The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1920-12-09

turned from the depot. where the
money had been turned over 10 them
md reseipted for Hawley had mn
locked the door Of the Office and had
stepped In. followed BY Rogers. when
a masked desperate appeared sudden
" ont OF the darkness. disarmpd the
gnard and manager. took the money.
passed through the door and locked II
after him. and vanished as silently as
he had come. Before leaving. he
warned his Victims that the plnce
would he covered for ten minutes and
At any attempt to call for help they
would be shot. Notwithstanding this.
the imprisoned men risked their lives
by raising the alarm"
Further down the page Mackenzie
discovered that the desperado was still
at large. but that Sheriff Bolt expect
ed shortly to lay hands on him.
He folded the paper and returned to
his room to make preparation to re-
tarn to his ranch. The buzz Of the
telephone called him to the receiver.
The voice Of Cullison reached him.
'"That you, Mac? I'll be right up.
No. don't come down. I'd rather see
you alone"
The owner Of the Circle c came
right to business. 1--WE made raise.
Mac. and while I've got IT I'm going TO
skin or what's coming to you."
He had taken big roll OF bills from
his pocket. and was counting off what
he had lost to his friend. The latter
noticed that 1t all seemed to be In
twenties.
Twelve hundred. That squares us
Mac"
The Scotsman was vaguely uneasy
without definite reason for his anx'
iety. Only last night Cullison had told
him not a single bank In town would
advance him a dollar. Now he had
money In plenty. Where had he go'
it7
Mackenzie's eye fell on copy Of
the Sentinel protruding from the 9th
er's pocket. .'Read about the holduI
of the w. 4 S. express7 That fellow
had his nerve with him."
"Sho: This holdup games thu
easiest yet. He got the drop on them
and there was nothing to It"
''How did he know there was none!
coming in last night?''
There's always leak about thing
Of that sort. Somebody talks. knew
1t myself. for that matter"
"You knew! Who told your"
That's q secret. Mac. Come Il
think Of 1t. l wish you wouldn't tel
anybody that knew. don't want 4
get the man who told me In trouble"
Sure l won't" He passed to an
other phase of the subject. 'srhe Sen
tinel says Bolt expects to catch tn
robber. Think he willr'
"Not II the fellow knows his bus
ness. Bolt has nothing to 60 on. Fl
has the whole Southwest to pick from
| For all he knows. it was you"
Yes. but
| "Or more likely me-" The gray eye
OF the former sheriff held a frost
| smile.
In spite Of that smile. or pefhap
because Of It. Mackenzie felt agai
| that fash OF doubt. whats the MS
of talking foolishness. Luck? Cours
you didn't do It. know you too well.
But the trouble was Mackenzie di
not know him well enough. Culliso
was hard up. close to the wall. Ho,
far would he go to save himself? I
his slow. troubled fashion. Mac wor
dered II his old side partners strea
Of lawlessness would take him as IA
as a holdup. OF course it-would no.
he assured himself; but he could nc
get the ridiculous notion out Of hi
head.
Mackenzie drifted to the courthous,
He found Sheriff Bolt In his Office. Til
Scotsman wanted to discuss the roll
berg. but was shy about attacking tn
subject. While he boggled at 1t. Bol
was'off on another tack.
Inside OF a quarter of an hour tn
sheriff had found out all he wanted I
know about the poker game, CullisOn'
| financial difficulties and the news thG