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

ly, "but l cannot be at peace with
liquor selling. l hardly dare to hope
that you have decided to stop 1t"
NO." said Sempler slowly, hardly
that. But l am very careful. l never
sell to drunkards"-
"You sell to men who will be drunk
ards If you don't stop this traffic" said
Davis earnestly. "And If you hope to
make any change In my view Of this
natter
Sempler checked him with gesture
and walked up to the tree. A bit of
gunnybag was wrapped around the
trunk near the top. Sempler removed
it, and the clergyman beheld with un-
speakable amazement a pair Of hand
cuffs grotesquely twisted into the wood.
by the way" said Sempler, your
first name Is John, isn't it?'
EYES," said the minister hoarsely.
what then?'
1--WE can cut these things right out of
the tree" said the druggist, 'and no
body will ever know that John Davis
wasn't drowned long ago. Otherwise
He finished the sentence by waving
his hand toward Deacon Hollands
house, where Holland and his daughter
were standing by the gate.
''You see, I've loosened these things
SO that they can be pulled away" said
Sempler, pointing to the handouts.
"Now, speak quick. for Holland and
n, ,icx
Indeed they were coming to look at
the tree.
Mr.. Hollandv' called the. minister,
at the same time raising his hat. "Please
hurry up!'
Sempler looked at him and stretched
out hand. to pull away. the handouts
from the tree. but the minister caught
his wrist in a grip of iron.
"Mr. Holland" he continued us the
deacon and his daughter approached,
have received a singular Christmas
gift, and I want you and Miss Amy to
see it,
| He released Sempler suddenly, push
| ing him back so that the man staggered
| to the church wall. Davis pointed to
| the handouts imbedded in the tree, and
| then held his wrists closely together.
"Bless my souln' exclaimed Deacon
Holland. "You-you don't mean to tel
me that-that those are the very same
ones:''
'Undoubtedly," replied the minister
"By some miracle this man has found
them and has brought them to me. He
seems to know part of my story, but
not the whole Of It. He does not know
that l was weak rather than dishonest
| that l was guilty Of nothing worse
than an attempt to shield a. man t.
whom thought myself bound by graf
itude. He does not know that | eventu
ally returned to Gloucester. where !
was held in custody for brief time
and then released. Above all, he doe:
not know that our whole church ha:
long been aware Of the truth ahd"-
do you mean to say" demanded thu
deacon, that this fellow tried to-t'
blackmail your
"He suggested that we might b.
friends" responded Davis. II make N
complaint l am indebted to him. Tw'
years ago, when / laid my story befor
the church meeting, | was unaware o
the extraordinary capacity for keeping
secret. That is characteristic 0
your Maine people. l supposed, wit
all respect to the gentlemen and es
pecially the ladies Of my congregation
that was laying my secret befor
the entire community. Yet it appear
that 1t has not been mentioned. A
least, the fact of my disclosure canno
have come to this mans ears. Now,
do not care to wear mask, even j
his presence, and therefore shall az
cept his gift publicly. I shall tax
these handouts, this badge Of my Ol
folly, publicly from this tree, and
shall attempt to extract moral frol
1t in brief address. Does this cours
meet your view, Amy?'
Il trust both your judgment an
your honor" said she.
"Sempler," said Deacon Holland, "
you weren't ruined in this communit
before, you certainly are now. Whe
this story gets around the worst ma
. in town will be ashamed to be see
, going into your store"
J 1t remains to be said that this prop
: ecy was fulfilled to all intents and pu
: poses very speedily.