The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-01-09

into the barn, and quickly came out,
carrying a lantern in one hand, and
with the other he was gripping smaH
boy, Tim Larkin, and known to be
mischief-maker in the neighbOrhood.
Here is the guilty oner shouted the
President HE has owned up already
That he fixed our lanterns. You see, he
was waiting for chance to get off. J."
Yes, Tim Larkin, having committed
the outrage, did not succeed in an
escape from the barn before the en-
trance of the club Crawling back into
dark corner he waited to hear them
conclude their festival" but the Pres
ident, suddenly discovering Tim, had
pounced upon himl
"What have you got to say for your.
selfp" inquired the President.
Eyes, yes!'' "Now for your' Got
caught, ehp" "Duck him!" MAKE
him wear pumpkin were some Cd
the opinions volunteered on this oc-
casiOn. The Barley Corners were -
a savage mood, and Tim Larkin shrank
before the angry looks of the club.
simeon! Simeonr' sand his Aunt
Patty, softly, II want to see you q miA-
ute"
"What is it, auntP" he asked as the
two stepped aside.
What are you going to do with
bimP"
ooh, don't know. Whether we
shall hang him up to tree, or not,
don't know"
"Well, now, you let me manage it.
OF course it was mean caper, and If
you will let me fix it warrsntyou that
he will feel mean and miserable
enough. Will you let mep"
Yes, if the fellers agree To it, YOU
know. l must ask them"
"Of course"
The boys all liked Aunt Patty, and
consented. She now took Tim LarkiA
within the house and seated him in the
kitchen. His face was pale and he
fingered his cap uneasily. He wondered
what was coming. He had been ex-
pecting pounding every minute, and
was bracing himself up in readiness for
the penalty, He was entirely unpre-
pared for Aunt Patty when she sat
down beside him, and in her pleasant,
while impressive, way-she had very
sweet yet dignitied voice-ta talked to him
about his unfair, unkind course. The
longer Aunt Patty talked the worse
Tim felt. If he had only been out-of-
doors, Catching it, while the club
gave it to him good" he could have
attempted some kind of resistance. But
he was at Aunt Patty's mercy, and he
could do nothing but feel miserable an
over, away down to his boots.
"I-won't-again," he murmwed.
"I-know-it was-mean."
care you hungry, TimP"
Hungry Were not the Larkin tribe
hungry all the time, the mother poor
widow and the children seven in mum.
berp Tim nodded his head.
"rll get piece of pumpkin pie for
you," said Aunt Patty. She brought
him bigpiece.
Eat that" she said
Tim was too hungry to refuse, and
the pie did taste good, but, oh, it made
him feel mean enough about his treat
ment of the "Barley-Corn Club"
CHOW, Tim, the club will go home
with you. They won't touch you, but
you must do just as say and take this
in your hands," said Aunt Patty.
"Just give it to your mother"
She held out package. 1t contained
one of those deep, big pumpkin pies,
for the making of which Mrs. Peters
was so famous. One of these she had
just given to Aunt Patty. Tim could
guess what it was, and it felt like a
milestone in his hands. II anybody
had kicked him, he could have Kicked
back, but what could Tim do with his
pumpkin piep He couldn't throw that
back. He could only keep it and ieel
miserable.
Aunt Patty had arranged everything
with the club, and they knew just
what to do. She had told them how
Tim was feeling, and, sure enough,
when she led Tim to the door, the
Barley Corners = drawn up in tive
lines, each man (small mani with his
pumpkin lantern-rcceived very mis-
cradle looking being.
Forward, march!n majestically
shouted the President.
Down the street they went, the mis-
cradle being walking between two
blazing lines, as if on his way to death
at the stake. There was no execution
intended save to the pumpkin pie that,
in gingerly fashion, Tim bore in his
hands. Its wrapping had slipped of
at one side.
"Haltr' shouted the President, al
Mrs. Larkin's door, and then rapping
on worn black pannel, the President
babe each Barley-Corner TO wait until
the door was opened A woman with
q thin, hungry face came to the door
and crowding around her were sil
other thin, hungry beings.
"Oh, Tim-tLs youP' "My! set
them pumpkipsl What makes ZEN
look SOP" "a pie! a pie! Goodyr
"Where did you getit, Timmyp" "Wha
you been doin' so long, 1immyP"
Amid these EXPLANATIONS the beare
of the pumpkin pie was received to hi
home, feeling that he was the meanes
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