The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-06-10


enough to break your neck jumping
out Of that" 1t was q brick wall
dropping sheer thirty feet to the
ground, He went out and locked the
door behind him.
In few minutes a deputy sheriff
came II am to stay with you to-
night and keep off the nightmares"
he said good naturedly.
Things began to look serious-very
serious indeed. 1t was nearly o'clock,
the trains through the county seat
made no connection with those through
Belltown and Layton, and it was forty
miles overland to the latter. Twelve
hours more and the wedding guests
would begin to arrive.
They were to be married at and
take fast train for Colorado for the
honeymoon. He had the passes in his
| pocket.
| They went down to- supper. The
deputy stayed close at his side, evf-
IDENTIFY intending that he should have
no temptation to run. Despair thick
and black was rapidly settling down
upon the desperate bridegroom when a
travelling theatrical company came into
| the dining room. 1t was the same
troupe that had been at Belltown the
previous week. Mason caught the eye
of the leading man, with whom he had
become acquainted, and they nodded
cordially.
"An old friend of mine used to
know in the SOUTH" said Mason to the
deputy. "If you do not object would
like to speak to him after supper"
"Sure," said the officer obligingly.
When they arose from the table Ma
son went across and gripped the ac-
tors hand. They had long, confiden-
tial chat which soon became so merry
that the deputy sheriff wished that he
could hear some of 1t. After the actor
had gone to get ready for the perform
ance Mason said to his guard:
"He would like to come up to my
room and have little visit after the
play" said Mason to the deputy. Il
suppose you don't object?'
Certainly not"
The actor came in at II 80, and the
obliging deputy locked them in. asked
, the landlord to keep an eve on then
and then went across the street to {
, barroom whence he could easily watcl
the outside window.
! If he had looked through the keyholt
) instead of looking upward at a non
: committal lighted window thirty fee
from the ground he would have savet
himself much subsequent trouble.
The actor was laughing and doins
something very queer for man wh'
had merely dropped in for socia
visit. He was daubing and smearin.
Mason up generally with grease paints
"You could break into any pesthons
In the country-if 1T wasn't too lfgh
and they didn't feel your pulse"
Mason rang for porter and had th
landlord called.
"Mr. Curry" called he through tn
door, ''they locked me up because the
thought | did not want to testif
against the railroad, but don't give
hang for the railroad. The reason
tried to get away Is that | was e,
posed to the smallpox two weeks ago
some dagees working on our road
and | was trying to get away to Sc
/, specialist when the sheriff nabbe
me- Since supper feel like | al
breaking out. l wish you would see.
''The dickens!' exclaimed the lant
lord seeing a years business killed b
a quarantine. Keep still till get
key. I've had the smallpox myse
: and Wen see.
"Well, should guessr' said Il
landlord when he unlocked the door
few minutes later. The lamp W;
turned low, and the actor was undo
the bed. 'You stay where you are Il
sE I get team for you. then you scoot!
He scooted At quarter before
II next morning he drove into Layton.
When court convened at 8 oclot
-, the Judge received telegram:
10 Married and on my way west for n
-, health. Wire forgiveness and blessin
Id to Denver MASON