The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-03-23


the side of the path.
1t shattered into Il thousand tinkling
| pieces
Stotesworthy ST. John had been held
up, robbed. divested Of his clothing
| and his self respect by the menacing
muzzle of an empty whisky flask.
For many minutes after the robbers
last brutal laugh had 1oated back to
him on the evening breeze, Stoteswor-
| thy remained motionless. an unheroic
statue of humiliation and chagrin
Stotesworthy calculated that it was
about O'Clock; the hotel was fully
| half mile away, andaa few yards be-
yond him. where the path debouched
| from. the shadow of. the frs and
| spruces, the road was made dazzling
| by the shimmering moonlight. He was
in something of predicament
To remain where he was meant to
| court death in the unpleasant form Of
| pneumonia. To make dash for it
meant death in far more unpleasant
| guse of ridicule.
TO slip In unnoticed was practically
impossible. especially as he had not
| the slightest. acquaintance with the
| rear of the hotel where an entrance
must be effected.
The sound Of nearby feminine laugh
| ter startled the humiliated author into
| activity, and he scuttled into the near
est thicket like frightened rabbit
From this coign of vantage he eau
| tiously peered out. =
The laughter had emanated from q
group of persons who were walking
along the road leading to the hotel.
| But what peculiar assortment Of
| clothes.
One was arrayed in the costume of
colonial days, sword and all; another
had apparently deserted the fall round
up without discarding the sheepskin
| chaps and sombrcro before coming to
town; several were hidden In the volu-
nlinous folds Of nightgown affairs of
various coiors, and all wore masks.
Stotesworthy gaZed in fascinated
amazement. There were other ridicu-
| Ious costumes than his own abroad
that evening, and for d moment he felt
| Il little easier. And then a light dawn
| ed upon him, and he groaned aloud
The last dance of the season-the
| masquerade!
That's what it was. He had forgot
| ten all about it. And 1t would be 2
o'clock in the morning before the fools
would think Of such a thing as sleep;
hence the groan.
Silently and STEALTH though not
quite 50 fnconspicuous as an Indian
stalking his quarry. Stotesworthy St
John alternately crept and dashed to-
ward the unsuspecting Cragside Hall.
He took advantage of every bush
and bowlder in a manner that would
at last he paused for breath in the
very shadow of the hotel.
Cautiously he peered around the
corner and found that he was looking
into what was unmistakably the clothes
drying yard of the establishment.
A sudden inspiration descended upon
the author, and, not stopping to con-
slider the effect his sudden appearance
might have upon the laundress, he
made a dash for the first sheet which
met his eye.
AS luck would have it the maids
back was turned, and she did not see
Stotesworthy until, with his rotund
form partially hidden by the damp
sheet, he passed her on the way to an
open door which, he had shrewdly
guessed, opened into the laundry.
oh heavensr' lie heard her whim-
per as she sank upon the pile of linen
in the basket at her feet and hid her
face in her hands. II seen it again!
Somebody's goin' to die, knowr'
BY sheer luck. Stotesworthy, stum-
bling blindly about tn the darkness of
the hotel basement, came across 4 stair
way unused since the addition to Crag-
side Hall was built two seasons before.
He mounted to the door at the top
aud cautiously turned the handle: it
was unlocked He opened the door
crack and peered into a small apart
ment which he did not remember Of
ever having seen.,
A young man, whom Stotesworthy
recognized as one familiarly called
Tommy by the younger feminine guests
Of the hotel, was the only person with
in his range Of vision.
King Solomon in all his glory was
never arrayed like Tommy. A dandy
of tie court Of Louis XIV, or probably
Louis himself, he appeared to be as he
stood by an open window anachro-
nistical!y. inhaling an Egyptian ciga-
rette.
1t was a wonder that Stotesworthy
recognized him at all. notwithstanding
lie had laid aside his mask. 50 be-
wisged and berufIled was he.
''fsst!" Stotesworthy Kissed. "Psst.
Tommy"
Tommy turned aud stared curiously
at the door whence the sound seemed
to come
what is it?'' he asked. what do
you want?"
Are you alone?" came In a guard
ed whisper. What room is this, any
way?" t...~
Yes, I'm alone Tommy answered.
''aIltl this is sort Of cloak or ante
room; used to be the old Office. guess.
1t opens into the ballroom What's
up:"
Can | get upstairs from here?"
StotesNorthy inquired In the same
hoarse whisper. Get me upstairs with
out any one seeing me?''
Il don't know" the courtier of Louis
Ky. replied. "No. I don't believe you