The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-04-10

WoI6 no NlSlJOTS III lN5 mouse, except
Long Jim and me. There was not even
dog on thepremises to complicate mat
ters Long jim had visited the prem
ises disguised as book agent. in my
profession we are obliged to resort to
such humiliating DISCUSSES. He had kept
his eyes open while he was in the house.
He knew all about the doors and win
dows There was a good deal of old sill
yer in the sideboard in a room that
could be entered from the veranda.
Every thing seemed to favor us. The
garden gate was locked, but we scaled
the wall with ease and borrowed a STEP
ladder. 1t was very dark night,
hence we could not see our way very
clear The special policeman was fast
asleep, thanks to the evils of intemper-
ance, and the regular-mounted police
man would not make his rounds for
two hours. As far as we were concern
ed he might have remained away alto
gether. In a very short time | was in
the dining-roQm where the sdeboard
and the silver were. Although not
specially invited, l stepped up to the
sideboard and took something Not to
put too fine point on it l took every
thing in sight that was worth taking.
BY the light of my dark lantern | was
able to fill large bag with the plumber.
! waited for the signal from Long Jim,
who was on the outside, to notify me
that the coast was clear. No signal
came, but to my CONSERVATION, | heard
music and then voices. | was afraid
that we had been discovered. Leaving
the plumber on the table, for did not want
to be caught with it in my possession as
it might have made me an object of sus.
picion, | opened the door and stood on
the veranda listening.
"There was a man singing and ac.
comparing himself on guitar. We
were not the only criminals in the
neighborhood it seemed. The music
stopped suddenly. and l heard Long
Jim say in low voice:
".'What are you doing here? Ibe
lieve you are thief.
''The answer of the musician was:
"'DOn't interfere with me- ] am ser.
enading a lady
"'Now, you clear out of here. The
people in the house want to sleep and |
don't propose to have them disturbed.
Have you any license to give open air
concertsp'
mo, was the timid reply.
"'Then you get away from here as
fast as your legs will carry you or III
run you in. I'm a special policeman,
said Long Jim, Indignantly.
81 heard some grumbling and the
sound of departing footsteps
81 was glad of it, for was not in the
humor to listen to poor music just then.
| was about to go back for the plundeI
when the door gently opened a few
inches, and gentle female voice wills.
pered through the crack:
Johnny, dearest Johnny
"1 had half dozen names, but
Johnny was not one of them, so sh,
couldn't mean me. Presence of MIND
in such emergencies is my strong card
! did not betray myself by any sudder
exclamation. l merely muttered few
indistinct words
"'You are too rash, Johnny; you vii
get yourself into trouble.
"It struck me that there was vein G.
truth running through the remark, bu
l said nothing
"You should not bring me serenade
Father is awfully angry at you. He ha
heard some false rumors about you, bu
I'll tell you all about it when we NEE
at the old place tomorrow at three
o'clock.
81 thought to myself that she had bet
ter not wait for me. | thought alst
this was about the right time to expires
some emotion, so 1 sighed heavily
"'I dare not come out, for I'm no
dressed to receive company. How
would like to kiss you, Johnny dear
"'I sighed again. There was som
genuinenes in this last sigh of mine.
cit is 50 kind in you to bring me
serenade. Here, take this said tn
gentle female voice, and something wa
handed out through the partially close
door. ] took it, not knowing what els
to do. The next thing took was m
leave. / took it hurriedly, for in
voice trembling with emotion the voic
said:
"'Run as hard as YOU can, johnny
Father is coming with the light. He
coming down stairs with his revolver
Run as fast as you can, run for M
sake, johnny
81 can't refuse any thing to a lady
although right there in the dining-rooI
, was my bag of silverware, my jimmy
my life-preserver and other professions
7 instruments. Long Jim was waitin
, outside. l told him to run and W
vanished over the garden wall. AftC
+ we had run about quarter of mil
we stopped. Then told him how / ha
I been obliged to leave the valuables b,
hind. The way he swore was positivel
4 sinful. If, however, we had Overtake
. that serenader there would have bee
\ some mpromptu vocal music in II
; midnight atmosphere
: land what was it the young lad
e gave you?'
g II had kept it in my hand. 1t was a
! we had made by that adventure.
didn't repay us for our lost time an
: professional services.