The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-02-17
Smoke BelleW.
Continued from Page One.

Smoke drew the contract from his
pocket and pointed to the pay on delir-
cry. NO mention Is made of the num-
Der of eggs to be delivered. You agreed
to pay $40 for every egg we delivered
to you. Well. we've got the eggs. and
a signed contract is a signed contract
Honestly. though. Wild Water. we
didn't know about those other eggs
until afterward. Then we had to buy
them In order to make our corner
good"
For FIVE long minutes. in choking
silence. Wild Water fought a battle
with himself. then reluctantly gave in.
I'm in bad" he said brokprly. I'll
be there at , O'clock, But $4,000"
At 80 Shorty arrived with Gau.e
reaux's eggs. I'VE pretty near double
our winnings" Shorty told Smoke as
they piled the soap boxes inside the
cabin. Il holds 'em down to IS. and aft
er be cussed loco in French he falls for
1t. Now, that's 50 clear profit to US for
each egg"
Promptly at O'Clock Shorty. peep
ing. saw Wild Water coming up the
bill. When he entered be was brisk
and businesslike.
Bring on them eggs. you pirates"
be commenced. An after this day. II
you know what's good for you never
mention eggs TO me again.
They began on the miscellaneous as,
sortment Of the original corner. all
three men counting When 200 had
been reached Wild Water suddenly
cracked an egg on the edge of the table
and opened 1t deity with his thumbs.
Hey, hold on Shorty objected.
Its my egg. amt it," Wild Water
snarled I'm payin' $40 for it, Amt /:
But l amt buyin' 20 pig in poke
When | cough up ten bucks an egg ]
want to know what I'm settin'."
Wild Water looked and smiled
That's a good egg Gimme pail I'm
eoin' to eat it myself for supper"
Thrice again Wild Water cracked
good eggs experimentally and put them
in the pail beside him
Two more than you figured
Shorty" he said ut the end of the
count. Nine hundred an sixty-four
not sixty-two."
MY mistake." Shorty acknowledged
handsomely. We'll throw EN- in for
good measure"
Guess you can afford to-" Wild
Water accepted grimly. Pass the batch
5000. I'll pay for it now. Write a
receipt Smoke"
Going to bis fur coat. from each OF
The side pockets he drew forth two
sacks OF dust so rotund and long
that they resembled bologna sausages.
When the first batch had been paid
for there remained in the gold sacks
not more than several hundred dollars
A soap box was carried to the table.
and the count of the $4,000 began. At
the end of 100 Wild Water struck an
egg sharply against the edge Of the Ia
BILE. The resultant sound was like that
OF the striking of a sphere of solid
marble.
Frozen solid" be remarked
HUH! said Shorty. 1T ought to
be solid. SEEM it has just been freight
ed up from Forty Mile. It'll take a
Ak to bust it."
Smoke brought the ak and Wild Wa
ter split the egg Clearly in half. The
appearance of the eggs interior was
anything but satisfactory. Smoke felt
premonitory chill. Shorty was more
valiant He held one of the halves to
his nose.
Smells all right" he said.
But it looks all wrong" Wild Wa.
ter contended. AN how can 1t smell
when the smells frozen along with
the rest of 1t? Wait a minute
He put the two halves into a frying
pan and placed the latter on the front
lid OF the hot stove. Then the three
men. with distended. questing nostrils,
waited In silence. Slowly an unmis-
taxable odor began to drift through
the room.
Throw 1t outr' Smoke cried. gasp
ing.
What's the goodT' asked Wild Wa
ter We've got to sample the rest"
Not In this cabin" Smoke cough.
ed and conquered a qualm. Chop
them open. and We can test by iook.
Ing at them. Throw it out. Shorty!
Throw II ont! And leave the door
openr"
Box after box was opened: egg after
egg. chosen at random. was chopped in
TWO. ana every egg carried the same
message Of hopeless. irremediabie de-
cay.
Il won't ask you to eat 'em. Shorty
Wild Water jeered. IAN. If you don't
mind. | can't get outa here too quick,
Ny contract called for good eggs IL
youth loan me sled an tenn III haul
them good ones away before they get
contaminated"
Smoke helped In loading the sled.
Say. how long you been holdin' that
corner?" was Wild Waters parting
gibe
Smoke made no reply. and. with one
glance at his partner. proceeded to
fling the soap boxes out into the snow
Say. Shorty, how much did you say
ron paid for that three tbousand?"
Smoke queried gently.
Eight dollars Don't talk to me- 1
| can fcger az well as ron. We lose
seventeen thoHsan' on the 1utter if
| anybody should ride MP Oh dog sled
an ask you- fggered that out while
waitin' for the first egg to smell
Smoke pondercd few minutes. then
again broke silence. Say. Shorty,
$4,000 gold weighs 200 pounds Wild
Water borrowed our sled and team tn
| haul away his eggs. He came Up the