The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-01-16


hand and IA wide smile reathing his
good natured countenance.
Philo Moore melted away into the
darkness while the newcomers eyes
embraced the familiar crowd with
friendly warmth. They gathered about
him and made his welcome one to be
remembered
There's an old friend Of yours here
sbouts. captain" grinned Sam Brown
after awhile Hi. there. Philo. step
forward here!'
"Phlo Moore. the most unscrupulous
to business" sputtered Captain Worth
as he peered into the surrounding dark
| ness
Hes gone" said a small boy and at
| that they all laughed and broke the
spell of i'll feeling that the mention Of
| pnio's name had engendered
The captain registered at the hotel.
| for his bachelor abode was still closely
shuttered and locked. and after he had
| partaken Of a supper and attended TO
the load of boxes which had followed
him down from the station. he made
careful toilet and went up to call on
his lady love.
Mrs. Ariana Wesley had wind of his
coming and was waiting for him In her
snu. little parlor The drum stove was
stuffed with apple tree logs and the
rear Of the blaze as it drew up the
chimney quite drowned the first tender
greetings of the reunited lovers
"It's my last voyage in those narts.
Ariana." said the captain rather re-
gre'fuly, Il reckon I'll just drop an
chor herea bouts, | expect I'll be under
your foot all the time
''Rut never in my way" beamed the
widow softly. and the captain squeezed
her plump hand approximately He
lifted the hand and looked Mt its pink
palm thonghtfully.
'I've got blamed sight of truck
slowed away for you. Ariana." he said
"All kinds of gewgaws to stick in your
hair rings for your fingers and slip
pers for your toes what?" He leaned
back and roared delightedly at his own
wit Then he sobered down and stared
so!emnly at the twinkling prisms on
the banging lamp Guess what I've
got for you in a camphor wood chest.
Ariana"
"Oh. | can't guess" sighed Ariana,
"What is 1t like. Benjamin."
Something that no woman in Little
n<oh I'D ,f.,iy
My gracious. but you'll take the wind
out Of their sails When you get on that
rigging!'
ITS something to wear" suggested
the widow.
Like as not" grinned the captain
happily. Never mind I'll send up
the chest tomorrow. and then you'll
see what you'll see."
You are the kindest man In the
world. Captain Ben said the widow
feelingly you've been real sweet
to me-
The captain blushed like beet. and
he went on hastily and somewhat in
cnherently: Yes ma'am. | said to my
self Mrs Ariana must have nothing
but the choicest in the market. and
when you see what's in that chest
you'll realize just how much Captain
Ben Worth thinks of you"
After the captain had left the wild
ow's abode aud was on his way back
to the hotel his mind became filed
with bitter thoughts of Philo Moore,
Blast his toplights!" he muttered an
grly as he stumped along. "I1l fix
him. When he opens the hos I've got
for him he'll wish he'd never monkey
ed with Benjamin WORTH
Captain Ben growled all the rest OF
the way to the hotel. AMI when he
was up in his room he dropped on his
knees before two small brass bound
chests made from aromatic camphor
wood and unfastened the straps tha,
carefully secured them.
He took bunch Of keys from his
pocket and fitted one to one of the
chests He threw back the lid and
disclosed quantity of tissue paper
Under this was roll after roll of rich
silk. fans. bracelets. ivory and jade
carvings, lacquer wood boxes and 9th
er Chinese wares. These treasures
would quite turn the head Of the pros
pective bride.
The lid snapped down and the chest
locked. Captain Ben opened the sec
ond one. this time carefully and will
what seemed to he elaborate caution
Indeed. he went through various ma
neuvers that would have excited tht
wonder and curiosity Of an onloOkel
had there been one.
AT length he closed the lid. locked l
and went to bed to sleep Soundiy th'
long night through Side by side II
the moonlight there stood the two lit
tie camphor wood chests. one fillet
with pretty things dear to Il woman
heart the other containing IL deatl
dealing force
One was Il gift for his sweetheart
F the other his revenge on Ph;lo Moore
IF 1t wasn't right and just for III
D to pay l'hilo back in this way tn
i Lord would have prevented me from
t getting the thing here" SO reasone'
Captain Ben as he dressed the follow
a ing morning. and he Stified his con
4 science with the recollection Of th
2 mean trick the miller had played o.
e him two years ago, He did not know
d that matters had not been going Phil
= Moore's way lately Perhaps it wa
0 the old mans crooked treatment q
e Captain Ben which shook public. conf
s tence in him Anyway. business fell o
from the mill. and people went Ion
n way around to the Brook mill r:lthe
t than trade with Philo Moore