The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-09-24
A STORY OF THE STANISLAUS.

" MISSISSIPPI"
That is a strange name"
Wal. never knew him to be called by
any other. Ther fact am, stranger, that
we don't go much fer names here in Cali
forny-Only ther place er man has hailed
from. Thar's my pardner-him that's
standn' in the door. Wal. he and | have
bin wOrkin together nigh Onter two Years.
and ther only name | know him by am
Chicago. 1t don't DO ter AK too many
questions"
A" Probably not. but is the man you call
Mississippi gambler like the great ma
iorityg''
d" 1t wouldn't be hardly fair ter call him
so, although he does rattle the bones and
handle ther kerdS now and then. But et
he wins, be alters gives il orway ter some
poor soul. and, for that matter, so he does
with ther gold he finds, except Jest ernuff
ter live on
" Does he not save anything?'
." reckon not. He doesn't seem ter
have any friends-ncver gifts any letters,
and moves out of ther way jest as quick as
ever he kin ef thar's any strangers
around"
4" He has not appeared to avoid me.'
"No: but he eyed yer mighty sharp
when yer came in, and was erbOut ter
rake down ther stakes and leave, when
ther dealer said SOmethin' that made him
change his mind. Yet he has watched yer
pooty closely all ther time we've been
standin' here"
perhaps he fancied he knew me-
perhaps he fancied you war arter
him?"
" | do not understand"
oval. thar'S many man hcreabOutS
that left the States between two days.
don't say he's one on them. but he acts as
if he had secret. Anyhow he's allus rest
less when thar'S n new conner until he has
found out his business, and it may be that
the law has some unsettled claim on him.
I've known sich things
What j. his general reputation ~
Quiet-don't have much ter say-keeps
ter hiSself-don't drink but little, and has
seen better days. | hain't much on books.
and hain't got no great larnin'. but know
enutf ter tell me that he's edicated. But
come. stranger, fill up yer glass. Talkin'
am as dry work As carrying dirt to er
flume."
Business. or rather the search for il. had
called Charles Elting TO one of the little
miningtOwns upon the StaniSlaus River. 1t
was an oUt-ot-the-way place, and with moth
ing tempting about il, save the report of
rich and fresh discoveries of gold. As for
buildings. there We're the customary hastily
erected shanticS-thc king of which was
the gaming house, the "El Dorado
where the chink of coin and the rattling
of ''chips" and glasses could be unceas-
ingly heard at all hours of the day and
night.
1t was. in fact. the general place Of re
sort. and Elting had been lured thither
both by curiosity and a desire to learn
what. if any. were his chances of success.
To ascertain this he had entered into con-
verSation with the landlord. and had
heard the history las far as it was known)
of the most prominent Of those present.
The one under discussion, however. had
attracted him far more than any of the
others, and as soon as he could do so
without attracting attention, he had drawn
near the table where ne was betting
Whatever secret causes OF fear he might
have had, a more thoroughly cool man
never haZarded gold upon the uncertain
chances of fate. He appeared alike indif-
ferent whether he won or lOSt-pOcketed
the gam or produced more money to re
place that which was lost without the
slightest change of countenance. And
once aS he was in the act of drinking. a re-
volver bullet, fired by some parties QUAR-
reling upon the outside, struck the glass
and Shivered il to fragments. But he on
lV smiled sad Smlle-lOOked at the brOk-
en- goblet a. if he envied it-then called for
another. drank. and went on with the
game rs if nothing had happened. Even
more, he carelesSly replied 10 the dealer.
as he remarked that il was narrow es-
cape: "Nes, 90 on and deal" More and
more interested. Elting shifted his posi-
tiOn so as to obtain an absolute view OF his
face as well as form-in short TO study
him, without seeming TO do so.
You have been watching me?"
Il have been watching the game, and as
you were the principal player have motto
ed you more than the rest" was the eva
sive reply.
Have YOU any business with me?"
''None."
Then YOU did not come 10 seek me -
'on the contrary. two hours since
was not aware that such a being existed.
ne Was tail, broad->houlaered, strongly
musci-d, with swarthy complexion and
eyes and hair as black as mjdnigbt-the
latter long and straight as that of an In :
dian. Ills nose was slightly Roman and
the lip. that plainly showed lis curlinos
despite of the full beard. told of tbe most
indemitable pride as well as cour.
age. His dress was in keeping with the