The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-12-09

overcome the helpless wretch should
lie cling to his riches
AS Red Feather skinned the water
With long sweeps of his oars, never
looking back. the voices of his passen-
gers canle to his ears without meaning
He WIS thinking of the last few days
| and how this mornings ride was their
fitting sequel. The early sunDeams
were full on him as he tilted back his
head. but they showed no emotion ON
| his face, hard set and DULY red in the
clear radiance.
Crouching near the summer house at
Gledware's place. he had overheard
Red kimball boast to bring Gledware
| the pearl and onyx pin. Then had shot
| through his darkened mind the stlspi
rion that GledwIre meant to escape the
une condition on which his life was TO
| be spared. With simple cunning be
had left the pin where the outlaw must
| lind it. His own death would be taken
for granted. What then:
What then? This ride in the boat.
Gledware had made his choice; he had
elung to his possessions. and now
Death held the oars. He was scarcely
past middle age. He might have lived
SO long. he who so loved to live. But.
no. he had chosen to be rich-;,nd to
die.
| When Red Feather brought his mind
back to the present Gledware was de
| t0 \ ttnt h in
MIA for which he had traded the house
near independence. He would take her
far away: he would build Il house thus
and thus-rooms so. terraces here. mar
BILE pillars.
| AnnabeI listened gravely, silently.
her face all the paler for the sunlight
flashing over it. for the mimic sun on
the waves glancing up into her pensive
eyes. Somehow the sunshine. the rip
pie of the water seemed to form no
part of her life, belonged, rather. to
Edgerton Compton, rowing in solitude
against the sky. Those naked trees.
bare brown hills and ledges Of huge
stones seemed her world boundaries.
kin to her. claiming her But there
was California and the splendid house
to be built.
The Indian was listening now. but as
presented no change came in his grim.
deep lined face. He simply knew it
was not to be. Let the fool plan.
Beautiful one" he heard Gledware
say. speaking in an altered tone. "all
that is in the future-but see what
have brought you. This is for today.
It's yours. dear. Let me see it around
your neck with the sun full upon it.
Red Feather turned his head. curl
ously.
Gledware held outstretched mag
niticent diamond necklace which shot
forth dazzling rays as it swung from
his eager fingers.
Annabel uttered smothered cry Of
delight AS the iridescence filed her
eyes. She looked across the water to-
ward the pagoda shaped clubhouse.
where her mother stood, family de-
fined as a speck Of white against the
green wall shingles of the piazza. 1t
|
steady her nerves. Edgerton was for
gotten. She reached ont her hand.
And then. perplexed at the necklace. be-
ing suddenly withdra wn. she looked
up. She caught glimpse of Gled-
wares face and her blood turned cold.
That face was frozen in horror. At
the turning of the boatman's head he
had instantly recognized under the
huge brimmed hat. the face of his en-
emy as if brought back from the grave.
Gledware ceased breathing. then bis
form quivered with a sudden thrush of
breath as of Il man emerging from div
ing. His eyes rolled in his head as he
turned about scanning the shore. glar-
| ing ut Edgerton's distant boat. Why
, had be come unarmed? How could he
, have put faith in Red KimbalPs as
, surances? He tortured his brain for
some gleam of hope.
, This is all | have" be shrieked. rs
| if the Indians foot was already upon
Z his neck This is all have" He
flung the necklace into the wafer. III
, was q lie about the California ranch
, It's lie about all my property. I've
got nothing. Annabel. sold the last
bit to get you the necklace. but
shouldn't have done that. Now il:
gone | have nothing."
The Indian rose slowly. The oar:
q slipped down and toated away in thu
I flashing stream of the suns rays.
). Annabel, realizing that the Indian
= despite his impassive countenance
q threatened some horrible catastrophe
. started up with scream. EdgeitoI
, had already turned toward them
2 alarmed at sound of Gledware's terror
| He bent to the oars. comprehendin!
; only that Annabel was in danger.
= "EGgerton." she shrseked b'indly
r "Edgerton! Edgerton! Edgerton!
r Gledware crouched at her feet. cry
e ing beseechingIy: Il swear hay
e nothing-nothing. sold everything
/ gave it away-left it-nothing i'll all tE
+ world! I'm willing to beg. to starve
= don't want to own anything. | onl
|. want to ive-to live-my God. t
+ live
r Red Feather did not utter WORD
d but with the stealthy lightness an
d Iitheness of a panther he stepped owe
the seat and moved toward Giedwar'
Il Then Gledware, pushed to the las
G extremity. despairing Of the interpos
e ton of some miraculous chance. wa
d forced back upon himself. With tn
n vision of an inherent coward he sa,
+ all chances against him. But wit
d the desperation of maddened soul b
y | threw himself uDou the defensive.