The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-01-14

got a good reason for getting to the
end Of it. This trail leads nowhere
but to my shack. and We'll sure find
our man there"
Ten minutes later. when we came in
sight of November's home. we were
aware of n big man sitting On log
smoking his pipe beside the door. He
was middle aged. with a hard face.
and there was more gray in his russell
beard than his age warranted. AS soon
as we appeared he leaped up and came
across the open to meet US.
''Blackmask is at it again. he cried
saw IL gleam of anticipation. If not
Of pleasure. cross November's face. He
turned to me.
This is Mr. Close. manager of the
River Star Pulp company's Camp c."
he said I'D like to make you known
to Mr. Quaritch. Mr. Close" This
courtesy concluded. he added In his
deliberate tones. Whats Blackmask
done Dow?'
Hes ut his old tricks! But this year
we'll lay him by the heels. or my
| names not Joshua Close" The speak
er looked up. and. seeing my puzzled
expression. addressed himself to me.
| Last year there were five separate
robberies committed on the road be
tween Camp c and the settlement" be
explained. Each time it was just u
single lumbcriack who got held up.
and each time a man in black mask
was the robber. November here was
away"
up in Wyoming with Philadel
phia lawyer after elk" supplemented
the tall young wocdsman-
1.-The police failed ~ make any ar
rest. though once they we're on the
ground within four hours CT the hold
up." went ON Close. But al: that Is
ancient history 1t is what happened
to Dan Michaels last night that
brought me here at seven miles ar
hour Dan has been working for pret
ty nigh three months stretch. ant
the day before yesterday he came into
the Office and told me his mother wa:
|
funeral He had a good big roll Of
bills due. and | could see he meant Il
blow them. so paid him and told hin
I'd try to keep job warm for him til
he came back from the funeral
gave him ten days to get through will
his spree Something I'd said annoyed
him. and after telling the cook hi
opinion Of me and saying he wouldn'
sleep another night in camp where
was boss he legged out for the settle
ment"
by himseif?"
Yes. alone Next morning. brigh
and early. he was back again. and thi
was the yarn he slung me- He'd mad
about eight miles when it came o.
darkish. and he decided to camp jus
beyond where we did the most Of on
timber cut last year He slept at ono
and remembers nothing more until b
was started awake by voice shoutin
at him He sat up blinking. but th
talk he heard soon fetched his eye
open,
Hands up and no foolingr
"Of course be put up his hand!
He'd no choice. for he couldn't see an
,, one. Then another man who was
the bushes behind his back ordere
him to haul out his bundle of note
: | and chuck them to the far side Of til
fire or take the consequences Da
saw a revolver barrel gleam in til
bush He cursed a bit. but the thievt
: had the drop on him. so he just had
out with his wad Of notes and heay
them over as he was told 4 birch 10
in the fire flared up at the minute, an
; as the notes touched the ground /
saw a chap in black mask step OF
end pick them up and then jump bat
j, into the dark Then the voice tn;
: spoke first gave him the hint not
= move for two hours or he'd be sh
like dog He sat out the two hou
: by his watch without hearing sou
J. and then came back to C.
when the boys got all the fat
s the whole camp was nigh as mad
II lie was. They put up $50 rewa
le for any one giving information tt
d will lead to catching the robbers. IA
le added another hundred for the co
IS pany. So now, Joe. If you can cl