The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1914-11-05
titled in doing 1t yourself. 1t might
be the saving of life.''

"a burglars. probably" said Margie.
Yet when her mother had gone and
the ardor of argument had passed all
these depressing views presented them
selves afresh to Margie They were
all very familiar, but they gathered
vividness from anothers fears. She
sat down on the edge of the bed and
shiyered.
She saw Alonzo prone and still. bis
white face blood spattered-blood on
his clothes-blood on the floor.
''Oh, dear! l suppose this is what
people call nerves. They seem to be
very unpleasant"
She lifted the corner OF the mattress
and took out the revolver Yet I'm
not bid afraid of it now. It's the idea
of night and burglars and sleep walk.
ing all together that bothers me-
Mechanically she pressed the cylin.
der catch and the cartridges presented
she sat staring down at them: then she
raised her head quickly with purpose.
full light in her eyes.
CHANGING ut the clock and assuring
herself that Alonzo would not be home
for an hour. she pinned her daisy hat
resolutely on to her curly head and ran
down the front steps and up the street
At dinner she chartered with re-
lieved gayety which she had not known
for weeks. But underneath it. after
all, was a vague feeling of compunc-
ton and uneasiness. and all her high
spirits sank hopelessly with u great
thump of her heart when Alonzo said:
Il guess was about right in getting
that revolver Knowles saw a dubious
looking character prowling around his
place last night" Knowles lived three
doors away.
1t was only after several hours OF
wide eyed tossing that Margie fell
asleep that night She seemed just to
have dozed off. when all at once she
found herself sitting bolt upright in
bed, her heart beating to suffocation.
Without Knowing what had aroused
her, she put out her hand instinctively
The place beside her was empty. With
fresh spasm Of fear she felt for the
revolver. 1t was gone.
She was out of bed in an instant
Selling bathrobe from the closet
she fastened it with bungling fingers
as she sped out into the hall and down
the stairs
What have done? Oh. what have
l done|' she kept repeating to herself
"He will be killed. and ! shall be his
murderer
She gained the front hall and fun
bied for the electric light button.
Sounds of stealthy stirring reached
her out Of the darkness Then a sud
den rush and heavy fall. with {;
jangling accompaniment. were follow
ed by sharp struggle. punctuated by
the crack of Il revolver. There was q
groan and the lessening tread of foot
steps in retreat
To Margie it seemed minutes before
she found the electric button. and the
light flooded the parlor ~and overflow
ed into the dining room adjoining
Shielding her dazzled eyes with one
hand, she hurried into the room
whence the sounds had issued
On the floor between the sideboard
and the table lay Alonzo in the midst
of scattered Silverware. His eyes were
closed. every breath went out with q
moan. Margie knelt beside him among
the silver heaps.
"AlonZo! Speak. dearr' she whisper
ed hoarsely
She laid her hand upon his forehead
to brush back the disordered hair, and
+ drew it away shnddering from the
slippery warmth that bathed It. She
| swayetl as she saw her blood stained
fingers. but with stiffened muscles she
fought off the faintness and bent over
him again
Dearest, where are you hurt? Tel
| me-
He shock his head feebiy. but there
was convulSiye movement of the
hand pressed against his breast. She
| lifted the inert weight Of his arm. Un
| derneath round hole, scorched at til.
| edge. showed even in the half light
81 have killed him. she said tone
iessly; and now she had no strength t.
struggle against the surging blackness
that swallowed her.
Presently voices and moving figures
| made their way to her senses. always
with that undercurrcnt Of the heavy
breathing that was half groan.
''The doctor ought to be here by
now"
THE doctor won't be much use. Tn
| Thinking" was the answer.
Likely not. but we amt got no right
| to move him. aud he lies Uneasy on thai
silver truck"
Margie sat up uncertainty on one oil
the chairs that formed her improvised
| couch and clutched the sides Of tht
seat to steady herself
Tell me-you are used to seeing peo
pie wounded does he seem to you SC
| badly hurt?" she besought them look
| ing piteously from one to the other.
The second voice broke the silence
| which followed her question.
Now. lady. don't you worry one bit
The doctor II be here in a minute. ani
he'll tell you just how 1t Is.
"Oh. then you think he'll die!" Mar
| gle walled.
| Just then an inarticulate sound from
the figure on the floor brought Margit
to her knees at his side. but no answer
came to her tender questionings Sh,
looked up despairingly at last.