The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-08-28
CHAPTER XII.
Locusts and Wild Honey.

SON of the old regime return
ing to New Chelsea after four
)ssssS years would have found vast
E$9l improvements wrought. Nor
was the prosperity thus attested mere
IL the crumbs from the table Of thriv-
ing Plumville. 1t was all New Chel-
seas own. and it had come by the ave
nue. of Stephen Hampden's specula-
ton, for the coal company. despite the
rules of the game, was a success for
all concerned. Already it was paying
dividends.
But great deal more than boom"
can happen in four years. That num-
ber of cycles saw William MurchelFs s
power shaken. totter and crash to the
earth. Most people credited this to
tine craft of Mark Sherrod. state treas
urer and the new minister, and his
able lieutenant. Governor Parrot.
Murchell would have placed the credit
or blame elsewhere. Had he had the
habit of discussing his mistakes he
would have added year to our calcu-
lation and said that the initial blow
had been struck at his power when on
a certain June day. in company with
Jim Shechan. he had sought to press
bright faced young man into his
service.
II it was your good fortune to be a
resident of New Chelsea at that time
YOU will remember how John Dun
meade appeared when he was thirty
fve-a grave. quiet man. looking older
than his years. as carelessly dressed as
men are apt to be who are dreaming
| of big things His hair was beginning
to thin Mt the temples. He walked
with a slight stoop and with less
spring-the long. slow stride of mar
who thinks much on his feet.
| He made it point. however un
happily his cause was progressing
never to seem downcast. You woult
leave him. probably thinking it Il pit!
that such an attractive man should
be so impractical and the object of 81
many bitter and powerful enmities. l
the truth must be told. New Chelse:
was more than little disappointed
in John Dunmeade.
His health was not always good
He had suffered serious illness dur
ing one winter and, between the dutie
of office. the cares of a growing pri
vate practice and the incessant labor
Of politics. his body had been sadl
overtaxed. He was still district al
torney, last trophy Of the reform wav
that had swept over the shattere
machine. Under the leadership q
Greene. an ex-gambler and former lier
tenant Of Sheehan. less obviously tn
brute and far shrewder than the d,
posed boss. the Plumville organizatio
had risen from its ashes. He had n
captured all the county Offices. exceT
when John. Il candidate for reelection
had won through personal popularit
and by scant margin.
Politics is hard taskmaster job
found poor compensation in the fa'
that he had become well know
throughout the state. The year aftt
the Benton county reform he had ioi
ed himself to the cause Of Judge Gra
an honest and capable lawyer wi
dared to ask the old party nomin
ton for governor against the organic
tion's choice. With the judge .Jol
made vigorous stumping campais
in every county of the state. He ":
new. he was enthusiastic. he was da
ing. People listened. Parrot was non
n mated easily according to the slate
a Judge Dunmeade was not nominal,
K to the supreme court that year: hen
the breach of lifelong friendship,