The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-03-19

my wife, touched at the thought of the sor-
rowing mother :" YOU must spend to-mor-
row with her. Marie. Col at nine O'Clock
and come back at five"
Marie was grateful, and told melting
stories about the pauvre ange-her beauty.
her piety. her intelligence-and nothing
could equal my wife's sympathy, and
when the girl went to town theneXt morn
ing she actually carried note to Madame
De Sturges, written in my wife's very best
French.
Meanwhile | had telegraphed Marie's
proposed movements to Belts, and now,
with some nervousness, awaited events.
The detective had warned me that she
would win the dogs affections that she
would leave the house, promising to re-
turn, but would not return. Two of these
predictions were already verified but il
Marie came back could laugh at his sus-
picions, and regard them as futile.
But Marie did not return at five O'Clock;
a telegram arrived in her stead from Mad
anne DE Sturges, saying that she had kept
the girl and would write at length and eX-
plain. Next morning a letter was received
from that lady. She told my wife she was
i'll. vet obliged 10 travel; hOmesick in a
strange land. without familiar woman's
face near her. and that she had persuaded,
with her and her husband for New Orleans
that very evening. An incOherent, tear
blOtted note from Marie accompanied this,
filled with protestations of sorrow at the
necessity of thus deserting us. She was
torn by conflicting feelings of love toward
Mrs. Powers and her sacred duty to the
mother of little Helene, the angel child
whom she had so dearly loved. and whose
voice she now heard calling to her from
the spirit world. bidding her remain and
comfort the lonely mother.
While my wife read this to me with
tears, stood aghast at Betts's predictions.
Theories are fascinating, but when spec
ulations turn into threatening certainties,
and there stares you in the face conclusive
proof that your house is about to be
robbed, you experience small pleasure in
the accurate atefOreknowledge of any prophet.
l instantly telegraphed to Belts that |
would meet him at my sOn-in-law's office
at twelve o'clock, then proposed to my
wife that she should 90 to town and spend
a couple of days with our daughter, and
offered to drive her in myself. We set off
within an hour, and after leaving her up
town hurried down, eager TO see the de-
tective. 1t was on the stroke of twelve
when | entered the office. and | thought
at first that Belts had failed me, for no one
was there but pOnderOus old gentleman
with gold glasses and white side whiskcrs.
| am not used to intrigues and masquer-
AIDES, and when | recognized Belts in this
disguise [ could hardly refrain from eX-
claiming at his cleverneSS; but his own
GOODNESS kept me within bounds, and | sat
down beside him, and began reading my
paper. Presently, with his eyes still fas-
tened on his Herald, he edged toward me
and dropped these sentences into my ear ::
''It's all going beautifully. followed
the girl in yesterday. Went to - no
| tel......The De Sturgeses booked there all
straight. Whole party left Jersey City
at nine O'Clock last night, ticketed and lug
gage checked to Washington. Slipped
out of the cars at Newark, all three in
mems dress, and were back here before
midnight . Met eight fellows | know at
a saloon in -- street, and | can spot all
eleven of 'em this very minute. They're
at den in - street getting ready to
play theirlittle game somewhere tonight
"At my house - cried.
He shook his head.
Dunno said he, looking straight into
The fire.
Look here, Belts whispered, 'this
may be fun to you, but, though Pm no
coward, it's death to me. Why not arrest
! 'em now?"
''Yes, Just sO,'' he returned, irritably-
''why not? Where's your evidence? Now,
Mr.. Powers, just look at this matter sensi-
| bly,. You know as well as do that half
| the thieves we catch get off because no one
will swear to their identity at their exami-
nation. Now I'm anxious to make sure
thing OF it for once, and take my oath that
| caught them in the act
" fOu mean to arrest them while they
are robbing me?"
| 81 do. - -
"All right-Only | should prefer to
have the row in another man's house"
saw at once that Betts's opinion of me
had gone down to zero but he disguised
his contempt, and went on to tell me that
he had dispatched one of his men, John
son by name, to my place to make re-
cOnnaiSsance, under pretense of trimming
my evergreens. Upon this mans report,
and upon two or three other open ques-
tions which he did not think ii worth
while to explain, depended his programme
for tonight. If by any possibility there
was a likelihood of my house being entered
at once, l was to know it by dinner-time,
that might be prepared for the burglars.
| was meantime TO go home quietly, and
spend my time in my usual manner, so as
|
and, receiving no word from Belts, was
to rest satisfied, aud consider my house
| safe for another twenty-fOur hours.
| went home according to directions,
and set about spending my day in my
usual way, but the house was so still, and
seemed so deserted, | found it impossible
| to read, even to sit quietly in a chair, for
more than five minutes at time. So |
called the little dog, Jingle, and set out
| for a walk about the grounds, feeling some
curiosity TO gets glimpse of the detective,
johnson. 1t was black December after
noon, a shivering wind in the tree-tops,
and leaden clouds promising snow before
midnight. The bare ground was frozen
! hard, and a few dead leaves eddied about
in gusts thatrose and fell at uncertain inter-
walls. / heard the sound of an axe through
the sOmbre stiffness, and Jingle frisked
! forward and barked at man hacking at
the frs in the shrubbery. L addressed him
regarding his work, and he winked back
his appreciation of our mutual sharpness :;
then | went on, reconnoiued few min
utes longer, and again turned in. The
day seemed endless, andI was glad when
Saunders lit the gas, and shut out the
shivering landscape and funeral clouds
with the heavy curtains. Dinner-time came,
and brought with it a semblance of occupa-
tion. and when was halfthrough my meal |
suddenly remembered Jingle, and sent for
him to keep me company. He was not in
the house. 1t flashed upon me that had
not seen him after passing johnson in the
thicket, and 4 dispatched the coachman to
call him in; but only echoes answered the
cry. He had evidently remained out in
the grounds with the policeman, and dis
missed the subject from my mind, finished
my dessert, and went back to my library
! fire. No word had come from Belts, hence
| was safe for tonight, at all events, and
breathed freer, and stretched my legs and
dozed until ten O'Clock in comparative
comfort. Then, rousing myself, l lit a
lantern and went out the door and along
the side piazzas to speak word with
johnson, who, Bets had arranged, was in
any case to Keep watch under the covered
carriage-way. -....s-
He a1as not there. / did not understand
it. Had he got drunk, or had Bets taken
him away? Perhaps. however, he was
still lettering at the edge of the grounds !;
accordingly, | walked outon the lawn,
and swung my lantern two or three times.
Then, as il was bitter cold, and was be-