The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-07-17

line.
Il Sec" said John thoughtfully. His
brow wrinkled in Il troubled fashion as
hr s:,zed refectively out at the clerks
swcltering behind the cage Hampden
aud Warren waited patiently for his
answer.
At last he raised his eyes to Hamp
denis. I'm sorry. but can't do it."
why not?" Hammlen demanded.
This fellow CransIlawe happens to
he II good deal Of Il man. He and his
neishbors are clients of mine in Il small
way and friends also. think They
do me the honor to trust me IShonIdn't
care to advise them in this matter"
why not:" IIampdcn demanded
again.
Let us say" John smiled that
am in politics and don't want to com
plicate my vote getting"
'rllat isn't your reHSon-'
Well John said regretfuIly. .'if
you will have it. it isn't Il proposition
that can conscicntiously recommend,
''You impeach my honestly:
Il do not go so far. sir Honesty is Il
matter Of intent. think | understand
yo,r lmiut of view that you will con
vert their idle coal. as you say. into an
income property and by starting new
industry will indirectly benefit the
whole valley. which is probably true.
But the point is that the coal. the one
Indispensable element in the situation.
is theirs, and in return for it they
should mt least have control"
"Thc coal has always been there
| We furnish the initiative and the
| brains and the money to make it use
| full"
II see that. too. But don't you think
initiative of this sort is sometimes-er
-overcapitaliZed?
"Do You know Of any capital that
will offer better terms than do?"
II do not" John confessed. And it
strikes me-" he added gravely, that
you are taking advantage Of that fact
to gouge'-the word slipped out: he
corrected himself hastily-"to drive Il
close larg:lin with the farmers"
Hampden abruptly Strengthened M
In his chair "Yon may stick tn
.gonge.' Do understand that you re
fuse the job?'
II have been trying to explain my
reasons
I'm not deeply concerned with your
reasons" Hampden remarked shortly
| n md ,f.,1
ly began to peruse it. Observing that
John did not at once take the hint. he
looked up. nodding carelessly. "Oh
Good morningr"
John rose flushed under the curt dis
missai and went out of the hank.
Il told you So" Warren said
Cant you say anything more origi
nal than that?" Hampdcn exclaimed
imImticntly. Warren couldn't. so bt
held his peace.
What Id like to know" Hampdel
added re1ectively. dropping the docu
ment lis why Murchell let him b
nominated A young lawyer who re
fuses a big fee for sentimental reasons
. has 10 place in Murchell's machine.
He was talking to himself rather thai
to Warren.
But this was attacking what had a
most attained the sanctity of q trad
ton. an institution proudly cherishe
by New Chelsea! "Murcheli is a smar
man, Warren was moved to protest
land he likes Dunmeade. And u,ayt
John is smart enough to guess tina
the stock may be worth nothing ever
tually."
Hampden looked at him sharply, h
Warlyn's face was as exp,rssion!es
as that of the soldiers monument.
"Well," tho capitalist remarked philt
sophically. Its Mnrchelrs hnsines
not mine.'
That evening Katherine was to t
found on the terrace. She was lookin
particularly well. n fact OF which ST
was not altogether unconscious. r,
sh. was restless and wandered ain
lessiy into the library where she foun
her father busy ut his desk on whic
lay profusion of papers and blu
prints. He nodded abstractedly.
"Still ut work. dad? Don't yon pv'
get tired of it,"
II guess it's the only thing ! kno
how to do. My generation was new
taught to take pleasure seriously. "
needn't complain, though" lie lean'
back in his chair and surveyed her a
provillyly Where are the SwainS?"
! She yawned. "Fhere seems to ha
been devastating epidemic. You "
kindly proceed to amuse me"
I. "All this gorgcousness wasted!'
I She yawned again Il was rath
looking for John Dunmeade this eve
n ing"
y. "'Hence that gown and that stnnni
s, pew arrangement Of the hair; You
q not going to fall in love with an inco
TO petent one horse country iawyer. |:
;" yop:"
ee 1T Is not beyond the bounds of p'
J. sihility." she laughed. but is John
Incompetent? don't believe it,
HE is He proved il today ca
"a him the chance to make some mOn'
more than he is likely to make in fl
ne wears. and he turned it down-for sci
es mental reasons. And the worse of
i" = he didn't turn it down recrrtfl,l
" but bIuntly. quite as though it did
matter That sort Uf man won't
/" far"
he 'He told me once that he didn't e:
ey much for money. ! thought theh
wasn't posing"
se sand" Hampden continued the
w dictment. "he virtually called me
NO crook,