The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1912-11-09
About an hour ago


He got out and looked at the BACK
Of the car where there was no mum
Der.
You are right" he said gravely
but assure YOU that | know nothlhs
about the accident. ! am John Mason
Of Rosendale and | will make every
effort TO find the person who useu
my car and who is responsible 1or
the killing OF your COW. Believe me-
am very sorry, indeed.
Elida found herself placing faith in
his statement She gave him the
number plate and saw him drive away
for he explained that he had an i'm
portant engagement that evening ana
must hasten.
1t was not until the red car had |
disappeared, and she met her father
painting toward her that Elida remem-
bered
Did you let that scamp co.? ne
demanded.
Elida explained the situation.
And you let him go and take the
number plate with him." he asked
| when she had finished
He said he would come back and
l believe he WILL" said Elida.
| Why do you believe him.
He said he would come back" she
repeated family.
I'll stop him next time!" threat
ened Simon grimly.
The next day Whitey's remains no
longer lay by the roadside. The RED
automobile did not come back. Day
after day passed and Simon Bissell
| sat on his doorstep with his shotgun
beside him waiting for the coming or
the red car Elida grew pale and anx-
ious over the possible tragedy that
might result from her fathers anger
over the loss of his favorite COW.
III he had only stopped and ex-
planned instead Of running away,
would not have cared so much" he
muttered once.
He will come some day, father,
am sure" Elida murmured.
Thereafter Elida watched the road
with painful anxiety. At every sound
of a motor horn she would rush to the
front door but not once did she rec
ognize the red car or its occupant.
Her father kept as close watch as
she did and his loaded gun stood at
his hand just within the barn door
when he was at work or in the
kitchen when he was at the house.
Once, at the very risk of her life be-
cause Elida was afraid Of firearms,
and knew little about them, the girl
discharged both barrels Of the weap-
on. Simon was in Plantville and did
not know that the gun he continued
to carry was unloaded.
One evening there sounded the ia
miliar horn from the hill top. Elida
paled and flew to the door but her IA
Their was quicker for he had grasped
his gun and dashed to the front yard.
He raised the gun to his shoulder and
fred-but there was no sound. no ex-
plosion.
The red automobile was drawing to
a standstill In 1t were two men. one
was the. young man Elida had talked
to and the other was dark, rather
surly looking person dressed as
chauffeur.
Elida was at the gate instantly.
81 have to apologize for my delay
In coming" said John Mason gravely,
but the death of my father has pre-
. vented my attending to the matter
! before this. / find that Francois, my
chauffeur here, was the guilty man.
i He was using the machine without
permission and admits killing your
: fathers COW. l have come to settle
i the matter"
When the settlement was concluded
satisfactorily to the farmer and the
a motorist. Simon Bissell looked keenly
i at his daughter.
did you draw the charge out of
) my gun, Elida?" he asked.
q Yes. father-or, rather, I fred it
a YOU might have killed somebody. YOU
know"
Young man, you can thank my
:. daughter for saving your life," said
. Simon Bissell solemnly, Il had that
i gun loaded to kill and I've been in a
most unchristian frame of mind FOL
weeks. l guess I'll go in and have
little session of prayer-there's
some matters got to be cleared be
tween me and the Lord before I'll fee
. easy again." He shook hands with
John Mason and went inside.
= Il shall have to come again and
thank you for that, Miss Elida," ha
= whispered. leaning over the gate
= "May Gomez"
- There was such pleading in his eyer
= that Elida could only say YES" ant
that made her so supremely happ!
> that in spirit of contrition over he
unseemly iov she made a wreath q