The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1909-02-11


MAS GIFT
Of the fast receding figure Of the man
who was beginning to ascend the
mountain.
"No more! Nevair morer' he hissed
mysteriously.
Janet was speechless with astonish-
ment. She was familiar with the lads
heroics, but really this was something
out Of the ordinary.
"Dis night-a." continued Beppo in
sibillant whisper, "he mus'-a die!''
"Now, what do you mean:" Janet
demanded sternly, with the evident
| intention of getting at the bottom Of
| the matter ..Sit right down II, that
chair and tell me without any more
nonsense"
For reply Beppo drew his hand
across his throat and gurgled sugges-
lively.
Janet was beginning to be seriously
| alarmed. She knew that the young
ster was emotional to the verge Of alb
surdity and that he was not to be de-
pended upon in an emergency. She
had discovered that he had passion
for exaggeration, but it seemed to her
that there must be something real
| about this.
"BeDpo," she commanded in tone
that left no alternative. .do as ! tell
your'
Thus brought to terms, the young
Sicilian whispered tale of contem-
plated assassination aud robbery that
would have been a veritable boon to
one of the operate maestri of the last
generation. Three men of the noun
tain gang. he declared, had plotted to
murder aud rob John Rossiter on that
very Christmas night, knowing that
he would be alone in his office on the
mountain. Beppo gave all the details
Of the dastardly business with the
most ingenious explicitness and seem
ed to expect Janet to share his enthu
siasm over the removal of her enemy.
Janet did not stop to sift the mat
ter. 1t was sufficient for her that th'
man she loved was threatened by
danger which she might avert. Sht
did not hesitate a moment. Distrust
Ing Beppo, she feigned satisfaction a
the prospect of so soon being rid o.
her enemy and sent the boy to the VII
lage on an errand. AS soon as he wal
out of sight she left her house and be
gan to ascend the mountain as quick!
MS she could.
Half an hour later she stood at tn
open door Of Rossiter's cabin and fac
to face with its occupant.
,, Janet" he asked her doubtingly
'are you actually here:'
"Yes." she returned breathlessly an
without looking at him at all 81 hav
come to offer you Christmas gift"
!. He looked at her amazedly. but di
not speak.
II have come to offer you your life
: II don't understands; really I do no
: Janet" he said helplessly.
Then she told him Beppo's story.
He heard it to the end without
word Of comment When she had fl
: ished he sighed long and deeply
II am disappointed. he said. with
! curious little quaver in his voice.
am disappointed in my Christmas pre-
. ent. hoped-I thought perhaps
might be something better"
:. "What is better than life?'
" "You are-far better" he declars
audaciously.
Y Janet knew that the long confii
was ended. and the knowledge lift
the weight from her heart.
? "If you really believe anything
o that sort. john she began.
.e II forgot to tell you that there isl
10 a word o: truth in your precious Be
re pos story" John said as they were {
e. scending the mountain. "Whv.
Il. very men he named are In the wills,
ut lookup at the present moment:
IS. much holiday. you know. I saw The
w rs came up from the train. The.y {
to all good workmen. and in the morni
be shall go down and pay their fir
and get them out Of limbo"