The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-05-01

where Frenchmen, whom he regT rds as
all thieves, may lay hands on it, so he
carries it about with him. thinking that
on his person it can not fail to be safe"
The idea of undeceiving him in this
particular was too tempting; / found
myself smiling in anticipation of the be-
wildered and horror-stricken expression
his face would wear when he discovered
his loss. 1t was the humor of the thing
that touched me.
That fatal gift of humor, which has
ruined so many honest men, led me to
my destruction. Deep in my soul, be-
meath the outer garb of the man of the
world was wearing, dwelt the in
stincts of the professional pick-pocket.
Almost unconsciously inserted my left
hand 1--WE are all ambidexter in our pro-
fession) in his pocket and gently drew
out a pooketbook-the very sort OF
pocket-book knew he would carry. l
edged away from my victim as soon as
the little operation was over, and olsen
tangling myself from the interested
auditors who were listening to a gayly-
dressed damsel shrieking with the re-
mains of once powerful voice, soon
found myself walking along the brightly
lighted boulevard. / had not gone far
before noticed that the diamond ring
which | constantly wore on the third
finger of my left hand was missing.
1t was little too large for me; but
| had not thought it advisable to
have the size altered just yet:
and the result was that it slipped from
my finger. knew that | wore it when
l left my hotel, but | could not recol-
lect noticing its presence at any subse-
quent time; so l went to every place l
had visited since | came out, the cafe
where had dined, the shop where |
had bought some cigars, the streets lhad
traversed, looking everywhere for some
trace of my lost jewel, and inquiring
of every one to whom had previously
spoken if they had seen anything Of it.
felt dreary conviction that my treas
ured ornament was gone forever, when,
as a last resource, went to bureau
de police and gave description of the
lost ring to the officer there. Ihe
officer was polite, but gave me amall
hope of ever seeing my diamond again.
| gave it up as gone forever.
was sitting in my hotel dull and de-
pressed, angry at my own carelessness,
and inclined to give up any further holt
day and forget my annoyance by a
speedy return to my professional du-
ties in London, when my friend of the
police-office entered.
81 am happy he said, bowling politely
and smiling with, as thought, antici.
patton of a handsome reward; 81 am
happy to inform monsieur that we hope
soon to place his ring in his hands. One
answering to the description you gave
was brought to our Office b5 the finder
a countryman of your own. The rine
being rather an uncommon one, | fell
assured that it could be no other thar
the one you had lost. You described it
| think, as consisting of five diamond
set in the shape of violet, with ;
smaller brilliant in the center-a yer,
curious and valuable jewel"
Eyes, that's it" | replied CURLY, won
dering why he could not give me bacl
my property without SO many words.
Then may safely assume that thi
is the ring in question:" He brough
, out my ring from his pocket and showe'
it to me.
+ at is, | said stretching out my hand
but he did not restore the jewel, onl
, stood there holding it and smiling NOR
than ever. l supposed that he wante
to see some sign of the reward he eH
, pected to receive before parting with tn
; trinket. l took out my purse, an
| opening it, made some remark abOU
t showing my appreciation of his honesty
I but he shook his head, smiling,
Y possible, more broadly than before.
"Do you not wish to know, monsieur
f how your ring was foundP" he asked
g with leer which l thought was dis
, greeable.
"Well, how was it foundP" 1 sale
a tartly.
S Ny policeman drew himself up to d.
. liver his great effect. Monsieur, you
= ring was found in another man
0 pocket stared at him in bewilde
|, ment, mingled with an indefinite fea
+, while he continued his narrative in
d less courteous and more coniidentii
It tone than he had hitherto assume,
a "Ah, mon ami, one may be too cleve
ones dexterity may lead one astra
e if it be rot balanced by discr
l. ton. You had not long left tt
n Office when another Englishman can
l. in complaining that he had lost pocl
g et-book containing all his money. +
1t had put his hand in his pocket
bring it out, meaning to pay for som
" thing, but found it gone, and in
y place a diamond ring-your ring. F,
r my own part, do not doubt your no
Y esty-even your generosity. You b
Is lieved, doubtless. that exchange is n
e robbery, and, that in leaving your rir
l. in exchange for his portemonnaie, Y,
Of would at once obtain memento of
at compatriot and do him practical ben
v, fit. That is the Interpretation l shou
OF wish to put on the affair; but the own
l of the pocket-book will not see it in tn
e. light-he lacks Imagination, as so ma
IA I nc on,,r-r ,-,,,v. ,.,,,, a.