The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-10-26

and approach. 1t was Pole Baker.
Don't fly off the handle, Uncle Alb,
Pole said, half apologetically. Il give
you my word amt interferin' with
you in this thing at all."
well, what do you mean by turnin'
up so dang often?' Abner inquired.
Seems to me that never see this fel
Ter without runnin' on you like Il
| pinter dog squattin' behind stump
| some'r's."
Its this way, Uncle Alb" Pole laugh
ed softly. Il know you are runnin'
this thing, an don't intend to bother
you in the least, but I'm feelin' SO bad
over the little progress that's made
hawk | mought by some accident
drap on to little some'n' that mought
hep you out"
well, have you-that's what Id like
to knowT Abner leaned on the fence.
picture of utter detection.
"I've seed enough to know that Abe
Is as restless as the devil hisse'f goin
about seekin' some'n' to devour. I've
seed i'm dozen times when he
thought nobody was lookin'. For one
thing, | noticed that he goes regular
every day down in the big swamp be-
low his cabin. He's wore q little path
O his own in the weeds an grass. An
t'other day, when knowed he was off
In town, l slipped down thar. But |
didn't find nothin', Uncle Alb, except
that his tracks come to a end at a
particular spot in the thickest part O.
the swamp. l couldn't make nothin'
Of it except that he jest loved to go to
some one quiet spot"
II see, an so that come to nothln'." !"
Abner sighed.
Il actually don't know" Pole return
ed, but it give me an idea. l knowed
could kiver my tracks. an so day be-
fore yesterday l went down thar be
fore he did an hid myself as nigh the
spot as l could with safety. l lay
down fat in the bulrushes an waited
fer him to come. 1t was long wait
an not pleasant, fer the gnats an mos,
quitoes fairly chawed the meat off my
bones, but after awhile heard i'm
a-comin'. The spot was mighty shady
an l couldn't see his face good, but
heard i'm mumblin' some'n' to hisse'f
Then be set in ia swingin' his arms
about i'm an heard i'm groanin' like
he was in torment"
"Then-then what did he do?" Alb
ner leaned forward. a look Of tense
eagerness on him as he spoke.
Why. he started to go back" Polt
replied. He plunged into the cane
brake an willows, an ! heard in
thrashin' his way through tile bushe:
= at great rate. | was about to craw
out IN slip after I'm when / seed in
. come back. He stood twistin' hi!
hands over his head an benin hi
:, back, an then all at once he fell ia
:, on his all fours an stuck his face righ
- in the mire. Then, Uncle Alb, hear'
>, i'm prayin'. couldn't catch what h
:, was sayin'. fer it was mostly groan
an grunts. but heard i'm calm OF
y God. | heard i'm sayin': God he'll
;. me. God have mercyr"
r. "You heard that. did your Abner ex
claimed. Are you sure yon hear
a that?"
''Yes. but that was all, Uncle Alb, al
:" I've been mad at myself ever since fe
>, not runnin' on some'n' worth while.
II hate like rips to be beat i'll this thing.
It Abner was silent for a moment. thel
a he looked at Pole with a gratefu
n smile I'm glad you watched i'm
When you come just now l had plum
\ lost hope myself, but feel better now
4 Pole. the whole truth, proof an all.
4 locked up in Abe Fulton's heart al
A soul. I've been hopin' that coul
A stir mp pity in i'm an git i'm to do til
Il right thing before God an man, al
I've been workin' to that end, but b
d said some'n' jest now that made M
Il lose faith in that plan. In fact. | wa
4 beginnin' to fear that his conscienc
i was dead. but it ain't-it amt quite
Pole, man killer that prays to Go
Il while his hands are wet with his Viz
I tiEls blood amt hopeless. You didn
i know it, but you've brought me tn
Il only news that could keep my hope
II alive. Good night. Pole. l must G
VI IN ..>
I Good night, Uncle Alb. I'm due (
! home too. amt prayin' man. br
u l. feel like it sometimes-I feel like
/ when l hear feller like you talk a
4 you are a-doin' now. You are the bes
4 all round link betwixt this world an
the next that l ever run across. an
| ever git to heaven it will lie by han!
I in on to yore coattail."
i The next morning after be had lei
Mary at the Office Abner walke
| around to the Jail, taking quiet sid
j street TO avoid passing through tt
| business section of the town
Abner ascended the narrow stall
: slowly. The first fight was ratht
dark. and he had to place his feet car
fully. However, there was more ligl
In the neighborhood of Howards ce
he and as Abner drew near the bars
saw Howard rise from his cot at h
w approach and stand peering tbroua
y, the squares at him.
o,1 Hello. Howard! How are you. II
Ia boyT Abner asked, mastering his EN-
"A ton with difficulty and trying to spea
he In a cheerful. offhand tone.
ar "Oh. I'm all right. Uncle Alb. Ho
rl are you" Abner was dismayed at Il
k. change I'm Howard's appearance sim
he had last seen him. He was pal
>, and thinner. and worry had cut dee
~, lines In his face. His eyes Elowed wi
~ the fire of despair. His hair stot
. stiffly awry, and his hands quivered
,,e they clutched the bars. 81 say I'm (
right. but don't know that nm an