The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-06-08
A TALE OF
RED ROSES
-BY
GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER
-
Copyright, 1914, by the Bobbs-
Merrill Company
CHAPTER XIV.
a LARGE Surprise For Each rs Tho Civil,
Copyright, 1914, by the Bobbs-
Merrill Company

~ LEDGE began his Deliberate
~a siege upon Molly with the same
~ care and vigor that he would
have exercised in conducting &
riost important political campaign.
IN that first evening at the theatel
ne made Molly's wishes, expressed OF
tneXpresscd, both a study and law
y draft blew on her. She had a scarf
around her shoulders before she was
through with her first slight shiver
80? immediately thereafter Sledgt
shipped his fingers for all usher and
ordered the fire escape doors closed
S'@ looked over the program of
:itfacte music and sighed for miss
ing favorite.
Write it down." directed Sedge
.:H1ding her fountain pen and a
''"tsck blank.
Laughing. she wrote It, thinking that
as would no doubt send her the sheet
music next day.
Again he called the usher.
Take this to Joe, and tell him to
have it played" he ordered. ANY.
thing else you'd like, Miss Molly?"
I'm afraid to mention wish fol
fear I'd get it," she laughed in more
or less embarrassment. But Fern, who
was having the time of her life, gig.
sled and, telling him to recall the boy
added 4 favorite of her own to the
musical program.
you can have a good time most any
place." Sledge complimented her, with
a growing fondness for Molly's friend
You're a nice kid. l ought to have
invited your gentleman friend along"
II don't see who it would be-" laugh
ed Fern. Molly knows so many nice
chaps, but the most of them are such
boys"
Excuse me a minute, girls begged
Sledge and unloomed himself from the
background.
Where now has he gomez wondered
Molly. half amused and half apprehen-
sive.
Hes probably noticed that some
girls have candy surmised Fern, who
had come to believe him infallible.
He'll bring back ton of it."
II hope he isn't going to order the
spotlights turned this way" snickered
Molly. He'd do it, think. He's ca
pable OF anything"
"As long as it's nice" admitted Fern.
'I'll bet you never had a man treat
you with more respect"
That's true enough. He's rather a
surprise to me in that. He's a fine
friend to have, Fern"
Just as the overture struck up Sledge
returned to the box, followed by a
large handed man of about thirty five,
whose face and neck were red from
much cheerful exposure to the wealth
er. He had merry blue eye and POM
padour hair, and he Wore diamond
shirt studs and cuff buttons.
Tommy Reeler. girls" introduced
Sledge. Miss Fern Burbank, Tommy.
Miss Molly Marley"
Mr.. Reeler in great heartiness and
in friendliness all unafraid shook
hands with both the girls and sat down
by Fern.
I'm in luck" he contided to the
crowd. Il was feeling lonesome enough
to take a drink when Ben dug me up
and slipped me the news that he had a
girl for me. How do you like our
town, Miss Fern?"
Il love it, returned Fern, not dar-
ing to look at Molly, whose brimming
eyes she knew to be fixed upon her.
Under the crescendo of the music
the conversation became paired off,
and Sledge, with complacent self ap-
probation. watched the couple in front
of him.
'"Tommy's right guy" he confided
to Molly. Big contractor, paving and
city buildings. Wife died last winter"
That was too bad," responded Mol
ly sympathetically.
"She was due" declared Sledge. I'D
"a killed her.
WAS she so dreadful?" inquired
Molly, forcing her share of the con-
versation.
"a souse," grunted Sledge. Tom
my don't touch it, but she got diff
ferent kind of Heinz on every
night"
"Drank?" guessed Molly, trying to
remember for Ferns benefit.
For the family" Sledge corrobOrat
ed. "and all this time Tommy a decent
guy He deserves q good woman, but
lie don't get to meet 'em. He'd be a
great pal for your little friend If she
can nail him."
Il never heard Fern express pref
erence for widowers," she suggested
Hes the same as not" Sledge as
sured her, There's no kids. Tom
my's a grand boy"
The music struck a pianissimo pas
sage.
'Me for blond" Tommy Reeler
unintentionally explained to the audi
ence. and before she could stop it the
clear silvery giggle of Fern blended
with the piccelo obligato.
Reeler looked around at Sledge with
Il broad grin and nodded his head en-
phatically in the direction of Fern.
Having q nice party?" asked Molly
softly, bending forward But Fern
was speechless.
The curtain rose, and the play be-
gan. and sledge. bending knotted
brows upon the stage, sat decently