The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-10-12

it is up to the hilt. | reckon he owed
you some'n' along with the balance"
Fer a months hard work, more or
less" was the answer, but I'll not put
in no claim. l don't want no lawsuit"
I'D git my rights, Abe Abner said.
You owe it to yore wife. Let's see.
when did you see i'm last, Abe?"
ME? Why?' Abe's eyelashes flicker
ed. "Le'me think. Why, the last time
was as he was startin' off to town the
day that Abe failed to finish, drop
ping his glance to the ground.
Il know" Abner prompted him; 1.-The
day him an Howard had the fuss on
the street.
"Yes, that was the time," Fulton an
swered unsuspectingly. He was hoss-
back an'-an' drinkin', as usual"
Il see he rid by here"
Abe cast a vacant look at the placid
questioner, then he nodded. "Yes, I
was at the pen thar feedin' my pig. I
reckon it was about S o'clock or little
after. He-he could hardly set in the
saddle. l wasn't surprised when
heard about the fuss"
at was little bit out O. his most
direct way to come by here, wasn't it?'
Abner's tone was even and careless.
"The bee line way from his house to
town is by Trumbley's. amt it?
II don't know" Abe said, slightly
disturbed by the demand. 1T may be
shorter by Trumbley's. Anyway, Craig
was too drunk to know which way he
| was goin'."
"The administrator will not git much
| fer his farm in the condition it's in,'
Abner remarked casually. II happened
to notice that he started you to buildin'
a new wire fence. l reckon you never
finished it, not KNOWN whar yore
wages would come from now that he's
dead"
II throwed that job up," Abe flashed
out impulsively. HE wouldn't plank
down a cent, although l was out o
grub. He come over to whar was al
work that last mornin' an cussed me
black an blue fer maxim a little mis-
take. After he rid off shouldered my
tools an quit"
| II see." Abner spat straight toward
the freight. slowly rose to his feet
his hands in his pockets, the bride
thrown over his shoulder. AN Craig
rid straight off to town an had his
fuss with Howard. His little tiff with
you started i'm out fer the day, an he
wanted to git back at somebody"
"Yes, l heard that evenin' that he'd
jumped on Howard" Abe fell into the
trap. Craig didn't care fer man, Coo
nor devil"
THAT time in the field was the very
last you seed Of i'm alive" Abner re
marked adroitly.
"The very last time," Abe said un
guardedly.
But let's see. Didn't hear you Il
say, Abe" Abner remarked, now star
ing steadily, that the last sight yol
had of i'm was while you was ut tha
pigpen thar an he rid by goin' tt
town.
Fulton's beetling brows met in I
frown of perplexity. Did say that?'
he asked. THAT must "a been anoth
er time. My memory amt as good a
it used to be-
"NIine amt nuther.'' Abner threw
his shoulders back and yawned. We'll
must be goin'."
Down the road. when in sight O
Trumbley's barn. Abner saw Pol
Baker.
IA purity tramp you been havin', On
Gle Ab," he began, with a smile. "Yo'
went exactly the wrong direction.
seed yore boss just now back O m
place. He's thar yit nibblin' at fin
patch O. grass. Gi' me yore bride
I'm spryer n you are in the legs, ct
amt smarter in the head, an l neve
yit seed boss couldn't halter"
Abner gave the bride to him. and a
Pole bore it briskly away he strolled O.
homeward Ten minutes later, as AT
ner stood waiting at the gate Of tn
lot, Pole rode up on the bare back o
the horse. his legs swinging to and fr
from the animals nanks. He laughe
In significant way as he slid down t
the ground.
"Fer a wild, runaway hoss," he saft
this un was the easiest to catch
ever run across He come up to me 9
his own accord, jest the same as
say, 'Ef you an Uncle Alb are throug
playin tag with me I'll go home
bed.'"
"Humph! Abner said, his mind ev
| IDENTIFY far away, as he opened the gat
and let the horse loose in the lot.
"You kin sniff eff you want to- Poi
said, with a meaning smile. Il ain
a-goin' to pry into yore busines
though I'll admit I'm losin' sleep ovt
the very thing you are thinkin' abou
at this minute. Ridin' back jest no
1t struck me that feller O yore vic
experience wouldn't meander of on
bare, rocky hillside Iookin' fer a hos
| that's out after grass when you kno
mighty we'll that it grows on 10
! ground You mought lie an say you
already been whar l found the hos
but that wouldn't pass my Adams a
q pie, fer / seed from the grass that ha
q been topped In one spot thA the ho'
had been thar good while"
: "You are gittin' awfully sharp, Pole
l. Abner said, with sudden smile. "YC
4 said t'other night Oh the mountain tn;
thar was some delicate things l cou
t work better II you. don't believe 1t
t II know whar you've been," Pc
Il said eagerly. you've been to see Al
d | Fulton. You have been. hain't you. o
e | MANI"
d Abner nodded silently, the werrit