The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1905-12-28

GlOuCeSIcr DOy, anu l. uScu 10 SO lucTe
often in the summer hadn't any
real acquaintance with Davis, but
saw him often. He was clerk in
bank, and the bank was robbed-an in-
side job. The cashier got most of the
money, but Davis was in the game
somewhere, and he ran away. They
caught him in Bangor and were bring
ing him back on steamer. He was
stronger than an OK, and the officer
who had him was afraid of him, SO he
had him handcuffed
"About four miles north of this town,
where the steamers run close to Black
burn point, Davis jumped overheard
with the handouts still on his wrists.
That shows what desperate fellow he
was. 1t was in the evening and quite
dark, but the officer saw Davis swim
ming with his hands stuck out IN front
Of him. Then he sank, and that was
the end of him. wonder that you
never heard the story, though it's near
+ ly twenty years old now"
The druggist had started up out of
his chair and was leaning forward,
staring into Barnes face His mouth
was half open, but he seemed incapable
of speaking. Indeed, his aspect was SO
strange that Barnes took him by the
arm and shook him.
"Handcuffsv' gasped Sempler, and
he put up his hands to his forehead.
"What the deuce his friend began.
Barnes" explained Sempler, "since
the world began there has never been
anything like this. can't believe it.
| The thing is impossible
He walked to the table and poured
out some liquor. His hand was so un-
steady that the bottle ratified against
the glass.
Its incredible, Incredible" he con-
tinued, choking with the fiery liquid.
But, listen In October was walking
in the woods, up along the shore of the
bay by Blackburn point. I had these
with me-" And he ripped open cup
board and took out a big pair of field
glasses. II started to look out over
the bay from little hill on the point
and was adjusting my glasses when !
happened to focus them on the top OF
a spruce tree that grew ut the. foot Of
a hill. I saw queer bunch on the
tree, and presently made it out to be
some sort of an iron thing that had
grown into the wood-a thing with q
piece of chain on it. took it to be q
sort of trap which some boy years age
had hung on the tree and forgotten
Barnes, it was pair Of handcuffsv'
"But-but what was it doing way uI
} there on the top Of the treeY STAN
mered Darnes.
Eighteen years ago." said Sempler
"that tree wasn't more than six feet
high"
"WellW
"Well, this is what happened" con
tinued Sempler. "Your friend Davi!
slipped one of his cuffs In the water
and managed to get ashore. Then b,
slipped the other cuff and tossed then
away and they caught on the tree. o.
perhaps he hung them up. thinking tn
tree would hide them. At any rate
there they are, and you know wei
enough that pair of handouts in tina
out of the way place settles the who'll
story. If they're not John Davis
they're not anybody's. The man didn'
drown, and Eve got him.
This is the strangest thing eve
heard Of" said Barnes.
when you mentioned Blackburn
point" said Sempler, II thought of tn
only time was there, and the look Q
that thing in the tree just leaped u
before me like picture. l must fin
it."
'"That won't be so easy"
Il will find itv' exclaimed Semplel
"And now tell me more about Davis. "
II don't know any more,' responde
Barnes. II left Gloucester few week
afterward and never went back"
"See this man tomorrow and max
:. sure of him.
d "I'll do that said Barnes, but
o must be on the quiet. don't want
n be dragged into anything as wi
= ness"
: Sempler laughed.
O ut will be quiet" he said. DO yo
G suppose I'll say Il word to anybody
II Not much. This is private matte
between the minister and me. I'll !,
!, him alone, and he'll let me alon
IS That's all III ask of him. He won
a make any trouble if put up stror
D enough BLUFF. He's engaged to Deaco
) Hollands daughter-Holland lives rigl
up there by the meeting house-and
d won't want his matrimonial plans di
turbed, for the deacon has good b
IS Of money. Barnes''-and he tapped Il
t, bottle again with nervous finger-P
y all right
"Wall." said Barnes, don't talk
n don't say anything to anybody-a1
4 here's luck to you."
About week later, on the mOrnil
n of the 22d of December, a boy can
to the house where the Rev. Ormol
1t Davis was boarding and told him th
IN he was wanted at the church. Right
Judging that the matter had to do wi
N the approaching Christmas obser
ID ances, Mr.. Davis promptly responds
is to this somewhat indefinite summons
50 AS he turned the corner into Cou
IS street he saw team Of horses hi
n messed to a sleigh in front OF t
le church, and behind the horses and t
vehicle appeared great green ma
)" which could be nothing but Chri
Il mas tree. 1t had been Mr.. Davis