The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1913-05-08
THE ROOT OF EVIL
Continued from Page One.


"Name it.
"That from this hour you be your
old self without restraint and let me
be mine"
81 promise faithfully"
.sThen you can help me down that
steep companionway and I'll go t"
bed. Good night"
But he didn't spend good night.
The longer he thought OF It the more
sinister and dangerous he felt his 20
sition. At last he squareiy faced the
fact that his desire for Nan had III
creased 4 hundretlfold by the fact that
he had lost her.
AS lie sat in the darkness In his
statcroom he could hear every s'uho
in the adjoining one which she occ''t
pied as plainly rs II the thin panel
ling of wood were not between them
He was n fool to be caught In such
a tran. His love had been too big ana
| serious tragedy to end in vulgar III
| tricue. He made up his mind to cu'
his trim short on some pretcxt. ana III
the meantime he would devote himself
| faithfully to an attempt to start b'sehS
on the road to recovery.
At 3 o'clock the next morning the
black nose Of the Rnccancer slowly
felt her way into Hog Island inlet. on
the shores of old Virginia. and drop
nee! her anchor in the deep waters OF
the channel back of the sand spit
An Stuart stepped on deck cloud
Of black ducks circled gracefully over
head and slowly spread out on their
feeding grounds. His heart gave
throb Of primitive JOY. He was boy
again and the world was young.
"Confound themr' he cried. I'M
show these ducks trick or two DE-
fore this trip is over
i lie was glad he came. Rtvens had
nut him in command OF the little
schooner and he gave orders ut once
) to lower n tender and tow her to an
old anchorage lie knew In little cove
behind Gull marsh. And then his
) trouble began with Bivens.
let 'em fly If they want to: I'm not
going to bulge. Go yourself. Jim"
"Go myself! What do you suppose
\ | gave up my work and came down
: here n month for? ! came to try to
!: teach you how to live. you fool. and
. I'm not goisg without you. Get into
!: your toys. The guides are here and
ready. The tide waits for no man.
not even a millionaire; it's ebbing
now"
"Well let It ebb. don't want to
! stop it!' the sick man snarled.
Nan came in. pressed Stuarts hand
: as she passed. nodded good morning
and Joined her voice to Stuarts.
"Come: you must go. Cal. It's a
glorious day"
The doctor slipped in a word too.
by all means. Mr.. Bivens. get your
: hand in the first day"
Bivens lifted himself to q half sit
ting posture. glared at his physician
and yelled with fury:
Get out-all Of you-and let me
aloner'
The doctor and Nan left on tip toe,
but Stuart folded his arms and i"pketi
at Bivens.
"Oh, come now, this is too ridicu
lous, quarrel the first day Of our
shooting. But you'll have to get one
thing fixed in your head once for all;
you don't run the entire world. The
y telephone. telegraph and mail service
have been suspended. The Bnccanecr
n has put to sea for New York. You're
on little eighty-foot schooner
G anchored in q bay ten miles wide and
! hundred miles long and I'm In com
h mand won't stand any nonsense
n from you. Come down of yonr
$ perch. quick!'
y Bivens started to swear, caught the
expression Of Stuart's face and sud
n denly extended his hand.
I'm sorry. Jim: you must not mind
: my foolishness 1t was awfully nice O'
r you to come. I'll stay in today. but
$ you 20 and get some ducks for din
: ner. like good boy. and say-take
:. Nan along and teach her to shoot
g It's getting to be the rage among the
y high flyers for the women to shoot"
"Plcase do, Jimr' Nan cried from
y the door. She had listened outside t
g the duel in the 'staterOom.
y IAN right" he answered.
l. For FIVE days Bivens stuck to hi:
bed with logged determination. anf
J" each day Stuart went out with Nan
:" Never had she been more resiStlessl!
le charming Each day their assoeia
is ton grew in tender intimacy AM
'e every fear that had stirred his hear
= ut first was lulled at last to sleep.
.. On the sixth day Bivens rose earl.
le and declared that he would try III
q ducks The barometer was falling, an
" dark, snowy looking clouds were pilin
le up OH the western horizon. A brecz
J" came stealing out of the cloud bank
y with the chill Of snow in its breath.
III Bivens insisted on going out Mt once
N against the advice and the protest q
's the guide. He not only insisted on &c
u ing after the ducks, but, What wa
:. worse, sworc that he was going to sc
: his mail and kilograms from the shor'
:, Stuart protested vigorously.
- 1--WE told you that the guide Is tn
IA only man who can run that tender owe
liz the crooked course to the mainlan,
and if he goes away we'll have no on
- to take us out"
20 What do you need guide for7 1t
:. not half mile to those blinds. ~
- seen you every day go back and fort
- in plain view Of the yacht Nan coul
49, row out there and back by hcrsel
- Send him ashore. Don't yon know no
e to put out your own decoys:"