The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-08-21

main road, and were entering mar.
row wood path, The sun was down
and it was almost dark.
"What are you going through the
forest for?n asked Walter.
81 mean to make a near cut an git
home sooner by it.
Walter was silenced by the answer.
The forest was dark, wild and lone.
some, and would have struck timid
person with terror. Night was upon
them before they had gone a mile
through the dark wood. Bill kept up
conversation as idle as it was uninterest-
ing. "You got out O that scrape slick,
my boy" he finally said, with his hid
eous face near our hero.
"What scrape?" asked Walter.
so, at Queenstown"
Walter felt his heart give one big
leap to his throat yet he feigned ignor-
ance.
"You speak in riddles, Bill; / can't
understand you.
wall l kin make myself plain as
We want me TO-"
81 wish you would"
"Wa'll, it's the little trouble We had
at Joe Brewster's or more egzactly
with the officers of the law, while We
were in Joe Brewster's store"
Walter was speeches.. This phan.
tom seemed determined ever to rise up
in his path, between himself and happi.
ness. 1t was the ghost that haunted
him and seemed likely to drive him to
ruin.
aye know, " said Bill, nudging him in
the side with his thumb.
81 suppose | do" he answered.
"In course We do! ha. ha, hat
"But l will swear | committed no
theft and am guilty of no crime"
"Of course We didn't, like ter hear We
say that! ha, ha, ha, laughed Bill, up
roariously, as though he thought it the
most excellent joke of the season. 81
guess We think | know all yer secrets.
''YOu certainly know that fatal one, -"
said Walter, hardly able to suppress
the tears that rushed unbidden to his
eyes.
aye needn't be afeard o. me a giyin'
ye away. | have never give a pal
away yit."
What could he mean by those strange
words! Once before he had given ut
terance to them, and Walter was as
much mystilied now as then. He was
soon to learn their fearful import, and
realize what it was to be q pal of Bill
Martin.
Eye see" continued Bill, 1--WE bin
there an know all about it.
wouldn't blow on We cause ye might
turn round and blow on me. d"
II know nothing on you," said Wal
ter.
Now, I'm goin' to tell you some
thin on US soon, cause its gittin
about the time we was understandin
each other"
Walter trembled and was silent.
I'm satisfied yer a man o. courage
nerve an pluck, an told our capt il
so, soon as l seed We. He is iist the
man to pry round an lay plans an
tell us how to lay our hands on The
swag the easiest. J
Il certainly do not understand you,
meaning"
EYE want me to be little hi
planners"
"Yes."
Eyer won't squealP"
NO"
"Swar yen never tell"
81 do"
: Eye hcv courageP"
81 hope So"
EYE hev had a hard time all We
life?"
YES, indeed"
, "Wouldn't We like to iv easy, an b.
, rich, an hev heaps o money!"
, Certainly"
"Wa'n, sir, we'ro;goin' to make pile
| O money together"
Il should not object if it was gottel
t honorably.'
t ANY way is honor ble-thatis BRAY
, and the wealth o. this world don
, b'long to one man any more'n anoth
er. The man that gifts more nor hi
sheer is not titled to hev it. The ric
man puts his heel on the poor one
and eff one man'll cheat another out c
! money an hoard it up, it's no more
right to 90 an take back what belong
to we. The money belongs to tn
world; we're its children an hev RICH
: to take our own"
, You do not mean you would rob 70
your shareP" asked Walter, tremblin
, with establishment.
, "Some folks call it that, and that
: list what mean"
. Walter was calm, now; his fair
. suspicious were fully confirmed an
after few moments he asked: "Di
|, you assist in the attempt TO rob the Ca
ifornian at Mr.. Miles?'"
"Wait till we are one O us an I'll tie
we al"
, At this moment they drove throug
a thicket of hazel, and emerged int
an open space, where stood an old DE-
, serted cabin. Here Walter beheld ha
a dozen large dark men standing as
> waiting for them to come up.
r There's our band, said Bill, in
whisper, ''brave an true as steel; they
o kill any one who turns traitor. Act W
us. an in month veil be rich enoug
90 bn,y old Milas' farm an Marry n