The Bossier banner., 1922-07-06

But did 1t not occur to you that
The whole thing-c0al mine and mine
owner and New Yorkers and ull-was
simply scheme hatched up to induce
you away into the Businesses OF the
foothills with a lot Of money In your
A half.hewildered look came over
Harris. as of man gripped by new
and paralyzed thought. But he shook
his head. mo, It couldn't have been
that" he said. "You see, RiIes was an
old neighbor Of mine. and Mr.. Gardi.
per. too, knew for good many
years. II wasn't like a. II had been
dealing with strangers.
1--WE will 60 deeper into that matter
after little" said the coroner. "It's
very fortunate Mr.. Gardiner IL here
to add what tight he can to the mys-
terry. We Will now adjourn to the room
where the younger Mr.. harris liea
and hear his evidence. It would be
unwise to move him for some days
yet"
II can't tell You bow It happened.
Doctor" be said. turning his eyes.
larger now In his pale face. upon the
coroner. ..but think got very houas-
sick-l guess was pretty tired. too.
and | brgnn thinking Of things that
had happened long ago. back when !
was little child. in little sod shan.
q that the old shack In the valley
some way seemed to bring to mind.
And then guess fell asleep. too. but.
suddenly I sat up in great fright
I'm not a coward" he said, with
faint smile. when I'm feeling myself
1t takes more than a notion or a dark
night to send the creeps up the back
Of my neck. But own sat up there
20 frightened my teeth chartered. !
had a feeling that was going to be
attacked didn't know by what
maybe by a wild beast-but something
was going to rush in through that old
blanket hanging in the door and
pounce on me"
The sweat was standing on Allan's
face. and he sank back weakly into
the pillows. Beulah placed a glass to
his lips. and the doctor told him to
take his time with his story.
"As the minutes went BY" Allan
continued, after an interval. "that ter
rible dread grew upon me, and my
sense Of danger changed from fear to
certainty. Something was going to at
tack me through that doorl raised
my gun and took careful aim. saw
the blanket swing little: then saw
the fingers OF mans hand. Then l
fred.
"Perhaps am murderer" he con-
tinued. simply. but before God /
know no more why fred that shot
than you do"
There were deep breathing and shut
ding Of feet as Allan completed this
part Of his statement. but only the
coroner found his voice. Most re-
markable evidence" he CALCULATED.
.Most extraordinary evidence. have
never heard anything SO obviously sim
cere and at the same time 30 alt0geth-
ed unexplainable."
perhaps It's not 50 unexplainable. :"
said quiet voice: and Mary Harris
made her way through the circle Of
men to the side of the bed. She sat
down on the coverlet and took the
boys hand In hers. It mattered not
how many were looking on; he was
her little boy again.
"You will understand. Doctor. and
some of you men are parents" she
began. .Allan will be twenty-five
years old this coming winter. A lit
tie less than % years ago my husband
was obliged to leave me alone for a
considerable period In our little sod
shanty on the homestead where we
had located down in Manitoba. There
were no near neighbors. as we count
distance in well-settled districts, and
was altogether alone. stood It all
right for the irst day or two. but my
nerves were not what they should
have sbeen. and gradually q strange,
L =
unreasoning fear came upon me. !
| suppose 1t was the immensity of the
| prairies. the terrible loneliness Of Il
al. and my own state Of health. but
/ the dread grew. from day to day and
from night to night tried to busy
myself. to keep my mind active, to
throw or the specter that haunted
me, but day and night was oppressed
with q sense OF impending danger. We
had no wooden door on the house; we
hadn't money 10. buy the boards to
make one, and all my protection was
q blanket hung In the doorway.
used to watch that blanket at night
would light the lantern and sit In
the corner and watch that blanket.
My fear gradually pictured to itself
an attack through that doorway
didn't know By what: BY white man,
or Indian. or wild beast, or ghost. OF
worse, II that Is possible !; my mind
could not balance things; nothing
seemed too unreasonable or terrible
to expect. So took the gun. and sal
In the corner. and waited.
"And then at last II came. didn't
noe anvfhtnp and I 6iars% hoor ,uv