The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-07-03

teriocutor's words; but he paid no heed
to them. ,
"You know what was the crime alleged
against me ~ be asked. "a
:" Yes; you were sentenced to desth
contumaciouely for having instigsted
the shooting oil the banker Y under
4 the commune. However,, as you
had escaped 70 London before Paris fell
into the power of the Versaillists, you
were never arrested; and on the whole
YOU have esoaped pretty cheap"
Well,p continued Roblard, speaking
lower than before, and looking Monsieur
h----steadisstiy IN the fece, 50 have
been ACCUSED of shooting y from
motives Of private maliee, and for the
purpose of robbing him."
a. "No, our people--some of our fellow
communists,h replied Roblard with
kind OF gasp, which was meant to be one
of indignation, but which sounded more
like fear. "I had been in London about
a mouth, when one night three men
called upon me at my lodgings. They
were Dorielle. Faueher and Nullleux,
all three my enem es. Ny lsndlady and
the servants were out, 50 was all alone.
taucher, who is q kind of revolutionary
4 fanatic, began to abuse me, saying l had
brought disgrace or the communistic
cause, and had been playing the game of
i the Bonapartists by shooting Y-,who
/ knew all the ins-Snd~outs of the Mexican
expedition, and held documents damag-
ing to the empire, which he would have
published had he lived. Then Dorielle
spoke out, taxing me with having seized
all Us securities and valuables, and
having appropriated them to my own
use; Just as if y would have been
silly enough to keep his money within
reach of hooters under such regime as
"ours."
"By the way, was it really you who
had Y--shot 2" inquired the police
official csrelessly. .t,.q ,r.a6t7os
"That is beside the question" an
swered Roblard, on his guard. "All I
can say is, that these three enemies of
mine took it for granted | had done so,
and when they had finished abusing me,
Vuilleux pulled rope out OF his
pocket" ... ...,....- ...
GA ropel What was that for ?"
"To hang me with" rejoined Roblard
hoarsely, as if the mere recollection or
the affair strangled him. "They an
nounced that they had sentenced me to
death, and that they would hang me out
of hand. My death, said they, would
Look like suicide
Well, they did hang me-" r.
"Come, come, " expostulated Monsieur
A 4fr1T 6a ,fut
were romaneing or speaking from hallu-
cination, yet bethinking himself some>
how that the man might be saying the
truth after all.
"They did hang me-" repeated Rob-
lard, impressivelg. 1t was all in vain
that l struggled, screamed and prayed
for Justice l was forced on to my knees
and handkerchief was stuffed into my
mouth. Then these three butchers
passed halter over my neck and strung
me up to curtain rod. suppose, how
ever, that they must have made off
pretty fast, for less than quarter of an
hour afterwards (having lost conscious.
ness in the meanwhile) l was cut down
by my landlady and the aervant, who had
returned. But these poor women con-
GUIDED IAhad tried to make away with
with myself" ir.u u-.afg.
"Of course, though, you went and
lodged complaint with the police ?"
"No; what would have been the use of
it 7" returned Roblsrd, with shrug.
"My enemies had taken their precautions
so well that l should not have been be>
Iieved, and the English magistrates
would have either put me into a
mad>house, or have sent me to prison
for having tried to commit suicide,
contrary to their laws. Besides. on the
day after this affair received an snony-
nous letter, systematically wCrded, but
from which I gathered that, as I had
escaped the halter, should be allowed
to live, provided l did not return to
France. Dorielle, Faucher and Vuil-
leux condemned me to perpetual exile.
"Have you this letter with you p
asked Monsieur A--,whO seemed more
and more doubtful about Richards
story.
Eyes; here it is" said the commune
ist, and he handed his interlocutor a
strip of creased paper, on which the lat
ter read: You have got luckily cured
of your sore throat, but for such deli
cate constitution as yours the climate of
France will not do. Keep clear of the
country for your own sake, or there will
be 8 relapse"
"Humph !" muttered the police officer.
"And have you ever seen your enemies
since the event you relate 2"
Yes; have seen Vuilleux frequent
" at Geneva" responded Roblard, in
agitation; out there Is the horror OF
the thing. Whenever l spoke Of his
attempt on me he said he did not know
what meant, and limited that | was
monomaniac. half got to believe that
/ WAS so myself, and that prevented me
from ever speaking en the subject 70
Others" ........
Monsieur A. rubbed his head.
Roplard's story might be true or untrue;
anyhow, it was expedient to have the
man watched, in order to protect him
nom Others if he were really in danger,
or against himself if he were insane.
After a few moments the police official
said : Well, RoblaId, | will lend you
one OF my detectives, who shall be your
companion till you feel safe. He is
quite a new man; nobody knows him,
50 YOU will not be compromised if seen
in his society"
"Thsnk you, A." said Roblsrd,
with a sigh. Fancy my needing the
pretection of the police However, l
will pay your man whatever is wanted I;
he must be absolutely at my disposal
like a servant"
"You have grown rich, then ?" asked
Monsieur A., with smile.
"No, but L make some money by my