The Bossier banner., 1922-06-22

Things Began to Go Badly With the
Farmer.
to go badly with the farmer; face
d0wnwards on the floor, he was unable
to shake his adversary off, and was
losing strength rapidly with his chok-
ing. Gardiner no longer sought an
opportunity to break away his blood
was up and he was in the fight to the
finish, ruled at last by his heart in
stead of his head. Had he been con-
tent merely to retain his present ad-
vantage Inconsistencies would soon
have overcome his victim, but he tried
to improve his grip, and the attempt
proved disastrous. His thumb, seek
ing better vantage, fell into Harris
gasping mouth. Harris was no more
deprayed than most of mankind but
when fighting for life. and choking to
death in the hands of an unknown en-
emy, he was ready to seize any advan-
tage, and with great effort he
brought his jaws together upon the in
Z = : q
truder.
With yell of pain Gardiner sprang
to his feet, jerking the farmer into
half-sitting posture as he did so. and
Harris, with great gasp for air, re-
linquished his sudden and unexpected
advantage But Gardiner's head was.
again in command: he rushed through
the door. half falling over the obstruc-
tion as he went, and in an instant was
lost In the gloom of the night.
For some minutes Harris lay9on the
floor. recovering his breath. As. the,
oxygen welled back into his lungs he
began to realize that. save for his
choking, he .ras unhurt With return
ing strength his thought reverted to
Allan. and, calling the boys name, he
sprang to his feet. The first thing was
to get light. He found matches in,
his pocket, struck one, and peered ca
gerly into the gloom as its Pickering
flame beat back the darkness. A blan-
ket. rolled and stained, lay in the door
way. and within was figure that
might once have been man. Harris
heart almost stopped at the sight: al
lam he gasped. smy boy, AlIan!' He
tiptoed across the crumbling floor to-
ward 1t. holding the match before him.
A mans boot and part of a trouser leg
protruded from the mass. He held the
match downward, leaning over them.
They were not Allan's.
'sThank God" he murmured, swell
ing with great hope, .thank God for
that"
He struck another match and found
the lantern When he had lighted it
he surveyed the little building. and
saw Allan's gun lying at the end far
thest from the door. Not until that
moment did he think Of the money.
Allan had been uppermost in his mind.
and when he thought of Allan money
was no consideration. But now great
wave of understanding rushed in .pon
him. Yes, the bag was gone. They
had been attacked by robbers Knowi-
edge of their expedition had in some
way got to evil ears. and while he
slept Allan had been set upon The
boy had emptied his gun-the huddled
mass in the doorway told that tale
plainly enough-7but other robbers had
seized the cash and Allan had pursued
them empty handed. They had fred at
him as he rushed from the building
that was the flash he saw a few sec
onds after the first loud report. He
was not quite clear as to his own
share in the fight, but he saw the gens
eral plan Of It plainly enough. He be-
gan TO wonder what had happened to
Gardiner and RiIes. Had they been
shot down ms they wound through the
woods? This was evidently the work
OF gang prepared to stop at nothing.
Harris never for moment suspected
his o.d neighbor Of treachery. He was
himself hard grasping, money seek
ing man. but he had a code of honor
none the less. and within its Iimita-
tons none was more honorable than
-. 10 have done what Riles had dons .