The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1908-11-19
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By O. HENRY.

LEY sauntered across Union
square with plying look at
the hundreds that lolled upon
the park benches. They were motley
lot, he thought; the men with stolid,
animal, unshaven faces; the women
wriggling and self conscious, twining
and untwining their feet that hung
four inches above the graveled walks.
Were l Mr.. Carnegie or Mr.. Rookie
feller would put few millions in my
inside pocket and make an appoint
ment with all the park commissioners
(around the corner, II necessary and
arrange for benches in all the parks Of
the world low enough for women 10
sit upon and rest their feet upon the
ground. After that might furnish
libraries to towns that would pay for
'em or build sanitariums for crank
professors and call 'em colleges II
wanted to.
/ Women's rights societies have been
| laboring for many years after equality
with man. With what result? When
they sit on bench they must twist
their ankles together and uncomforta-
bly, swing their highest French heels
| clear Of earthly support Begin at the
bottom. ladies. Get your feet on the
| ground and then rise to theories Of
mental equality.
| Hastings Beauchamp Morley was
carefully and neatly dressed. That was
the result of an instinct due to his
birth and breeding. 1t is denied us to
look further into a mans bosom than
the starch on his shirt front, SO it II
left to us only to recount his walks and
conversation.
Morley had not cent in his pockets,
but he smiled pityingly alta hundred
grimy. unfortunate ones who had no
more and who would have no more
when the suns first rays yellowed the
tall paper cutter building On the west
side of the square. But Morley would
have enough by then. Sundown had
seen his pockets empty before. but SUM-
rise had always seen them lined.
First he went to the house of 4
clergyman off Madison avenue and pre-
sented forged letter OF Introduction
that holly purported to issue from q
pastorate in Indiana. This netted him
50 when backed up by realistic ro-
nance of a delayed remittance.
| On the sidewalk twenty steps from
the clergyman's door d pa1e faced int
I man shuskiIy erveioped hin with a
raised red fist and the voice Of a bell
buoy. demanding payment of an old
score
why, Bergman. man" sang Morley
dulcetly, lis this you? l was just
on my way up to your place to settle
up. That remittance from my aunt
arrived only this morning. Wrong ad-
dress was the trouble. Come up to
the corner and I'll square up. Glad to
see you. Saves me a walk. :"
Four drinks placated the emotional
Bergman. There was an air about
Morley when he was backed by money
in hand that would have stayed OF a
call loan at Rothschilds'. When he
was penniless his bluff was pitched
half a tone lower. but few are compe-
tent to detect the difference in the
, notes.
You gum to mine blace und bay
me tomorrow Mr. Morley" said Berg
man. "Oxcuse me dat l dun you on
, der street. But haf not seen you In
dree mont. Pros'tT
Morley walked away with crooked
smile on his pale. smooth face. The
, credulous, drink softened German
amused him. He would have to avoid
Twenty ninth street in the future. He
had not been aware that Bergman evel
> went home by that route.
At the door Of a darkened house two
squares to the north Morley knocked
with Il peculiar sequence Of raps. Ths
; door opened to the length Of a 81,
inch chain. and the pompous. impor
tant black face of an African guardian
imposed itself in the opening. Morle,
, was admitted.
In Il third story room in an atmos
phere opaque with smoke he hung To-
!, ten minutes above roulette wheel
, Then downstairs he crept, and was out
sped by the important negro, jinglin,
in his pocket the 40 cents in silver tina
, remained to him of his five dollar cap
; | ital At the corner he fingered I'm
decided
Across the street was a drug store
: well lighted. sending forth gleam
. from the German silver and crystal o
]. its soda fountain and glasses. Alonl
came youngster Of five, headed 70
the dispensary, stepping high with th
? consequence of big errand, possibl
;. one to which his advancing age ha
earned him promotion. In his han
he elutched something tightly. publt
: ly, proudly, conspicuously.
: Moreley stopped him with his viii
ming smile and soft speech.
"Me?' said the youngster. "I'm dol
> to the drug tore for mamma. Sh
dave me a dollar to buy a bottle {
medic
: Now. now, now" said Morley. "Suc
big man you are to be doing errant
;. for mamma. must go along with m
: little man to see that the cars don
) run over him. And on the way we
= have some chocolates. Or would
] rather have lemon dropsy'
: Morley entered the drug store lea
) ing the child by the hand He presen
: ed the prescription that had been wra
J ped around the money.
On his face was smile, predator
5 parental, polite, profound.
= aqua pura, one pint" said he
8 the druggist Sodium chloride, +
: grains Fiat solution. And don't t