The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-11-02
Kenny's fingers itched for the feel OF

in the little arena as a judge looks |
down from the bench, the man with |
the moose about his neck turned an
appealing helpless. whitening face.
and his lips moved. But no sound es
capped them.
The silence was that Of the hills and
Of death
1t was broken by q football inside
the saloon, and from behind Bill John
appeared a woman, little more than
girl. She was Frisco's daughter Katie.
who, attracted by the crowd, had come
from the kitchen which was set apart
Il little way in the rear.
For one second she surveyed the
scene through eyes red with weeping:
thes she stepped into the semicircle of
meil.
Kenny. the rope about his neck. went
whittier at sight of her and trembled.
afraid Of the woman for love Of whom
be had gone to his ruin.
But how he had loved her! II he
might know that she even now still
cared one little bit lie could go to his
doom and die like man.
Times up," announced Bill john
swapping the case of his watch.
Wait"
Something in the girls voice as she
spoke-somethins Kenny least Of all
had expected and which he could not
define--caused him to lift his head.
Would she taunt him for killing her
lover. he who had known the way to
wonan's heart, now that he was go.
Ing to his own death?
He tried to kill me-" he pleaded. II
cannot make them believe me. but l
had to do it,
THAT is what l have come to tell
you," answered the girl. addressing
the men who formed the semicircle
Il saw it all. | was riding on the up,
per trail, and l saw it He killed him
in self defense.'
Kenny looked at the girl unbeliev-
ingly, She whose lover he had shot
down. whose scorn be had expected.
she had come at the crisis to save his
neck, They must believe her.
In spite of the hemp rope. he threw
back his head and laughed boldly in
triumph, for he had cheated the death
| that moment before lowered over
him. and In life there would now be
no handsome, hated Blick to win away
the girls heart from him.
| Bill John Mickle from the doorway
was speaking.
Kenny" be said, "she has saved
your worthless hide. but you've had a
narrow escape. Let this be Il lesson to
you. We can't hang you now, but this
community don't need your kind, and
you got to go. Before sundown-un-
derstand?"
Unblushing and defiant, the girl who
had drawn nearer to the man she had
saved. as though to further protect him
from the rest. turned upon Bill John
If he goes. then go too.' she threat
ened, knowing full we'll that every man
in camp was dependent upon her. the
only woman within forty miles.
Kenny, who was Il man OF action,
lost no time marveling at Katie's un-
expected words. He heard. and a
proud advantage over these rugged. 81
lent men swelled within him. At the
instant he regained all the bold def
ance of his nature.
Let US co." he said to her.
Il am ready"
The men who had formed the semi
circle were silent and still no longer
They gathered round Bill John and
Frisco and voiced their protest against
the girls going. 1t was unanimous
Il guess you can stay. Kenny.
Reversing his former decision with
these words, Bill John walked away
and Katie. laughing In the pride of bel
victory, ran back to her kitchen behind
Frisco's saloon. She felt certain that
Kenny would come to her there pres,
emily.
Three hours later when the men wht
had formed the semlcircle were back
up In the hills and Frisco dozed I'm 4
corner of his saloon and the mining
camp was lifeless and still. the mar
sought the woman who had saved hi:
life
For more than an hour he had beeI
cursing himself for blind fool whil'
he lay outstretched upon the bunk II
his shack at the foot of the bills
ANY one else. he told himself. wouit
have known that the girl had love;
him all the while and that, like wo
man, she had only pretended Rlick hat
won her away from him.
But, even though she loved him ant
; had loved him while he had not know
it, Kenny felt that he owed her
great debt for what she had done
= She had saved his life. He owed he
that at the very least.
:, He resolved then that he would dc
:, vote it to her happiness and thought
little of Hending his ways. He woul
;, make it all up to her.
. At the kitchen he found her Sb
!. was wiring the dishes when he came
y and, resting his elbows on the roug
window sill. he thrust his head an
:, shoulders inside.
= katie. that was q mighty big thin
i you done for me today" he said sin
= fly ..
;, The girl dried her hands and cam
and stood beside the window.
"You saved my life. girl" the ma
went on ''Why did you tell 'em 20
, saw me-saw 1t all:"
;, Ru, still the girl answered nothing
Was il because you love me. Katie!
Afser little hesitating moment tn