The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1880-06-03

Captain R1shmore, she said, "are
those boys past helping?"
/ The Captain looked up uneasily.
Helping?" he said Why should
they be helped?'
"Only on the same ground we all
have to be-because we and they need
it."
7 was goin' to tell you," the Cap
tain said, after a moments silence.
- The fact is, they've Just been to my
! house, an | was more beat than I've
been in a long spell. What do you
s'pose they wanted? Wanted l should
take 'em on my boat! SEE to 'em.
You must think I'm crazy, KNOWN
the name you've got. Don't you know
you amt to be trusted further'n one kin
see you?. What you thinkin' about to
suppose anybody'd have you where you
could pick up as fast's they laid downg
Antoine spoke up. He's got the quick
est tongue. I'm worse'n Pierre he
says, but if ! got chance to 90
on your boat, or anybody's, I'd
promise there'd be no trouble with
US, an we'd keep it too What
put it into your heads?' sez |. We've
been watchin' for chance saws An
tome, an soon as heard 'em say in
the store Johnny Hanson was dead, an
you were goin' to have two instead O
one, Pierre said now was the time. l
couldatake JOhnny's place in the cabin,
! for we was Just size, and Pierre said
you wanted good-lookin' boys to match
your boat, an we could ask anyhow
We'll, you've asked SEE |, IAN now
you can 90. don't take boys for their
faces, for amt fool. BOYS that want
to go into the company's service can't
| be thieves-that's known all over the
township for thieves, them and their
father before 'em. The place amt for
such, an never will be-
q will say / felt bad. That An
tome, straight as dart, and kind of
look about him that you feel just as if
you'd got to look out for him, but, mas
sy sakes! l can't take no such boys.
There's half dozen after the place now.
1t amt bad berth tor boy with any
90 in him. I've said No to plenty,
and there amt any call for feelin' bad
that I've said No now, an yet seem
to. Somebody has to go bail for their
good behavior anyhow; and even if l
was fool enough to take 'em, there amt
anybody fool enough to trust EN-. The
folks know EN- too well. There's plen-
ty here | might refuse, an never think
of it again. But Antoine looked at me
with them big eyes till L was skeered
spite O. myself. They amt as bad as
they're made out, for there's boys
right here that'd never think O. dom
what they did last winter, an l found
it out yesterday. You know old Ran
dy Ripley out on the SwantOn
road, that won't go to the poor
farm because she's got triie of her
own? Well, them boys-for all they're
lazier'n toad in the sun-they kept
her in wood last winter, an they helped
her fix her garden this spring. An she
cOaXed 'em to learn to read. They
wouldn't 20 to school, but she's learned
'em somehow, an when | said to-day:
You can't read, an you amt tit for no
place. Pierre says: Yes we can, for
we learned last winter Well, there
amt no use in sayin' more about it.
must be goin' on"
"Do you mean, Captain, if anybody
were willing to sign for these boys you'd
take them?" Ruth said.
"It's ten to one but that might, just
as an experiment, the Captain an
swered. 1.-The signin's a form, any
how, just to show they've got some
body to back 'em. If [ don't they'll
most likely take to the bad altogether,
and I'll be taxed along with the rest o.
the town to keep 'em in jail. I've as
good mind as ever was, but you see,
faint rational"
Then we will be irrational togeth-
err" Ruth said, smiling. Il wanted
chance for them, and here it is. I'll
sign, and we will give them fair trial.
I'm a property-holder and taxpayer;
won it do?'
you don't mean it." said the Cap
tain. "FOlks'n say we're crazy. |
reckon we are. It's bad blood"
&" 1t will be worse if we let it run in
the same old channels" Ruth said.
TRY them awhile, and if it fails, we
will let it 90 as something beyond u.s."
81 can't say will, all in a minute
this way" said the Captain. give got
10 InlnK IL over more. lam prudent.
What'll your aunt say?'
"She will say she is glad. She has
always declared those boys could be
made something of if there was anyone
to do just the right thing. Come in and
talk it over with her."
The Captain followed, shaking his
head. Such speed was not at all in his
usual course of action, but an hour
later he came out, looking as if his mind
were made up, and went down the
hill and toward the river. The boys
We're on the river fishing, their mother
said, tall woman, with the brilliant
dark eyes they had inherited, and
whose house looked more comfortable
than he had expected. They rowed
hastily and wonderingly to shOreas they
heard his call.
I'm goin' to give you try" he
said. BE at the bay Monday morn
ing"
The boys turned pale, then red, and
looked at him in speeches. surprise as
to what had wrong hit the change.
Miss Dysart's the one you've to
thank for it." the Captain went on.
She signs for you. But, mind you, if
1 see head or tail of your tricks, over
board you 60, and no quarter. Do you
updarS+and95,