The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-09-18

left, came the news that the opposition |
had freed itself and that Jerry Brent |
would control its convention, whicn
meant that be would be nominated for
| governor And this was matter for
| grave concern. Until nearly morning
the leaders discussed candidates. The
tenor of their conversation seemed to
indicate that Wash jenkins was not
assured of the Murchell support. Nor
did he seem unduly resentful because
of this fact. Wash was Il model re-
tainer. humbly willing to take what he
could get.
1t was in the course of this discus
sion that Senator Murchell said. IF
John Dunmeade weren't such a stub
born fool he would be just the man to
meet Brent with" He spoke ansriIy.
The others gave respectful if surprised
assent
In the financial district of the Steel
City was no June day relaxation. In
the exchange was bowling, frenzied
mob struggling desperately to speed
advancing fortune or to retain that.
which was vanishing in the Alabama
iron and Coal squeeze
A g!utton by methods that would
have done credit to the robher barons
had raped the treasure developed by
weaker brethren. And now greater
baronS. more gllittonouS. springing up0u
him in an unguarded moment by like
methods were tearing the spoils from
his grasp. But no one saw a joke.
Before it could end two great banking
houses would be bankrupt. ut least one
daring. arrogant SpecuatOr sensation
ally ruined and thousand little greedy
ones made peuliless
The mad scramble rose to a climax.
In his Office the man who was the
storm center stood over the ticker.
He had struggled. with the unthinking
vulor torn of desperation. against the
| unwavering, relentless attacks made
upon him They had forced him back
farther and still farther back to his
inner lines of defense. into the last
ditch Driven out of that he had
made a last vain stand. Now he
awaited the slaughter He giared fix
elly at the tape in his hand
, Suddenly the 6Xity broke up in an
insane helpless rage that demanded
, physical expression From his twist
, ed mouth came an inartcnlate. wolfish
, cry With convuIsive jerk he snap
ped off the tape-kicked the ticker un-
til 1t fell with crash. A clerk in
the outer Office heard the noise and
, rushed in. Immediately. frightened
by what he saw. he withdrew, closing
the door behind him
Stephen Hampden was not good to
look upon as he rushed up and down
the room. striking and kicking at the
:, objects in his way. His face was pur'
: pie convulsed He poured out unin-
:. teiligible imprecations on the "curs, y
-. the crooks" the TRAITORS who had
= broken him He had no Thought f1i
those upon whom he in his turn had
; fallen. He was obsessed by the pas
= sion of his defeat.
The paroxysm spent itself. He fluna
himself, painting and still glaring, into
chair. The telephone rang. He
paid no attention to it.
The clerk, trembling. opened the
. door. You're wanted on the long dis
tance, Mr. Hampden. It's
Il won't talk to them!' Hampder
), snarled back.
: The clerk withdrew. then reappear
- ed BEG pardon. Mr.. Hampden." HI
insisted timidly, but it's Mr.. Blake
-. of New Chelsea. He says he mus
:, talk to you.'
. "All right" Hampden caught III
- the telephone. He waited until tn
- click told him that the clerks receive
=. had been hung up. then snapped: "Th
- y is Hampden. What do you want"
y, The precaution was unnecessary
=, The message was strangely worded
a 1t would have meant nothing to al
- outsider. But Hampden had the key.
=, He hung up the receiver. And for
-, moment he allowed himself to b
x beaten down. Fear before a danger II
- Cured in the heat of battle and nov
become imminent. terrible. through tn
folly of another. ousted rage Mer
defeat. bankruptcy. paled before TN
new penalty which he must pay An
fear steadied him. cleared his bratl
He wasted no time in futile regrets
I His mind darted hither and thithe
swift and calculating. pondering an
rejecting hundred avenues Of escaT
| from the peril which must be averte
before he could set out to reconp h
losses There was no thought OF sa'
1 1.Iv1 or1x iYpc
n Late in the day he went QUITO be
the mercy he had never shown.
i Katherine Hampden was alone tn;
4 evening She was often alone now
| days. but not entirely because. as ST
! had told John Dunmeade. she h;
been assigned berth on the shelf r
| served for unmarrageable female
I There were many men who would ha'
gladly undertaken to relieve her so
tude. But these found her extreme
unapproachable. Those whom 81
| would have welcomed most gladly III
least time for dallance in drawn
: rooms.
: The truth was, she was dsappolnte
: Mature perception. qnickencd by
: glimpse OF different ideal of life. HI
seen beyond the false setting or
nance behind which men seek to hi
the ugliness of the greedy. unscruT
lons scramble for gold. She would ha
:, married Gregg had it not been for t
m, fact that the acid of his calling
etching more and more clearly mp
aei his frank, clean exterior picture
90 what lay within. As it was. she
an Govt him .v.v