traveller.
They had been talking, the bandi
standing on the side Of the road, tn
traveller seated In his calash. The lat
ter was a large, we'll dressed, gentle
man-like man, with neatly trimme'
whiskers and handsome features.
"Get in," he said.
The bandit got In beside him. ant
the traveller drove him into town
turned him over to the police, and b.
was placed in cell. The next morn
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