The Bossier banner., 1910-01-06
| barrel. Then they broke into deep

4 barrel. Then they broke into deep
mouthed roar Of Baxter! Baxterr'
This amt no time to be a-botherin'
You men with speechifying. You all
know me, johnson Baxter, what has
served you. man and boy, since this
heah Barraclaw has come to be q
white mans country, and you amt
never know'd me to turn my back on
friend in need, and, boys, when a
mans a-needin' a wife and luck Is
dead agin him in the matter Of her
daddy, that's the time for your SYM
pathy If you be ever a-goin' to ladle
it out, and I'll tell you right now,
Barnes Eldon heah is a-needin' your
sympathy terrible bad, which same he
will take in votes. Now, there's Jim
ingalls,; he's a-wantin' to hold up the
hands Of this heah county for the next
two years, and I'll agree you couldn't
give your vote to a better man, but
ingalls,. he belongs down in st. Jean,
and 'cordin' to my understandin' the
Barraclaw amt got no call to be a-tak-
In care of st. Jean. Well pass on to
Jack Robinson. You all know Jack
we'll as l do. and it amt necessary
for me to be a-takin' up time a-throw-
in bokays in his direction. You know
his record same as l do, and some Of
you is a-backin' him, but me, johnson
Baxter Fm backin' this heah unbroke
colt, Barnes Eldon, to win. Boys, I
amt another word to say. There's a
barrel over there in the coffin house,
and it amt rainwater, an The rest
was drowned in a shout: "Eldon! FL
don's the squire's choice! He's the
man for Little Rockr'
The election judge leaned forward to
catch the last word, when the rattle of
galloping hoofs down the South road
drew all eyes to the bent figure crouch
ed in ungainly fashion on the little
clay bank mare that plunged into the
midst of the crowd straight up to the
squire, still perched upon the water
barrel.
johnson Baxter. you double dyed
scoundrel, come of that barrel and
We'll settle here and now! You've been
a-interferin' in my family. and now
I'm a-goin' to have 1t outen your
hidev' Eldridge tumbled out Of the
saddle and stood shaking his fist up al
the squire. who surveyed him with
twinkling eyes.
whats it all about, Hal? Seems
like you be carryin' leetle mite more
sail n usual Hold him, boys!" as
Eldridge's hand flashed toward hi!
hip. THAT amt no way for white
man to be actin up, let alone hus
band and father, in this heah decent
and law abidin' community"
You. YOU Eldridge struggled
to free himself. but the squire's hench
men held him fast Choking with pas
sion, he could only stammer out curses
Eldon. q little distance away. heart
the disturbance and pushed his wa,
to the squire, who reached down
"COme up here alongside of me, Barne:
Eldon. God knows, boy, your dadd!
let me in for heap of trouble whel
he made me promise to keep an eye ol
your uprisln's and downsittin's. Now
here's Hal Eldridge come here for tn
'spress purpose Of maxim an end 0
me, If he hadn't got so upset fore b.
got good started. Fellow citizens o
the Barraclaw. seein' as Hal amt like
ly to be able to make a satisfactOr,
explanation Of this heah little affair
me and Barnes III make clean breas
of it. We lowed that you men wa n
! a-goin' right back on Jim Eldon's boy
old Jim. who fit with Dad Price ant
who risked his life dozen times fo
your families in them dark days afte
the war We counted on your mem
| cries bein' longer than brandin' irO
or mebbe the boundary Of st. Jean.
A roar of laughter swept the crowt
and the squire grinned as he resumed
laying hand on Eldon's shoulder
. "As l was a-sayin'. we was so sur