The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-09-21

all court convenes, and all because a

~ NA~~-~s
reprovingly. You must keep yore
temper, Howard"
That evening when Abner rode up
to the barnyard at Trumbley's he saw
Mary and Mrs. Tinsley at the gate in
front of the house and knew that they
were waiting for him. Leaving the
older woman, Mary came along the
fence and joined him as he was dis
mounting at the bars.
"I thought I'd warn you," she whis-
pered. Mrs. Tinsley has not heard
of the verdict of the coroner's jury.
We've kept that from her. but she
knows all the rest She Is fairly des-
perate She seems to think she has
not heard the worst and is almost dis
tracted. She has done nothing but
walk TO and fro between her house and
ours. Uncle Abner. don't believe
Howard did it l don't. i don't!''
II know he didn't" Abner answered
Il am absolutely sure OF it."
Through the dusk the old woman ad-
vanced till she stood facing Abner
She put an unsteady hand on his sad
dle "Whar's Howard?'' she inquired
Il left i'm in the Office gittin' ready
to so to his supper" was the prompt
response. "Me n him worked hard
today gittin' out the paper, I'm here
to state. an eff we both don't sleep
sound tonight it will be because the
mosquitoes know Their business bet
tern we do our'n."
I'm no fool. Abner Daniel" the wO-
man blurted out. great stare of de-
spair in her eyes. Il know the danger
that's hoverin' over my child better'n
anybody alive. Till today gloried in
| the mercy of the Lord. l was CRATE
ful for what you did to keep Howard
here at home whar l could see i'm
now an then. but this is what even
that brief joy has fetched to me. I
can't stand it, can't can'tr"
| Abner's voice was full of clashing
currents when he answered, looking
down into the storm swept face.
"Yore boy is innocent of that crime.
Mrs. Tinsley. an eff God let's i'm suf-
fer fer it I'll turn ag'in all that's holy
an good in the universe. The situa-
tion may he little shaky now, but
| right will prevail in the end"
That's all you kin tell me. then r
the woman painted "You say right
will prevail. don't know. doubt
everything now. Nothin' is fair to me.
at least. If they dare-dare to put my
boy under lock and key But she
was unable to speak further. With o
Try sob. high heaving of her breast.
she turned and walked away.
The next morning Abner was lp with
the dawn. Indeed. he had slept little
through the night and was feeling the
Ill effects of. it. He saw I'cle Baker
walking briskly along the road from,
| the village.
"Whar you been so early?" Abnes
nsked
Il stayed in town." Pole answered
II sat up with Howard in his room
till after midnight"
I'm glad you kept i'm company
Abner said, plaintively.
81 had to stay" Pole said. at looks
like everybody in town is actually
afeard of i'm. an he's noticed 1t
Frank Raymond and some other boys
dropped in, but they had little to say
an all but Frank looked as if they be
lieved Howard was lynn. What
friendship in time O. real trouble? No
wuth hill O. BEANS"
Abner leaned on the bars, sliding hi
strong thumb nail under splinter
slowly prying it off and putting it be
tween his tobacco stained and blunte'
teeth. I've been bothered about tn
grand jury" he said 81 wonder G
it will act. Eff an actual arrest
made it will so hard with the poe
boy
'It is sure to come an early today,
Pole replied
you think SOP Abner said despon
IDENTIFY.
Not the slightest doubt of it." Pol
went on. an fact, Howard wa
!, watched close all last night. The from
md back doors of the hotel was guard
ed by the sheriff and his deputy"
How do you knew that?" Abne
asked
Il seed 'em; so did Howard. W
took little walk, an they followe
us. Howard looked pale. an though
the fresh air would do i'm good. A
! come away this mornin' met til
sheriff on the back porch. ! know II
we'll legged fer i'm in his election
an he would do me favor eff it com
his way He knows how l like How
ard. too, an ! stopped an told I,
was sure Howard wasn't the maj
an both him an the deputy SCENE
astonished
"'What do you take me ferT th
sheriff axed. Didn't l hear Howar
threaten to do it? An wasn't he 0
the spot half an hour before the she
was fred with loaded gun in hi
pocket?
That's what they all say" Abne
sighed. His own father come over la
night about bedtime to see me. l to
i'm Howard was innocent. but it wei
in at one ear and out at the other
well. must go home an git n
breakfast Pole said, then I'll me-
you in town. Howard tried TO git II
to wait an eat at the hotel, but the
hadn't made the fire in the kitche
stove when got up. an I'm hungr
Besides, | like homie cookin an co
fee that's just right Thars anoth
!. thing that is odd about me. too, Unc
Alb, an that is that never feel rig
of | start q day Mithauf Snein' my ch