The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-06-08

new .Waterworks plant on the follow
ing day and to witness as balcony pa
irons On the following night ii barn
dance of the West End club. He PLAN
ned Country club dinner for the day
after, and then reaching nonchalantiy
into his Waistcoat pocket he dropped
into Molly's lap a glfttering bauble
which looked like Il glass hickory nut
Take that down to =Duvays and
have it fitted to yourFfnger, he di-
;ected
She picked it up ineredulously. 1t
couldn't be real!
why. its diamond" she gasDed
as it lay flashing and cleaning in her
hand. and she saw the perfect cutting
and wonderful fire of it. The realiza-
ton startled her so that she almost
dropped it.
1T had better be or somebody goes
to jail" he Informed her. That rock
set me back the price of house and
lot"
Put. Mr.. Sledge, can't accept this"
she earnestly assured him.
why not?" he demanded, studying
her heavily. You're tosbe my wife,
She was panic stricken more by his
look than his words.
ITS too large for a. ring, for one
thing" she cvaded. j
"Why?' he again rumpled.
She decided to leave out the question
OF good taste.
You couldn't put glove over it,
she explained.
He looked at it reproachfully
"Hunh!!" he commelted. Its
peach. though, amt it?'s
Here was proposition On which she
could heartily agree.
It's beauty-a marvel." she enthu-
siastically told him. ashamed, in some
degree, that she so much admired the
live thing as it lay in her palm.
She handed it over to him, and as his
palm touched hers she felt the tingle
of him for the first time 1t was as il
she had inadvertently touched an cleo
trio. battery. and she jerked back her
hand
Between them they dropped the dia
mond. and it rolled under Ferns chair
Tommy Reeler picked it up.
Swell pebble. Ben he approved
and poured it into Ferns hand, where
it lay slittering and glittering and gilt
tering and would not be still.
"Oh. you darlingr Fern murmured
to it. Where did this drop from?'
Present for Molly" explained Sledge
modestly. TOO big for ring. Can't
pull a glove over it. I'm ssoana have it
| set in necklace"
| Three days later the necklace came
out, but by that time Molly had given
| up all hope of heading Sledge off. The
only thing she could do, she resolved,
| in a hilarious conference with Fern.
would be to accept temporarily any
crafty cxtravagant gift he showered
| upon her. After tie need for fooIins
! him was over she could send them
back. and this resolution. once having
| been formed. the girls spent much
| time in eager expectation Of what the
next surprise might be. sledge was at
| least making the game exciting. and
his perfectly mad. but equally earnest.
antics gave both Molly and Fern more
| fun than they had ever known
In the meantime. while Sledge anG
| his cheerful co-worker. Tommy Reeler,
were keeping the girls busy day and
night, the preparations for the secret
wedding went steadily on, as did the
| business preparations of Bert and
Frank Marley. Thanksgiving day ap-
| preached. and things began to focus
themselves in the Marley home. The
| representative of the up state syndi-
| cate came to town on schedule. He
spent three days in going over the
books Of the company and examining
into Marlcy's loans. Also, he looked
up the matter of the franchises. The
company had been given originally
twenty year city charter. which had
been twice renewed for ten year Pc
RODS. it's present renewal having three
years to run.
ut looks like the regular thing" he
said to Marley. I'm satisfied to give
you thirty-six straight through for
your stock, take up your loans and al
low you the difference in value; but.
before I do business. I'll have to see
Sledge about this franchise
at was part of our understanding
that you were to stay away from him."
insisted Marley. IF your presence
and your errand here are known,
Sledge will do something destructive.
IL, ~,
right off the map"
He might have it in for me. and !
have to see what be can do"
''I'll make it $34 share, and you
see him afterward." offered Marley.
Now. I'm bound to see him." de-
clared Mr.. Goldman. who was a wiry
little man. of great energy and de-
cisiveness. Don't you worry. He
won't connect me with you. I've been
in this game too long not to be able to
cover my tracks,,
Coldmans interview with Sledge
was brief. concise and satisfactory.
and he began by stating exactly who
he was and whom he represented.
o. Were looking for street car bar
gains he explained. ''and we've been
advised that stock in the Ring City
street railway is we'll worth picking
up at its present price Do you think
SOP
"Uh-hunh." grunted Sledge. None
for sale. though" .-.
ut does seem to be scarce" admitted
Goldman. still. wen take what we