The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-04-08

weeks more without finding any evil |
dence that a single dollar of counterfeit |
money had passed through the hands of |
the mysterious Dutchman, or that the |
goods in which he had been dealing
were anything else than what they had |
been represented to be. Although feel
ing thoroughly convinced that the old
man was the very person who was car
ryipg on that nefarious business, had
not thus far been able to lay my finger
on single point of positive and reliable
evidence bearing in that direction.
was growing desperate, and begin
ming to feel as if would like to make
the matter either better or worse in
some way. Calling again upon the Sher-
| i'll, said:
81 am not satisfied, Mr.. Crosby, with
the explanations you have givcnlme' in
regard to Won Schroeder"
| "Then to the dickens with your was
his unguarded reply, as he glared upon
me with q savage fury, in which saw an
expression about which could not be
mistaken. In that look there was murder.
We were alone at that moment in his
private office. felt conscious of being
a full match for him if he was disposed
to do anything desperate, but grasped
my revolver, without, however, draw
inc it, and. as l believed, unnoticed by
him. From that instant [ knew, what
l had already suspected, that in the per-
son of the Sheriff himself | had fend
to deal with. | Immediately said:
"Mr. Sheriff, | am an officer of the
United States Government, and am as
deeply interested in the public welfare
| e;gt
Won Schroeder and having a personal
interview with him the next time he
comes to the city,"
"And do you claim. SIR" said the
Sheriff, with a look of defiance, "that
it is my business to find him for you and
bring him to you?"
1 claim, sir" said, "that it is your
duty to render me every reasonable as
sistance in discovering the man who is,
as | believe, the leader in the manufact-
uring and distributing of counterfeit
money in this vicinity. L shall give
myself no rest until l know the full
truth in regard to this matter"
And again / received another of those
murderous looks. 1t seemed useless to
pursue the matter any further at that
time, and Notwithstanding my eye,
however, upon the Sheriff until l was
out of his reach.
My next visit was to my friend Judge
Blanchard, to whom | related exactly
what had occurred. He was silent for
some minutes, then said:
"Well, Mr.. Rulison, this is, indeed,
avery strange affair, and brings to myre-
membrance many things which l have
been unable to understand or explain.
Can it be possible that our Sheriff himself
is associated with that man, and that
they together are the leading
spirits in this iniquitous work? 1t is a
singular fact" added the Judge, "that
my wife has never had the least con-
fidence in Sheriff Crosby; and where she
has been positive in her conclusions in
regard to any one l have never yet
; known her to fail in the final result
) The Judge then rose and paced the
room for some time in silence; then
6 pausing in front of me, he said:
, 81 am very glad you have come here
3 This counterfeiting business has been 6
curse to this community, and a great
, trouble to me. have felt as if my Off
cial and personal honor were compro
! missed so long as it was permitted tc
: continue. Sheriff Crosby must anC
5 shall bring that strange. man into oul
presence. If he refuses to do so, | will
a order his arrest at once on a charge O.
completely with him in that nefariou!
: business. l can do that on the basis O
{ what you have told me of his converse
? ton with you, and the determination HI
\ has shown to keep that man out of view
: We have enough to justify preliminary
!. examination, which may bring to high
s other facts of much greater impor
;. tance."
Y Calling in an office-boy at that mo
ment, the Judge directed him to go t.
h the Sheriff's Office and ask him to come
= in. The boy soon returned, saying tina
n Mr.. Crosby was not in but that his dep
: uty would be there in few minutes.
"The Sheriff has left town, Judge
s suddenly, on important private bust
s ness, in answer to Dispatch said tn
deputy, when he came in.
e "Do you know anything in regard t.
s the nature of the businessP the Judg
h asked.
e "Nothing whatever, sir. He re
e marked, on leaving, that he might b
b, absent ten days; perhaps more"
IS Every we'll l would like to hav
e YOU inform me at once should Colone
y Won Schroeder be seen in the city," sal
d the Judge.
d Eyes, sir. And, by the way, he
n likely to be here to-night-at least tn
:. Sheriff told me so, and handed me
g bundle of papers to be sent to hi
d house, intended, as he said, for tn
Colonel"
l. "And have you sent themP"