The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1911-12-14

crush him. Nevertheless a man in
pathy. The poor fellow was engaged
to three girls. and there was not
among the three one to whom he could
go for comfort or advice. What was
more natural than that he should
choose a fourth into whose ears he
could pour his troubles?
Caroline Carr was the person who
heard the story and listened to it with
heartfelt sympathy. With moistened
eyes she permitted her shoulder to sink
against his. and somehow their hands
met. Then she looked up at him, her
compassionate heart going out to him
through her melting orbs. He kissed
her.
And so it was that Hammond, who
had called on a girl for sympathy in
his complication with three girls, left
her engaged to another-herself.
When one awakens after good
nights sleep the brain is usually clear
er than at any other time Of day.
Dick Hammond, opening his eyes on
the morning after he had become en-
gagged to the fourth girl, saw at last
that something must be done. He lay
abed till noon thinking out plan.
The cobwebs Of his intellect were
swept away, and he formed plan.
During the afternoon he called to-
gether three of his male chums, in
formed them Of his complication and
asked them to help him out of it. Not
one Of them but would have plucked
out his Eeart and roasted it over
fire of Goals for Dick, but there was
none Of them capable of suggesting
how this was to be effected And here
came in the result of Dicks thought
while being in bed during the ante
meridian hours He suggested that
each one Of his friends take one Of
the girls and by his attentions extract,
like plaster, the inflammation Of her
heart.
The proposition was listened to with
respectful attention by the chums, but
excited no enthusiasm. Each man
thought of Aesops fable Of the fox
who, having lost his tail, endeavored
to persuade the other foxes to cut off
theirs. Presently the spokesman said:
"Dick, dear boy. lovemaking is SO
| natural to you and you find it so easy
to impress the feminine heart that you
think it would be equally easy for US.
You are the candle about which the
moths flutter, and it would require a
more vivid light to draw them away.
None Of us is in lovemaking more bril-
liant than you-indeed, compared with
you in this respect we are as glow
worm beside searchlight. We would
gladly help you. but it is impossible to
do it on your plan. We would advise
you, however, not to complicate mat
ters further by engaging to marry any
more girls"
Following this advice, Dick Ham
mond resolutely devoted himself to his
last fiancee to the exclusion of ali
others. One day one of his three
chums came to him and warned hin
that his first three fiancees were pre-
pairing to serve papers upon him in q
suit for breach of promise. Dick asked
If his marriage with the fourth lady
would settle the matter He was in
formed that it probably would, None
of the ladies were acting with the in
tention of extorting money, but from
a desire to prevent rival from get
ting the better of her.
4 The next day Dick was informed
, that the papers We're all to be served
at once. Jumping into his automobile
he drove to Miss Carr's house, and til,
: couple soon after came out, entered
the auto, and Dick, who drove it. turn
. ed it toward the state line
Now, it was fifty miles to the stat'
line, but Dick. once beyond the cit!
t limits. saw no necessity for hurry. Ol
, passing a garage he saw the three
: friends whom he had asked to hell
him lettering there as if waiting 70
? something. They all doffed their hats
, and one of them shouted:
PLENTY Of time; papers not yet out
] So Dick Jagged, devoting himself t
e his lovely companion. Presently. look
: ing back, he saw an auto far in th
g distance coming at full speed. II
y turned on more power and easily KEEP
good lead
/ Passing a crossroad, he saw anothe
] auto within a hundred yards Of hin
The driver was mufiied and wore gos
k giles concealing his features. A gil
e sat beside him. and Dicks blood ra
d cold on recognizing Miss Allen. Sh
Il shook her fist at him. and he instint
o lively turned on more power, shootin
h onward like an arrow.
.r Presently looking back, he saw ths
n he was followed by three autos at di
r ferent distances. Great heavens! Wei
z. all of his first three fiancees pursuin
'e him?
All the power of which the machir
e was possessed was now on, and Il
II machine fairly few along the roa'
ID Dick turned now, and again saw tn;
ID the machine containing Miss ALE
at was in the lead Of the pursuing m
$. chimes. He thought that if any
to them got him she at least had the be
I'd right.
I'd The chase was a short one so far ;
es time was concerned, for the distan
was traversed within an hour, al
e. when Dick hove up to hotel ju
So across the state border line the thr
k. pursuing autos were close upon hi
lis He and his betrothed at last stood
m the hotel porch. and three other &C
n pies. alighting from their autos. join
til them. Dicks hair stood on end. The
at wer& his three deserted fiancees. a
is with each one was one Of the chul