The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1875-01-14

views. No shenanigan. But square
deal at tavern-keeping with an honest tus-
sci for respectability. That's the ticket I'll
run en-
Dolly, after having arrived at this con-
clusion. raked down his piles of double
eagles, his stacks of silver, and his rolls OF
greenbacks, and slowed them away. He
threw the cards upon the floor, presented
his silver faro-box and ivory checks to one
Of his acquaintances; then, walking to the
bar, called for drinks for the house. When
the glasses were filled he said:
Boys, Dolly Hamilton drinks to your
health, and desires 10 say that he forsakes
the brotherhood after tonight. He will
retire from active life, and seek some
nice place where he will keep hotel. Ef
any of you 'uns come my way you may
be sure the latch-string will always be
] hanging out.n
The 'bOys" drank to Dolly's health not
only once, but many times, and continued
doing so during the balance of the night.
! Then, when the daylight found its way
down upon the arid country, showing how
desolate and uninviting it really was,
they retired TO their tents to sleep off the
effect of their carOuse.
That very day Dolly started for the
White Pin- mining region. He thought
there might be an opening for him in some
of the towns that would be called into ex-
istence by the wants OF the miners. After
his arrival in White Pine, and he had spent
several days in looking around in Hamil-
ton and other villages, he came very near
being wrecked. He saw so many good
chances to make something in the mines
that he could hardly keep from taking
hand. He had, however, started out to
lead an honest life, and did not want to
backslide before he gave honesty fair
chance. Thus restrained, he bided his
time, until news was brought in that
prospectors had discovered the richest ores
yet found in the Bald Mountain district.
A large party was Immediately organized
to proceed to the new district for the pur-
pose of building a town and carrying on
the business that would naturally follow
the working of the mines and the filling
up of the country. Dolly joined this party,
and thus became one of the pioneers of
Nevada Gulch.
The prospects looked so favorable, on
the arrival of the immigrants, that they
at once commenced the erection of houses.
At first they threw up tents, and then
followed with more durable buildings.
Our hero built himself large tent, put
into it big stove, and in forty-eight hours
from the time of arrival was prepared to
furnish entertainment for imam and
beast.n He then set to work and built a
fine adobe hotel. suitable for the wants of
the country, and fitted it up with all the
conveniences to be found in public cara
vansaries.
The new hotel, when completed, was
opened with grand flourish of trumpets.
oil .la NpiI in,
occupation, and soon gained for the
"square- Meal House" an enviable no
toriety. From one end of Nevada to the
other could be heard praises of Dolly
Hamilton and his hotel. The fiattery,
lavishly bestowed, was balm to the feel
ings Of the landlord, who constantly
rubbed his hands together and chuckled
as he thought how well he was doing.
Several months had passed away and
been numbered with the things that were,
when Dolly discovered that his venture
had not been paying one. He had, it is
true, made money, but. at the same time
he was greatly out of pocket. Quite
number of his Oldest and most constant
boarders had never paid him a cent, nor
made sign as if they intended to. The
amount on his books showed that he had
made money, while the amount he had
paid out of his pocket convinced him that
he had lost. As Dolly sat on the porch
in front of his house, thinking over this
matter, the clouds came and went from
his countenance as of old, and those who
knew him best felt that he was in no
enviable humor. Repeated duns had
failed to arouse his debtors TO a sense Of
their duty, and his creditors were press
ing.
Il Jess wish could get my mind down
to hard work, and work out this sum that
is a-puZZling of me. | know | kin keep a
hotel if kin git my mind fixed, so as to
work out the right road, but it's cussed
hard to do that last. I've been trying it
for several days, but haint succeeded yit."
While he was musing, three men, whose
appearance denoted that they were gam
blers, came down the street and entered
the house. They each carried a large sack
of gold coin, and one of them called to
Dolly to come in and join them in social
drink. While standing at the bar they
told him how they bad won several thou
sand dollars from some flush miners who
had recently sold mine. Then Dolly, in
the mildest manner possible, suggested
that. being loaded with double eagles, they
could liquidate the debts they owed him.
and by doing so relieve him from financial
embarraSsments which were encompassing
him.
The delicate manner in which Dolly had
preferred his request was not appreciated
by his debtors, who laughingly derided
him, saving they could not think of re-
ducing their "bank" while they had such
a good game-for the miners would GER
tainly give them another rattle during the
evening.
The snubbing received by Dolly acted
in singular manner on him. His brow
cleared up his face was once more wreath
eG in smiles. and he rubbed his hands glee-
fully as he turned on his heel and walked
away, whistling a merry tune. During
the remainder of the day Dolly was in the
best of spirits; he laughed slyly, as he
sauntered around the premises, winking
knowingly at his employees, and saying,
''Wait until tomorrow morning and See."
The tomorrow morning" came, and
found three men engaged in digging three
suspicious-looking trenches beneath the
shade of a large juniper-tree which grew
upon a grassy bench but little way from
the front door Of the hotel. Dolly Ham,
ilton was experimenting the work. He
appeared to be bursting with fun, which
overflOwed from him in ripping smiles
and waves of outlaws. A number of men
WIZ ildu llC BOlOh NCiN
watching the proceedings, and specializing
on what the trenches were to be used for.
All agreed that they looked like graves,
but then no person had died or been killed
for several days, so they could not be in
tended for such a purpose. The crowd
had been swelled by the addition of the
gamblers TO whom allusion has already
been made, when one of them called out /:
Hello, Dolly, what the deuce are you
doing there?"
Dolly looked up, smiled pleasantly, and
said: Good morning, gentlemen good
morning. It's right pleasant" Then
changing his voice, he sung the verse of
the old funeral hymn, ending:
''Ye living men, come view the ground
| Where We must shortlylie.
The gamblers laughed heartily at this
manifestation of wit on the part of the
| landlord, who shortly afteTward Joined
them on the porch, butrefused 10 give any
particulars concerning the holes he had
! Just finished.
The breakfast bell was rung soon after
ward, when the boarders pushed into the
| dining-hall. While they were busily en-
gagged in satisfying their hunger, Dolly
entered the room, made his way 10 the