The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-10-12

walk across his field to whar Abe Full
The truth is, tuck no particular no.
| tice of EN-, an the distance was so
| great that | couldn't see Their faces
good nor hear what was said, but
| somehow it struck me at the time that
| they was havin' words.
| whether it was Their motions or
looks or what not l don't know, but,
anyways, l rememI er that the fust
thought that popped into my head aft
er Craig's mixup with Howard was
that Craig had quarreled with Abe an
that was one reason he was SO ready
to pounce on somebody else. But
didn't let the thing weigh much with
me at the time, fer, you see, was fol-
lowin' the other scent, but after that
failed tuck up tile other an tried to
see cf I could connect Abe with the
killin'.''
An did you-did you, that's the
question:" Abner's lower lip was quiv-
ering under tense suspense. His bushy
brows had met.
Il don't know, Uncle Alb; as God is
my final judge, don't" Pole return
ed, AN that's why I've come to you.
All could do was this: went by
Craig's field an seed that the fence
wasn't finished, but couldn't say that
meant anything, fer Craig was slow
pay, an no sensible person would keep
On workin' fer Il dead man without
KNOWN who was his boss, anyway"
NO. Of course not" Abner, agreed.
Was that alp
"No, not quite. l next set out to look
fer Abe. l seed i'm in bunch O.
loafers at the cotton compress. whar
jobs by the hour was give out fer
truckin' an loadin' an the like. l
knowed most of 'em. All the time Abe
set Oh bale O cotton whittlin' stick
an sayin' nothin. l noticed that he
wouldn't laugh much along with the
balance. but when | came to think of
it l couldn't remember ever SEEM the
cuss smile or pass q joke nohoW, an
SO, you see. I couldn't go by that.
studied i'm Il good hour. l got the
crowd to talk about the murder once
an 1 watched Abe, but couldn't no.
tice that he acted anyway different
from the rest. He jest set with his
feet crossed an the brim O his old hat
over his eyes an trimmed straight in
front of i'm
II see. see," Abner nodded. thought
fully.
Il set about in a sly. underhand way
among folks that had knowed Abe q
long time, to see eff he'd ever been il
any difficulties. Now, here comes the
only pint I've found worth considerin'
an l want yore opinion. Ten years
ago, when Abe lived over the noun
tain, he was arrested an tried fer as
sault on feller an put in Jail fer {
. year. The feller who he mighty nigi
killed owned little sawmill whar ABB
was workin', AN one day at log rollin
the saWmill man got mad at Abe fe1
some blunder or other an kicked in
like dog in the presence o all tn.
: rest. Now, watch close, Uncle Alb
, Witnesses said On oath at the trial tha
Abe tuck his kickin' without word
He rolled logs on the rest o the ia.
an drawed lis pay; but that night eyl
dence showed that he waylaid the saw
mill man, beat i'm over the head witt
a hickory club an left i'm unconscious
In the road
'It is sonle'n' anyway" Abner an
swered interestedly. Lets go yonder
have a chew and plan this thing fur
ther," Abner continued.
| One sultry evening at dusk, as Abne
| sat talking to Mary about Howard il
| the front yard, Abe Fulton trudge
| along past the gate, small bag 0
| -four On his shoulder. He did not lool
| toward them, but kept his eyes on til
| dusty road. Seeing that Mary wa
| looking at the man, Abner remarke,
| casually:
THAT feller looks like he is purt
hard UP. He had Il regular job work
in fer Craig, but that's all Off now. O
course
" I'm sorry for his wife," Mary. sal
It 'istlessly. II don't believe the poo
II creature gets enough to cat half tn
y time. and as for clothes. she is pitifr
t sight. I've heard that she is constant
IS complaining
e At this instant Mrs. TFumbley calle
9 Mary into the house. and Abner wa
t. left alone. Going to the gate. he looi
!. ed after the disappearing figure he ha
d just noted: then he glanced back int
II the house. Might as we'll now a
= later" he mused. Thine is vaiuabl,
r. an' after all Pole may be away Off th
W track. Twenty men could "a done til
:, thing as well as this un.' -
:, Taking a cautious look into th
:, house, Abner slipped around the CO..
% ner and went down the path to th
:, stable. Opening the door of a sta
containing his favorite horse, he too
:, the animal by the forelock and led
u across the lot to gate, which b
: opened. Then. raising his hand
threateningly. he drove the hors
through. watching it as it galloped o
into the woods. Then going to y wa!
Oh shed near by Abner took a brid
from a row of saddles and halters, an
& with it on his arm he passed throus
the gate and started down the roat
the leather reins dragging in the dus
ut his side Half mile farther on L
| turned aside into the wood and Wake
through the twilight till he saw
gleam Of fire through the trees an
knew it was from the cabin occupie
by Abe Fulton and his wife. Here Al
ner began to walk more slowly. and {
he moved toward the light lie whistle