The Bossier banner., 1922-06-22

Wouid nave peeD qHfte HHPosSHiic ioi
I John Harris, and because it was I'M
possible for him its possibility for
Riles never suggested itself
Harris had not yet fully realized the
loss of his money. 1t was ogershad-
owed by the more tragic events of
which one evidence lay before him.
His anxiety for Allan loomed larger
in his mind, although he had little
doubt the boy would take proper care
of himself, and. even if unarmed.
would come back with the money and
perhaps with prisoner. The fact
that Allan had not taken his gun was
reassuring; If there had been any
great danger he would not have left it
behind But he must get out now and
aid in the search.
As he reached this decision his eye
caught a CLEAN of something shining
on the floor. He walked to it and
found a revolver, fully loaded except
for one chamber, which had been dis
charged. sThis is evidence" said he
important evidence" Harris had
al the Old Ontario contempt for this
kind Of weapon, and knew conlpara-
lively little about it, but he concluded
from its appearance that it was al
most new. As he examined it his eye
fell on the initials. ''J. T." cut in the
grip.
~ t." he said to himself. u. Z.
Those initials seem familiar I'll just
leave this thing where l found it, un-
til the police see it"
Replacing the weapon On the floor,
!, he stole out the cabin, avoiding the
silent obstruction in the doorway. Out
side he stood for moment undecided.
The circle of light from his lantern
might beacon Allan back to the shan
ty, but it would also prove signal to
the robbers, if they were still in the vi
cinity. The roar of water came up
from the valleys. but above or through
that roar suddenly he fancied he heard
a sound from the bushes near at hand.
He held his breath and listened in
tently. Yes, there it was again---a hui
man sound, beyond question, half
groan, half gurgle He turned in the
direction from which it came and stole
quietly forward Half-a-dozen yards
from the building the light revealed,
first shadow. and then a figure lying
on the ground. With some lrepidation
Harris approached. The mans arms
had been extended when he fell, and
his coat was thrown over. his head.
Harris stopped and drew it down over
the shoulders exposing the face.
1t was Allan.
The first shock of the revelation al
most stopped the heart of the old
farmer, and he sat back as one dazed,
unable to accept the testimony of his
own eyes, Then came panic of un-
certainty. and he fell upon the boy.
coping wildly for his heart, and at.
last pressing upon it in an agony of
feat. Yes the beat was there,
faint and uneven, but unmistakable.
With sudden surge of returning hope
he brought his ear down to the open
mouth, fringed with light red foam,
and could hear the air laboring in the
ravaged lungs. Then came that hui
man sound, half glIrgle. half groan;
but to Harris, in the reaction from
his first paralyZing fear, it was as very
music from heaven. His boy still lived,
and still should live.
Tenderly he turned the body to
more comfortable position. laying his
folded coat beneath the head for
pillow. He loosened the shirt about
the neck, and far down the heaving
his wound. Rain fell in scattered
drops, and he brought another blanket
from the cabin, caring little now fol
the silent form in the doorway IN the
sudden shadow of his greater tragedy.
! He spread the blanket over the wound
ed boy. and sat down by his side, ca
ressing his, temples with his big fin
gers, and wondering what to do next
As he sat the helplessness of his po4
sition grew upon him. He was deep
in the foot hills, many miles. as far as.
he knew, from the home Of any set.
tier. In daylight he could. no doubt.
find his way back to town. but daylight
might be too late. He did not know
whether Allan was dying on his hands.
at that moment. Certainly to attempt
to move him in the buggy would be-
dangerous in the extreme.
And as he sat he thought of the
missing money, the fruit of his life'ss
labor, snatched from him in Il moment
in the darkness. The loss did not hurt
him as deeply as he might have
thought; he was numhed by the great s
er blow that hung over him. If Allan
would only live! = The boy had
been his constant companion since ba-n
byhood. All his hopes. all his ambi 4
tions. which had found their expires
sion in his years of feverish TOLL had
been wrapped about Allan He had no.
one else. His better self revoltad
at that thought. 'You have a wife
and daughter" it said, "ready TO share
your life as soon as you are ready To
share theirs" He forced his mind from
that nhaSa nf hic pocifihu h.,t If s,o.s