The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-03-30

could stand no more, popped from be-
tween their peripheries like the inside
Of a grape, landing in the solar plexus
Of Il tired Hibernian. who had endured
more than enough. +
Get out of my stomach, stockhold-
er," he grutily ordered and pushed lit
tie Henry's derby tightly down over
his ears just as another machine drew
out of the fretting rearWard line and,
stopped by the ragged gutter, rested
abreast of Marley's machine. The con-
ductor having restored the lights, the
attention of the uncomfortable passen-
gers was now directedsto the new
conner, a heavy joWled man Of middle
age, who sat as stolidls in his run
about by the side of his driver as if
he had been at home dining.
ITS Sledge," said the man with the
frayed cigar. He gets -his little old
rakeoff, too, from jamming sixty people
into forty passenger car While he's
running the town this rotten old line
won't have any competition"
Mr.. Sledge is good. customer of
mine," observed the fat butcher
There's one thing about Ben Sledge
he always keeps some big city i'm
! proyement going on announced the
Irishman who had eXtinguished little
Henry Peters.
Little Henry pulled his derby audi
bly, off his head and rubbed the red
circle it had left. D
Mr. sledge is the workingman's
friend" he declared.
"Aw, shut up!'' ordered the gaunt
Celtic laborer and kicked his ankle by
way of accidental emphasis,
1t was strange that, while everybody
on the car kept the name of Frank
Marley sacred to their hatred, the name
Of Sledge, who was ,notoT.onss through
out the United States for his utterly
conscienceless methods Of public theft,
was received with eguanimity.
Meanwhile Sledge, turning to see
who his neighbors might be, met the
eye of Frank Marley and nodded per-
| functorily and then bent his entire at
| tention on Molly, gazing at her in stol-
| id concentration. with no more change
| Of expression on lis heavy features
| than if he had been reading time;
| table. Bert Glider noticed his rude
ness and tried in mood Of intense
aggrayation to catch Sledge's eye and
| reproye him with a savage frown, but
| he might as we'll have tried to catch
the eye Of an oyster. Sledge, perfect
Iy contented with the pleasing picture
| which sat before him, continued to
stare calmly until Molly, discerning
| from BeTts countenance that some
| thing was wrong. turned to meet the
| small gray eyes OF Sledge fixed thought
| fully upon her. She wheeled abruptly
to hcr father.
isn't that the scandalous Sledge?"
she asked, annoyed and still amused
Her father nodded his head and
smiled, his nose becoming still more
pointed in the process.
"'IelI, Introduce him. | can make
him stop staring, them" she ordered.
He can't drive on
Il say, Sledge.' called Marley, lean
ing forward. This is my daughter.
Molly"
Sl2;ige tugged at his hat and smiled
his acknowledgment of the introduc-
ton.
Glad to meet YOU" be told Molly
Il didn't know you had such a fine
looking girl Marley. She's a corker,'
and once more he viewed Miss Molly
| with quiet appreciation. In which there
was a dawning glimmer of quite I'M
Sledge-like enthusiasm.
II think so myself" laughed Marley.
First thing know she'll be getting
married"
"surer' agreed sledge, contemplat,
ing her earnestly in this new light.
I'D marry her myself.
The street car ahead gave 4 forward
lurch. and the hamingly indignant
Molly darted into the opening.
The ugly brute" she gasped.
+
There arrived on the morning train
escorted to the platform by distinct
ly WorsLipful porter, tall, big boned
gentleman in light gray suit of fine
texture, a plump, careless man tc
whom one would instinctively turn foi
q tediously funny story, and a hard
jawed man Of a most forbidding ex'
preston, who looked about as commu
nicative as cabbage. This gentle
man loafed about the hotel with his
mouth shut, while the other two
secuted" Promptly at II o'clock they
returned from their various directions
md gathered in the room of the smil
ing tall one in the gray suit.
We'll. Timbers. Is it rs cheerful a:
we thought?" asked the host, settling
himself in the most comfortable chair
"Looks gay ard merry to me, Boz
zam," replied Mr.. Tinabers. folding hi
hands on his fat knee and froWnin!
intentiE ut a little slip of paper he hell
between his thumb and forefnger
"Sledge is, OF course, the whole works.
WHATS the approach to sledge:"
tom Rendix." returned Timber: