The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-08-16

Lie man Jcrk0u MS lHuulD over HID |
shoulder, "Jest that narrer strip acrost |
there between them wires"
Tennys0n's eyes roved round the mar
row farm meditatively. "Why not sch
your entire farm? AS it is. the road
will cut it up badly"
The man pushed his hat back and
scratched his head. Guess know
that. But who'd want to buy the hull
thing except such another blame fool
as I was when bought?"
There was suppressed excitement
in Tennyson's manner which aroused
Claudia's curiosity. He took the reins
from her hands and turned the mare
about carefully. "I'll be back here In
three hours or less to talk business to
you," he said briefly.
"How mean Of the law to go through
q mans pigpen" cried Claudia. "Can
1t 60 anywhere?"
Tennyson gave preoccupied laugh.
"Yes, under the laws of this state
all kinds of property-with one excep-
tion-can be condemned"
SOlluGIuuc1l, puZAiCl ClduUl6. - nut
does that mean7''
Tennyson explained, watching with
delight the wise little wrinkle that ar-
peared between the blue eyes and
knowing that twenty -four hours would
efface oil recollection of the rights Of
eminent domain
But for once he was mistaken. The
responsibilities Of life were weighing
heavily on Claudia, and certain reso-
lutions to understand more Of economy.
and of law were becoming fixed. She
had forgotten to ask Tennyson what
one kind of property was exempt from
contemplation, but there was her IA
ther.
Now, papa, l. want to know some
thing" she began that evening.
Il never got to the table yet but
what you bothered me with your fool
questions" grumbled Peter Ten Eyck.
Claudia, oblivious OF the acidity in
his tone. prefaced her question with
"Papa, what kind of property can't the
law go thrOugh?'
',Thc devil!' CALCULATED Peter. "Wllat
are you talking about?"
She proceeded to elucidate. "Now
just suppose a transit company or
something wanted to go through a
mans pigpen' Peter stared hard
"Well, you know they can. But there's
one kind of land they can't What Is
it?'
You're enough to turn a lawyers
hair white" said her father after a
| pause. Probably you mean ceme-
terry" Then he gave her shrewd look
and said nothing more until they had
finished dinner, when he asked abrupt
| ", "Whom were you driving with this
morning?"
/ Claudia raised her brows inQuiring-
| y. Tapping her cheek thoughtfully
with fore1nger, she responded un-
blushingly: Let me see. Was his hair
black or brown?
/ .Oh, yes!' with an effort Of the mem.
ory. "Ehen 1t was Ten-Mr. Benham.' :
so suspected-that nefarious little
popinjay of a lawyer without any prac.
tice who is trying to marry money
| mo, he isn't, papa" responded Clau-
dia serenely, ''for he refuses to marry
me-that is, right awayr'
That very evening Tennyson called
He was in high spirits. Behold mer
he said, with mock heroic bow Al
last am on the high road to fame and
fortnne. I am real estate owner. :
i ideally. Tenny," excitedly. Enough
to build our house on?''
Tennyson threw his head back and
broke into peal OF boyish laughter
There's house on it already and q
/ i,igpen too. own the land formerly
pwned by the man with the gun. :
+ Claudia's eyes grew large and round
You've bought that horrid, desolate
looking place! What for? Don't tel
me, dear, that you wouldn't like to1livt
therer'
"Tennyr' she expostulated, but Ten
nyson evaded all further questions
about bis purchase. Wait. until I've
struck It rich on my real estate, dear
and I'll tell you -all about it. J"
i With that he supposed his fiancet
was content, but she was not. Aftel
his departure she repaired promptly t
the source OF wisdom.
Papa. what is there down in tht
Mount Hope valley to bring money
just supposing you had bought ths
land of that man with the pigpeI
down there. what should You expect
to get out OF itY''
The clerk ana stenograpner ex
changed glances Peters brows con
tracted as ne sncrted, Ihe Knowl