The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-10-17

all that / have. 1t is not much-a
least not for the means you emplo
to obtain it."
Watch him close, fellers; no tricl
nowl" the leader OF the gang cautione'
his assistants.
So intent were the burglars that the,
did not hear movements behind them
nor were they apprised of the presenc
of another party till a heavy club de
scended upon the head of their leader
stretching him like an OK upon the floor
A second quickly followed, smitter
down by the same heavy weapon; bu
the third, dropping the dark lantern
sprang upon the single assailant WIKI
had dealt the blows and plunged knife
in his breast. The lantern still burned
and by its beams Mr.. Brent could sex
the knife Withdrawn and raised for an
other stroke, but before it could descend
he had leaped from his couch anc
caught the arm. The wounded mar
Joined in the struggle, the knife wa:
wrested away, and the baffied villain,
breaking from them, dashed through 8
window and disappeared in the dark.
ness. As the scoundrel fed, delivereI
and delivered stood facing each other,
and the latter, for tie first time, recog-
nized who it was that had come TO his
! assistance.
"What, Wash JonesP" he exclaimed.
"What in the world does all this
mean?"
I'm tell We, soon as l can," Wash
replied, with manifest effort; "but that
teller give me beautiful dig with his
old butcher-knife, and L want to think
it over bit afore try to TALK
A hasty inspection showed frightful
cash in the immediate neighborhood of
the heart. Mr.. Brent carefully assisted
him to the bed from which himself had
just risen, and the wounded man sank
upon it without comment. AS the pillows
were being adjusted under his head, the
two Frustrated rascals crept away and
crawled through the window whence
they had expected to depart with their
booty.
'May as well let 'em co." gasped
Wash; they're tramps, and won't
stop long in this neighborhood arter
what has happened"
BY this time all in the house were
astir, and as soon as Mr.. Brent could
dress himself and explain what had oc-
CURED, he set off in quest of surgical
aid for the wounded man. On his way
he roused some of the neighbors and
sent them over to to his house to await
his return, though there could be little
danger of a second visitation that night
Ellen Brent remained near Wash,
though it was very little she could do
for him, beyond giving an occasional
drink of water. 1t was so strange, she
thought, that twice in the same day this
singular being should have been of such
service to them; and in addition to
gratitude she felt deep pity and sor-
row for him that he had received so
fearful wound. She did not know the
extent Of his injury, but in such cases
we very naturally apprehend the worst,
and what if he should die before her
father returned with the surgeon?
2, ado you suffer very much?" she
asked, as a moan passed his lips.
"Ns, ma'am, not SO very much," he
replied slowly; "but it's an ugly dig
got, and don't think feel as well as
have sometimes. I'm afraid I'll lose
several days work a.ore L get done
with it,
The fellows manner was so quaint,
and his humor so evident, that Ellen
could scarce repress smile at the very
moment that the tears gushed from her
eyes.
I'm SO sorry!" she exclaimed
"y you have done such great favors for
US to-day. You seem to be our angel of
...-.t..... |D..
Wash tried to laugh. You wouldn't
call me much of an angel if you knew
me, unless it was a str&et-corner angel.
But there's plenty more to lean against
the corners-they won't miss me-"
Pausing now and then, and speaking
slowl y, he went on: 81 don't know
bow this thing will turn out, but I don't
like you to blame me for what's hap
pened tonight, an l wouldn't like
mother and Julia to think, if-if--it |
out for the worst, that I'd |
gone to burglarin'; so maybe you'll tell |
'em, if can't, how it happened; and /
may be you'd like to know how it happen |
ed yourself. Now, arter the time YOU he'd /
with your boss this mornin', some of |
The feflers wanted me to take a drink,
an did, COS felt as though it would .
cool me down. There was two tramps |
5here--I know they're tramps, because
| know all the loafers that belong here
They must bev seen yer father on the /
street with lot of money in his hands,
for they asked all about you and him,
and at first told 'em, for they seemed |
honest enough, and it was natural to .
ask such questions. But when one of .
'em said the old man must be purity well .
off to trot the streets with handfuls of .
thort mebbe might hev said
zoo much. / shut right down; made
believe l didn't know any thing, scarce
", which wasn't much out of the way,
and tried to find out who they wuz But
they kept close mouths, and lost sight
Of 'em. So loafed off over this way,
and thought I'd keep an eye out for the
,coundrels, if they was up to any thing;
but they were in the house here afore |
Knew it, and L got in the best way l
you know the rest.n
1t was not long before the surgeon ar
lived, and his tone was grave after the
examination and dressing was finished.
" He may live and he may de-" was
lis answer to the anxious inquiries
: You must see that he is keptperfectly
lniet-wel. cared for-donst think eff
moving him-and if there isn't internal
bleeding it's possible. III be, up during
he forenoon and see him again.
A week passed, two weeks, month,
wen, and still Ellen Brent was watching
beside the couch of George Jones, Very
ilowly had that young man, come back
o strength, and even yet, the physician
assured them, he was at any moment
liable to fatal result. But there was
till hope, which had now grown almost
O probability, that he would eventu-
lily fully recover. and so the grateful
girl, thinking not of the future, but only
If her Indebtedness to the sufferer,
her constant watch. But
he was more than a watcher. Not
L. L. l.