The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1877-06-28

down Thursday night, when he left me
Aye, he did, and he has never broker
his word. This is Thursday night, anC
my letter is in the sack. You will pleas,
to open it. Look for Milly Nudge,
Bassett knew mot what to do. II,
dared not cut the sack, and in no Other
way could he get at its contents. He
knew the penalty attached to such !
course of procedure, and he thought o.
thelittle family that depended on hin
for life. -|''tII'. s-t.s.
The mad girl-for she was undoubt-
edly mad-never removed her eyes from
the mail agent, and when he stopped
over the sack with bunch Of keys, she
came forward, smilingly, ont of pure
curiosity.
Her hand still remained in her pocket
. Bassett guessed what the hidden fin.
gers clutehed. NJ II
= He tried the keys on the locks of the
Through" sack, but of course none
fitted them.
This is the through mail, Miss
AIidge,'' he-said, in theblandesttoneh
could assume. A4s'tAcah'tloper it.u ~
"Cut it with your knife. ~
'eSuch. an act would send me to the
peiritentiary..' ~ ''-'
Then the girls pale hand left her
pocket, and the2 postal T service man
caught The glitter of arevolver's barrel.
emily Nudge wants her letter." she
said. AZ You must look for it in that
strong bag!'
Bassett drew his knife, and with a
groah fell to work on the tough leather.
"Work like the bee said The girl.
e If | catch you fooling, I'll hunt for the
letter myself, and youwill then be dead.
Look for AIilly Midge's name in -four
ishing letters, for such kind he always
makes. If you only knew how eager l
am to read what he says. He will tell
me when he is coming back to take me
TO the chnrch - ft-ss on y-
Her voice, despite the place, hour and
situation, had charm for imperiled
Harry Bassett He thought it was the
sweetest voice he had ever heard, and
he wondered whence came the poor girl,
evidently cruelty crossed in love.
At last hewas among the letters of
the through mail, passing them through
his hands, and apparently reading the
superscription of eaeh.--.
Milly Nudge watched him closely with
a great deal of anxiety.
- No letter. Bassett said, as he cram
med the missives back into the sack,
and the girl sighed again and echoed
his words.
She wac standing so near the mail
agent that he might have touched her
with his hand, but he was STOPPING, she
standing erect.
-s' Look into this sack" she said,
touching large, white canvas mail
pouch, with her. dainty foot, until that
moment concealed. a" My letter must
he in here, if you examined the other
sack thoroughly, REook for Milly
Sifdge's namc-don't forget it. 1t will
not be NLilly Nudge much longer. Do
YOU see that ring?" and with pride she
displayed the glittering ring on her en-
gagement finger. ..yFy.sis
Harry Bassett fell upon the white
sack, which he unlocked with ease, as
he held its key. -.rlT
He was praying for the presence of
the conductor or messenger, for he
knew that he had forty miles still to run
before the train would stop and release
him.
"You must find my letter in that
sack!" Milly Nudge said with determi-
nation, "I know it is there, and if you
say that il is notLdo You see. this? Ha!
hain
he glanced up and saw Che revolver
shaking very near his dev0ted head.
What must he do? What could he
do?
A sign of treachery or a declaration
that no letter for Niilly Nudge was in the
pouch might suddenly terminate his
earthly career. He knew that he could
not seize the girl and disarm her, for
her keen eye noticed his every move
ment 42os0sv a.
Harry Bassett' ~AsJin the greatest
peril.
Letter after letter was taken from the
pouch, the superscriptions carefully
noted, but no comments made. He was
trying to gain time, which alone could
prove his salvation, and his ears waited
painfully for the opening of the door.
Quick" suddenly cried the beauti-
full demoniac. 81 can't stand here all
night waiting for the letter l could find
myself in less than five minutes. 1t is
intthe sack, and | see there are but
four or five letters remaining. You
haven't forgotten the name - Milly
Nudge. What! are you going to say it
is not THEREOF and her eyes seemed
sparks of fire bfthe frightened mail
agent.
He held in his hand the last letters of
the pouch, and was turning them over
slowly. All at once he heard a sound .
His heart leaped into his throat. as it
were, for the door had opened!
The mad girl did not seem to hear it,
and Harry Bassett feared that he would
betray the approach of siiceorwhen he
looked up into her face. - AaA-
"What is the name?" he asked
quietly.
"Milly Midge," was the answer.
oh, SRI haYsyon toqnd the letter. 1
knew it was in the white sack?"