The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-06-10

give up without making lie greater
blank than he care to face.
The note that he and Temporary had
been discussing was curt enough
"H you wish to avoid unpleasant
consequences, don't waste another day,
but go straight to him who has helped
you before The ten thousand will be
forthcoming.
The envelope bore the Western Dis
trict post-mark. 1t came from sta
toner in Mayfair. Other clue there was
not.
Several cigarettes and iced drinks had
been consumed since Tins last remark
on the subject, when Reggie broke the
long silence, which may or may not be
taken as indicative of deep thought, by
saying suddenly: - tell you what, she
means your Governor, of course. It's
as clear rs mud. Never mind who she
is. The tips straight enough. You 90
on and make a clean breast of it to-
morrow, after luncheon. and I'll lay you
a pony to nothing you'll find yourself
treated, down to the last detail like the
prodigal SON."
But the other shook his head. mo,
Reg, it's nasty enough to have broken
my word to the old pater, but I'm
ahnged if | can 90 and tell him so.
"Others will, sooner or later, my
dear fellow. Why not score off your
own bat?'
"a bad simile. Besides, he's as hot
as Lucifer and might say something |
could not swallow, though deserve it.
No, must stand the shot myself some
how"
But how?"
"That tomorrow may decide. Any
how, I'll turn in now. Perhaps a quiet
night for once may bring a happy
! thought
But the next day was well on before
| Tim hailed q "Forder," and found
himself en- route to the friend of the i'm
pecunious but eXpectant ones of the
upper ten"
Familiarity known among his numer-
Gus clients and their friends by Scrip
tural cognomen only, he whom Tim
sought in his difficulty had long cast off
his family name, and with it many of
the traditions and prejudices of his race.
| Nature had greatly assisted him. Fair,
and not too markedly nasal, his face
might have been pronounced distin-
guished. Certainly his manner was as
pleasant as his appearance. His terms,
though sometimes high, were never
very hard, and few, if any, found him
exacting as to his pound of flesh. He
was a banker, in fact, though not per-
haps of the orthodox order, and pos
sessed some of the qualities in which
they, as class, are wanting. Besides,
as not few of his fair clients whis-
pered. he evidently had history.
Tins not pleasant thoughts were
recalled by the cab stopping, and, as he
walked up the path in the garden
which separates the house from
the road in st. Johns Wood,
he tried to comfort himself by think
ing that possibly the boldness of the
step was in his favor. The neat and
rather pretty maid who answered his
ring was as unlike the attendant of the
conventional money-spider as were the
surroundings of the house, outside and
in. Hardly had he time. to cast an APP
preciating glance at the pictures and
other evidences of cultured tastes in the
room, when tall. well-bred- looking
man entered, and, with an agreeable
smile, said: !" All! Captain Montague,
! Just in time for the best of things, if
men would but have the courage of their
opinions luncheon provided they have
time and an appetite. / hope you have
both at your disposal"
Now Tins experience of his host
was confined to Sharp street.; here he
evidently placed himself ON the level of
his visitor. 1t was novel, but necessity
is an imperative master, and the answer
came readily enough: "You are very
good. have not long finished the first
meal of the day, but - ..s
"a Mayonnaise and bottle of Dag
onet's brut will do you no harm. Come
in. am quite alone" interrupts the
money-lender, as if divining the cause
of the soldiers hesitation.
The repast and its concomitants might
have tempted a much iaded appetite.
Certainly, they made Tim forget utterly
what brought him there, and presently,
under the further influence of curacao
and the best of Havanas, he found HIM
self discussing the social topics of the
day as freely as with one of his own
lot. They had gone over the unac-
countable failure of the Derby favorite;
the weather, and the racing at Ascot
the last good story from Pratt's; the
next possible phase of the troubles
across st. Georges Channel, when Tim
was brought up all standing by the re-
mark, made with all apparent indiffer-
ence: $50 l hear that the Phoenix
rose, indeed, from its ashes the other
night"
Like the bucket of cold water that it
was, it seemed to brace the intending
borrower to the forgotten, but necessa-
ry, striking point
Eyes, it's true, and l wish l had left
it there some time ago, but my luck,