The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1881-12-03
Satisfied as to this land pre,tly dis.

OatlSueu as 10 InlS laHu RTetIly us
appointed), felt that it was now in
cumbent upon me to pursue my re-
searches. Candle in hand and pistol in
pocket. l therefore explore the pantrs.
To my great relief, it was empty. Was
it possible that the thief had departed?
If so, he had gone without his highlows,
for there they stood on the veStibule
table as large as life, and, from the me-
cessity of the case, size or two larger.
Their build and bulk, indeed impressed
me more than ever. Was it possible
that only one burglar had come in those
bootsP
l entered the kitchen: not a mouse
was stirring; on the other hand, there
was a legion of black beetles, who
scuttled away in all directions except
one. They avoided the dresser-be-
meath which lay the gentleman | was
too small for him, but affecting to be
asleep. Indeed, though previously l
had not even heard him breathe, no
sooner did the light from my candle
fall upon him than he began to snore
stentOriously. ! felt at once that this
was to give me the idea of the slumber
that follows honest toll. l knew be-
fore he spoke that he was going to tell
me how, tired and exhausted, he had
taken shelter under my roof, with no
other object (however suspicious might
be the circumstances of his positionl
than night rest. of which he stood
in urgent need.
Don't shoot, SIR" he said, for 1
took care to let the handle of Edward
Johns pistol protrudc from my dress
ing-gown. 81 ana poor, but honest;
only came in here for the warmth and
to have a snooze."
"How did you get IMP" l inquired,
sternly.
81 just priced up the wash us
winder," was his plaintive reply, land
laid down ere"
"Then you put out your boots in the
back hall to be cleaned in the morning,
l SUPPOSED"
At this he grinned a dreadful grin.
1t seemed to say: GAS you have the
whip-hand of me, you may be as humor-
Gus as you please; but if it was not for
that pistol, my fine friend, you would
be laughing on the other side OF your
mouth, | reckon.
Come, march," said 1. "Put on
your boots"
He got up as a wild beast rises from
his lair, and slouched before me into
the hall.
Though he looked exceedingly
wicked, felt grateful to him for going
so peaceably, and was moved to com
passion.
"Were you really in want. that you
came hereP' l said. "Are you hun
gryp"
mot now" he answered, with a
leer.
Of course he was intimating that he
had supped at my expense, and at the
time thought it frank of him to ac-
knowledge it. If had known then, as
l learnt afterward, that he had eaten a
grouse and half, and the whole con-
tents of large jar of Devonshire cream
which we had just received as pres
ent, should have thought tmere i'm
pudence. | did think it rather impu-
dent when he said, as he stood at the
front door, which | had opened for his
exit:
Wont you give me half-a-crown,
sir, to put me in an honest way of bust
nessP" But, nevertheless, thinking it
better to part good friends, | gave him
what he asked for. He spit upon the
coin "for luck" as he was good enough
to explain, and also, perhaps, as a sub
stitute for thanks, since he omitted to
give me any, and slouched down the
gravel sweep and out of the gate.
1t was three o'clock; the mist had
began to clear and the moon and stars
were shining. A sort of holy calm be-
gan to pervade me. | felt that | had
done a good action and also got rid of q
very dangerous individual, and that it
was high time that l should 90 to bed
in peace with all men. My wife, how
ever, who had been reused by the serv-
ants, was on the tip-toe of expectation
to hear all that had taken place, and of
course had to tell her all. l described
each thrilling incident with such dra-
matte force that she averred that nothing
would ever induce her in my absence
to sleep in the house again. This was
perhaps but the just punishment for a
trihe of eXaggeration in the narrative
with which 1 had here and there in
dulged myself, but it was very unfor-
tunate. Now and then | find myself
detained in town, after dining at the
club, by circumstances over which |
have no control (such as a rubber at
whist, which sometimes stretch like In
dia rubber), and hitherto had only to
telegraph in the afternoon to express
my regret that there was possibility
OF my non-return. Here was an end to
all this, unless | could reassure her. l
therefore began to dwell upon the un-
likelihood of a second burglar ever visit
ing the house, which l compared with
that famous hole made by cannon
ball, said to be place of security from
hill, frn