The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-06-14
TIE PERRY GANG.


The sun never shone more brightly and
the air was never more clear and brac-
ing than when Sinclair helped his wife
of the train at Pawnee Junction. The
station-master's face fell as he saw the
lady. but he saluted the engineer with
as easy an air as he could assume, and
watched for an opportunity to speak to
him alone. Sinclair read the dispatches
with an unmoved countenance, and,
after few minutes reflection, simply
said; ''All right. Be sure and keep
the matter perfectly quiet" At break
fast he was distrait-so much so that
his wife asked him what was the natter
Taking her aside, he at once showed her
the kilograms.
You see my duty" he said. my
only thought is about you, my dear
child VIII you stay hereP"
She simply replied, looking into his
face without a tremor:
"My place is with you" Then the
conductor called "All aboard" and the
train once more started.
Sinclair asked Foster to join him in
the smoking compartment and tell
promised story, which the latter did.
A former rescue at Barker's, he frankly
and gratefully said, had been the turn
ing point in his life. In brief, he had
'sworn OFF, from gambling and drink
ing, and had found honestemployment
and was doing well.
''pve two things to do now, Major"
he added; "first, l must show my
gratitude to you; and next he
hesitated little-'.I want to find that
poor girl that left behind at Barker's.
She was engaged to marry me, and
when l came to think of it, and what o
life I'd have made her lead, hadn't
the heart till now to look for her; but,
seeing I'm on the right track, Pm
going to find her, and get her tic come
with me. Her fathers an old scoundrel,
but that ain t her fault, and amt going
to marry him."
Foster" quietly asked Sinclair,
edo you know the Perry gang?"
The mans brow darkened.
"Know themp" said he. 'I know
them much too well. Perry is as I'M
godly cut-throat as ever killed an
emigrant in cold blood, and he's got in
his gang nearly all those bounds that
tried to hang me, Why do you ask,
Maior?"
Sinclair handed him the dispatches.
''You are the only man on the train to
whom | have shown them" said he.
Foster read them slowly, his eyes
lighting up as he did so. "Looks as il
it was true" said he. "Let me see.
Fort -. Yes, that's the til Infantry.
Two of their boys were killed at Sydney
last summer by some of the same gang,
and the regiments sworn vengeance.
Major, if this storys on the square
that crowds goose is cooked, and dom
you forget it! / say, you must give me
hand in it"
Poster" said Sinclair, 81 am going tC
put the responsibility on your shoulders
/ have no doubt that, if we be attacked
the soldiers will dispose of the gang
but I must take all possible precaution:
for the safety of the passengers. W.
must not alarm them. They can b.
made to think that the troops are goins
on scout, and only y certain numbe
of resolute men need be told of wha
we expect. Can you, late this after
noon, 90 through the cars and picl
them out? l will then put you il
charge of the passenger cars, and you
can post your men on the platforms t.
act in case of need. My place will b.
ahead"
major, you can depend on me, " wa
Fosters reply 'I'll go through tn
train ard have my eye on some boys o
the right sort, and that's got thei
shOoting-irons with then"
Through the hours of that day o.
rolled the train, still over the crisp hui
falo grass, across the well-worn buffal
trails, past the prairie-dog villages
The passengers chatted, dozed, playe
cards, read, all unconscious, with tn
exception of three, OF the coming cor
flict between the good and evil force
bearing on their fate; of the fell PREF
arations making for their disasterf c
the grim preparations making to aver
such disasters of all of which the littl
wires alongside of them had been talk
ing back and forth. Watkins had telC
graphed that he still saw no reason
doubt the good faith of his warning, an
Sinclair had reported his receipt of AT
thority and his acceptance thereof
Meanwhile, also, there had been set j
motion Il measure of that power
which appeal is SO reluctantly made ]
time Of peace. At Fort --, a lionel
post on the plains, the orders had ths