The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1919-08-28

move her from this ogreish cynosure!"
There were several patches OF
srecnery. man high. some grass vel
vctcd mounds, Il rustic bench, some
latticed vines. Reuben selected a spot
i nest of shrubbery and his feet OBJ
scured by some creeping vines. For
all the world he rescmbled in SINH
larity and bulk the mounds about him,
and made very harmonious part and
parcel of the general environment.
In about an hour Mr.. Elston came
out of the house. He carried Ian
tern in one hand and Il heavy cane in
the other. First he lined the fence
ali about the place, then he crossed
AID criss-crossed the garden space.
Twice he passed within ten feet of the
spot where Reuben lay, but no sus-
picion of near human proximity
seemed to occur to him.
"Safe, so far" brcathed Reuben in
/, vast sigh of relief.
The crisis, however, was not past.
AS Reuben we'll knew from former
experiences, the old man was due to
make a second and later reconnoiter
Of the premises. He ventured to
change his position and even sit up,
to relieve the strain of his queer
plight. About nine o'clock the newt
lble lantern came into new evidence.
AS before, Mr.. Elston made his care
full rounds. Then Reuben lay notion
less and held his breath, as he caught
sharp ejaculation. There was a
crash Of glass and the lantern went
out. It's owner had tripped on vine
and had smashed 1t. Grumbling
nightly, he came near to the lurker,
cropping his way, stumbled directly
across the "camouflage" intruder and
went fiat on top of him.
1t was natural that Reuben should
squirm. and also that he should sense
certain discovery If he remained where
he was.
1--WE got you! Who are your
shouted out Mr.. Elston, but Reuben
slipped through his clutching fingers
with the dcNterity of an eel. He
darted from bush to bush, he circled
and tumblcd. and, nearing the fence,
felt his footing give way and out of
sight he went. dropped several feet
and lay inert and senseless at the bot
tom of an old, abandoned we'll only
partly filed in.
Reuben must have lain there for
more than two hours, for when he re-
covered consciousness the town clock
pealed forth upon the still night air
eleven strokes. 1t took him some mo-
ments to get his mind clear enough
to comprehend the situation. He had
just done so when a shot, clear and
distinct, rang out. 1t was followed by
second. Then two flying forms APP
peared to be passing the spot, for one
human voice pipcd out, Hes winged
me!' '"Then drop the stuff" ordered
second voice Here, this is good
rs hiding place. Don't delay. We
lust make our getaway at oil haz-
;iIdsw
Something struck Reuben's head
with force. AS near as he could make
1t out, 1t was small valise. He was
for n second time nearly stunned. He
rallied speedily enough as scream
rang out, clear and appealing.
"Winnie!" he breathed. "She may
he in peril"
With prodiglous effort Reuben
sprang up until the fingers of both
hands clasped the crumbling top Of
the well. He managed to lift himself
clear out of his prison place. The
of light, Mt its window, screaming with
fright was Winnie. outside, a two
harreled shotgun in his grasp, was her
father. Impulsively Reuben ran to-
ward him.
Hello! Your one of the burglars,
ch?" shouted the old man. as Reuben
came within the focus of the stream
ing light.
I'm not" declared Reuben prompt
ly. "What has happcned7"
"Burglars-and the old iron safe
riflcd-silverware icwelry and over
two thousand dollars in CASH." Mr..
Elston groaned frantically.
Don't worry" answered Reuben.
You hit one Of the burglars. AS to
their plumber, think know where
it Is"
"You dol!
"Yes. Get a lantern and come with
me-"
The well gave up it's treasure. The
old man grasped Reubcn's hand with
sincere gratitude. He could not but
invite Reuben into the house. There
he and Nellie listened brcathlessly to
the explanation of his timely appear
ance on the scene.
Il hear you go regularly up to Els
TOMS" observed TalcOtt to Reuben:
week later.
"Oh, yes" answered Reuben with a
radiant smile.
"How did you come to mollify the
old nlan?''
And Reuben answered with one e1-
pressive word: