The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-01-14

bibulous mother and three dinU ~ /
ters. pouneed upon him for his wageA |
And at his coufessioa they shxieae9
and objurgated him In tie pafhy rhst- |
oric Of the locality.
But even u they plucked at him and
struck him Ikey remained b his e.
static trance Of Joy. His head was In
the clouds: the star was dr1wing his
wagon Compared With what he had
achieved the loss of wages and the
bray of women's tonauss were slight
anaiD.
He had shaken the hand Of Bi1ly Ne
Mahan.
Billy McMahan had q wife. and upoa
her visiting cards was engraved the
name "Mrs- William Dafr1gh Aexa-
han And there was q certain vexa-
tion attendant upen these cards, for.
small as they were, tAeFe were houses
In which they could not b inserted
Billy McMahan Was q dict1tor In POI
tiles. q four walled tower In busaneeA
4 mogul dreaded. lored and obeyed
among his own people He was grow
Ing rich: the daily papefs had dosen
men On his tran T. eAroaiele his every
word Of wisdom; be hAd besa hsnOred
In caficature holding tie tigsr ezing-
ing In leash
But the heart of Bnly was sometimes
sore within him There was race of
men from which hs stood apart. but
that he viewed with the eye Of Moses
looking over into the promised land
He, too. had ideals. even n had they
Sniggiefritx. and sometimes, hopeaess
of attaining them. his own solid sue
cess was As dust and ashes tn his
mouth And Nn William DanaSh
McMahan wore q look Of discontent
upon her plump but pretty face, and
the very rustic Of her silks seemed
sigh
There was \ brave and conspicuous
assemDlase In the dining salon Of .
noted hosteIry where Fashioa loves to
display her eharmx At one table sat
Billy McAahan and his wife Mostly
silent they were. but the accessories
they enjoyed little needed the indorpe-
ment Of speech. Mu. AcMahan's dia-
monds were oueshone b. few In the
room The waiter bore the costiiest
brands Of wine to their tabie. In even
| ing dress. with IN expression of gloon
upon his smooth and massive eoun-
| tenance. you would look in vain for
q more striking figure than Buiy'A
| Four tables away sat alone . tall.
slender man about thirty. with thought
ful. melancholy eyes. vandyke heard
and peculiarly white, thin hnndA He
vas dining on flet m.gnon;r1fy toasl
| and apol.inAfis. That uaan W1a Cot
I vxH D0ycksHK R3An W0gt
<N0W.0O0. who inherited and held q
sacred seat In the exclusive inner cir
Gle Of society.
Billy McMahan spoke to no one
around him because he knew no one
Van Duyckink kept his eyes on hil
plate because he knew that every eye
present was hungry to catch his He
could bestow knighthood and prestigx
By nod. and he was chary of creating
! . too extensive nobility
And sfen Billy McMahan conceived
and accomplished the most startling
and audacioos act Of his life He ros,
deliberately and walked over 60 Coct
landt Van Duyckink's table and HEX
cut his hand
"Say. Mr.. Van Duyckink." he said
I've heard you was talking abo0
starting some reforms among the poo
people down in my district. I'm Nc
Nahan. you know. Say. now. II that
q straight I'll do ali I can to help you
And what says goes In that neck o
the woods. don't It. Oh. say. I rathe
guess 1t does-'
Van Duyckink's rather somber eye
lighted up. He rose to his lank heigh
and grasped Billy McNahan's hand
Thank you. Mr.. AIcAIahan." ae sal
In his deep, serious tones. Il hav
been thinking OF doing some work o
that sort. I shall be glad Of your n
sistance. It p:eases me to become &C
quainted with yeu."
I
shoulder was tingiing from the acc<
lade bestowed by royalty. A hundre
eyes were now turned upon him 1
envy and new admiration. Mn. vi
fi1m Darragh McMahan trembsed wit
ecstasy. % that her diamonds smot
the eye almost with pain And now
was apparent that ut many table
there were those who suddenly remen
bered that they enjoyed Mr.. Mems
hans acquaintance. He saw smile
and bows about him. He became q
| Teloped IN the aura Of dizzy greatness
His campaign coolness deserted him.
"Wine for that gang he comman,
ed the waiter. pointing with his finge
wine over there. Wine to those thre
| gents by that green bush. Tell 'el
it's on me. See? Wine for everybody
The waiter ventured to whisper tn,
1t was perhaps inexpedient to CAR
out the order In consideration OF Il
dignity Of the house and its custom.
"AT right said Billy. ''if it's again
, the rules. l wonder II 'twouh do
. send my friend Van Duyckink bottl
No: Well. itli dow all right At Il
ca6y tonight. just the same ftn
rubber boots for anybody who COM
In there any time up to 2 l. m
Billy McMahan was happy.
He had shaken the hand Of CeFtlana
Van Duyckink.
.
J The big pale gray auto with its shi
in4 metal work looked out Of pla'
. moving slowly among the puehcar
} ! and trash heaps on the lower east sid
, So did Cortlandt Van Duyckink. vi