The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-30


unless the passengers were willing, which
was found not to be the case. Noticing
that the travellers looked wearied, and
recognizing one of them, although he did
not remember me, l protested against
the decision'of the passengers 80 strongly,
ana appealed to their humanity so earn
estly that / at length secured them seats,
although I could plainly see at the ex-
pense of the ill-will of the remainder OF
the passengers. However, l cared but
little about that, as the journey would
last but few hours. The new corners
took their seats beside me, when, after
making myself known to one of them
Sidney Charley" a French monteN
dealer, who more than year previous
had earned my gratitude, notwithstand-
ing his profession, by paying my stage
Tor rather wagon) fare into the mountains
Il inquired who his companion was, and
what brought them to the roadside so
early in the morning. He informed
me in low whisper that the.person with
him was Lucky Bill" and that they
had been taking tramp of q few weeks
through the mines; that two days before
they commenced operations in Placer
vile, and continued there with great
success until the day following, when, in
consequence of relieving prominent citi-
zen of $4,000, the popular voice was
raised against them, and they were COM
PEELED to vamose instanter TO keep from
being swung up; that they had slept in
the open air that night, not daring to ap-
ply to any house for lodging, and had
commenced the journey to Sacramento
on foot, when they were overtaken by the
stage.
While he was informing me of this, |
noticed that we began to attract consid~
cradle attention and occasion some whis-
pering among the passengers, which
Lucky Bill" noticed with deal of I'M
easiness. This continued for some time
until began to suspect the reason of it,
and thought of making myself less
familiar with Charley and his thimble,
rigging companion, when a little why
looking, middle-aged man, who had been
intently cycling Bill for some time, rose
partly up and asked him if ne did not
go by the name of "Lucky Bill"
Bill looked at the stranger a moment,
and then in civil tone, asked why be
inquired.
"For nothing in particular" replied
the stranger, taking his seat, 'if you are
not he, I beg your pardon. II you are
why"
"Why what? ?" interrupted Bill.
"Why / might HAYS something more
to say to you," continued the stranger.
"Well, suppose that should say am
Lucky BILL what then"
''TAen I would tell you" exclaimed
the stranger, loo savage, "that you
are a id thief, that you as good as
stole fifteen hundred dellars from a
brother OF mine two days ago, and if you
don't refund every dollar of it to me I'd
cut your rascslly heart out of you right
in this stage :" and with these words he
drew long butcher knife out of his belt
and leaned over towards Bill for an an
swer.
"Then my reply would be that two
can cut hearts at the some time" and
quick as thought Bill had drawn navy
pistol, which he was just in the act Of
cooking as l caught his arm.
The passengers then interfered, but the
stranger was not to be pacifed, and con.
tinued to swing his kni around, to the
danger of every one near him, and to
make every attempt to get within reach
of Bill, who still held the pistol, unlocked,
in his hand. Finding it would be inns
possible to keep them apart, it was pro-
posed by some of the passengers that
they should get out of the stage to fight
it out. The stage was accordingly
stopped, and all the passengers alighted,
which was no sooner done than the
stranger made a dash at Bill without
further ceremony. Some one stepped in
front of him before be could get within
reach of his victim, but could not pre-
vent him from throwing the knife, and
with such precision that the point Of it
passed along Bills right side, inhicting
severe wound. Bill then cooked his
prs oil and fred, just as the other had
drawn g revolver from his belt. The
stranger fell, with q ball in his right
shoulder. He was taken into the stage,
followed by Bill, who was not injured so
much as to prevent him from walking,
and after careful drive of three miles
both OF the wounded men and Charley
were left at a hotel some fifteen or twenty
miles below Placerville.
Three weeks afterwsrd | saw Bill
rope in " a tesmster for two yoke of
cattle on the corner OF J and Fourth
streets, Sacramento City, and then sell
the loser one yoke for sixty dollars, which
was all the money he bad, and lend him
the other pair to get his wagon in'O the
N JuntaiDs.
Bill hal heart, and a kind one, too
If it was touched in the right place and
it was no uncommon occurrence for him