The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-07-23

his power, he came slowly on, keeping
however, his eye on me all the while.
thought cOnciliation best, so said: ''GooC
morning."
Good evening"" he replied. as every.
body out there would have replied, what
ever the time of day.
viii you have a drop of brandy 2" |
asked, by a sudden impulse. He grimly
smiled assent, and drank, pronouncing il
good" then he said: Where's your
hOss, stranger?"
looked round, and, to my dismav. saw
that my steed had vanished-' had va
mOosed," the stranger said, then he con-
tinued:
- | thought saw a hoss in the gully
over there, and when see you, thought
it might be yourn. Here, just come this
way
scrambled over the rugged slope after
him, but the horse was nowhere IN sight.
The stranger pointed to where he had
seen it, and then, by signs totally unintel-
ligible TO me, we tracked it for some halt
a mile, until we found it in a perfect mass
of rocks and gullies. | thanked him very
heartily. and made an offer ofreward but
| with the same apathy which had marked
| his conversation all through, he declined
| it. and bidding me "goOd night" rode
/ slowly of, first having conducted me back
/ to the track.
Il followed the road for a long time. until
| began to grow uneasy at the time which
elapsed before | struck the plain. | could
no longer see the base of the hills, and al
though | believed | knew the exact direc-
| ton ought to follow, | at last began to
/ conceive the possibility of my having lost
my way. TO get back to my original road
before nightfall was impracticable. and |
/ pushed desperately on until nothing but
| the highest peaks of the tremendous noun
/ talns behind me were tinged by the setting
1 sun. In a very short time this died
| away, and the valleys and ravnes below
became more dense and gloomy every min
ute.
All this time saw no living thing. save
that twice a mountain wolf crossed nv
path few score yards ahead of me. To
make matters worse, | found that my
horse was nearly exhausted, and could
only limp painfully along the rough road.
was growing more out of heart with my
situation than ever was in my life, VIII, H.
on turning an angle, found that | had
come upon large tract of level ground.
and that, not hundred yards ahead, stood
a shanty, from which a light feeblv
CLEANED. My jaded horse pricked up his
ears and stumbled briskly along. and in
another minute 1 was knocking at the rude
door. 1t was thrown open by gaunt-
looking fellow. in an old blue army cloak,
and who had, although he partially CON
cealed 1t, a pistol in his right hand. The
interior, as | sOuld see, was of the most
uninviting character-scarcely an article
of furniture. and lighted by lamp which.
void of glass, flared on the windOw-ledge
| told my case, and sulenlv bidding me
turn my horse into the corral by the side
of the house, and then enter, he moved
away. When had secured my steed in |
the enclosure, and the door of the shanty
swung to behind me, | was almost sorry /
had not chosen to sleep with the wolves in .
the mountain gullies. My host was silent |
and sullen, showing very plainly his inter- /.
ton not to talk; presently. however, he /.
said: ''Guess you'll want supper. There's .
water in that pail; there's whisky in that
bottle; there's beef in that locker. You .
can't have nothing else.''
said, which was partly true. that | was .
too tired to eat. certainly could not have 1
eaten or drunk in his dirty hOvel, or of .
such uninvifng food. especially with so
fOrbidling a ruflian for my companion.
"Tben you'll want TO 90 to sleep" he
said roughly, and kicked "A bundle apart.
disclosing a couple of buffalo robes, with
two rude pillows. There you are. Go
to bed then"
1t was of no use betraying any fear, and
he was evidently giving up his bed to me.
so lay down. and in a short time was
dOZiag, when [ was aroused by hearing
the tread of horse, and then the door
opened. | half rose from my bed, and. to
my surprise, saw enter the man whom |
had met at midday on the mountain. He
recognized me, too, but said nothing dis
tinct
"Well. how is it, Joe?'' said the other
man, with very serious, if not anxious
look.
Bad" said my friend, or ''Joe''-'' very
bad. It's all correct"
"And are THEY'RE the boys ''-began
the other.
Yes" said Joe, filling up the pause:
- they mean coming. They may come to-
moTow-perhaps tonight. We shall have
TO vamoose.'
They conversed in undertones, as they
sat on their rude stools by the low wood
fire, chewing or smoking, and occasional
ly drinking from whisky bottle; their
discourse seemed very grave and diSquiet-
ing, and from word or two | caught, and
from their glances, | fancied they were
often referring to me. At last, in spite of
myself, | fell asleep. and tired as | was,
might have slumbered till morning, but n
crash awoke me, and, rising,
| saw that the door had been burst open.
and that the shanty was filling with
strangers all armed, while Joe and his
had drawn suddenly to my side
of the room. On the instant. half a dozen
men surrounded them and took their fire
arms.
- Halo ~ exclaimed one of the new
this? Are there three in the gang?'
All eyes being upon me, although did
not quite understand the situation. eX-
planned briefly who was and the account
seemed satisfactory.
Now, Joe Blakey, and you Phil Marll.
| reckon you know why we have Gomez
said the man who seemed spokesman.
Guess we do" said Joe, in his usual
lpathetic tone.
You expected a visit" continued the
man. I'VE have heard all your Dragging
agin the Vigiantes-"
Never said so,' interrupted Joe.
| soon understood the purport of the
visit, as addressed to my host. you've
been a terror to this here neighborhood." |
the spokesman; you've stole
horses and cattle for more than two years
past, and tried to put it all on the Indians.
\ on have murdered men and this here
traveller would never have seen daylight
again, if we hadn't come in. You got the
Jew from Santa Fe into your shanty, and
robbed and killed him."
4" No. captain - burst out Joe: Il bar
hat. | don't deny the horses nor the cat
lie. and | may hev killed a man or two;
20 may hev Phil but never touched the
lew, nor killed a man in my own shanty;
and this here traveller should have gone
his way safe man." Then turning TO me
le said: "You don't believe l meant kill
ng of you, stranger?r
"Ido not - | said very emphatically, /,
or | meant it.
4" Well, there's enough agin you with =,
)ut that" said the spokesman Though )
we know you ANTS so bad as Phil. You've I,
been warned TO go, time after time"
Nor reglar warned, captain" argued
Joe; land now we are agoin." !
NO, you amt. you bet," said the cap !
tain with meaning smile, which ran re- ::
sponsively through his band: mo, you
amt. Your time has come; but you
shall have fair trial from the Vigilantes
here assembled; and what thei- judgment