The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-12-18
IN The LIONS DEN.
Old Bob Tells Neat Little Story and is
Imprisoned on Strength of 1t.

Imprisoned on Strength of 1t.
"Dar oughter be some lawn dis heah
country agin BLOWN homes folks up
wild powder an all dat sorter foolish
ness" said old Bob, who, hobbGng on
crutches, entered the office of the chief
of police, and addressed that officer.
whats the matterP' the CHIEF
asked.
"W'y sab, somebody dun bowed ma
up wild powder"
where were you at the timer"
ain my own house, sab; ez peaceabla
ez err man could be.
Had you been engaged in quarre |
with any one?'
mo, sab; not err tall. y
''On good terms with your neigh !
bors?"
"Best in de worl'."
How were you blown up?"
"W'y, sab, ez tells yer, wuz a-set'
tin at home jes' en- peaceablo ez er man
could-bless yer soul | wuH er readin'
my Bible at de time-When all DER sud-
denment, dar come de blamdest 'splo'
zion | cher heard. "
I'VE must look into this matter"
said the chief.
"Yas, I hopes yer will, sab. De fust
thing | knOwed, tur-lur BIN! an den
de stove do few off an come mighty
Oh breakin' bot my laigs. De stove
an it cos me two dollars an sebenty fl
cents-wuz blowed all ter pieces, an
some sweet pertaters dat mad or roast
in in dar-huh, scraped one o EN- of
de j ce wild er case knife, an ain t seed
dc udder ones yit. ="
you say that your stove eXploded?"
"Yas, sab. y
"How do you account for itP'
'Doan know, san. Wuz er settin dar
er readjn my Bible am
Eyes, understand all that, but how
do You suppose any one could have put
powder in your stove without attracting
your attent on.
'Da couldn't done it, sab, an dat's
whut posters me. l tuck all de ashes
outen de stove an sweep it out clean. "
could any one hSye thrown powder
down the chimney?'
"Ain't cot no chimly. Stoye-pipe
zoe, out dc side O de house,
just then a wcll-known citizen en-
tered. Chief he said, ''the negroes
out my way are stealing my wood |
spoke to a policeman about it, but he
said that he couldn't do any thing, so |
took the matter into my own hands. !
bored a hole in a stick of wood and
! loaded it with powder That night SO
l have been told, terrific explosion
took place. don't know whether any
one has been killed. Thought l d drop
in and tell YOU that if you hear Unusual
no scs out my way not to be alarmed. "
When the citizen had gone, the chief,
turning to Bob asked:
doesn't that statement explain the
cause Of the explos on which occurred
at your house?" -
"Look heah, boss; wuz in faber o
verse when yer wuz er cancrdate fur
dis Office"
That is all right. Where did you
get your wood the other night?'
"Huh?"
The chief repeated the question.
"Whar git de wood?'
Eyes
Bought it.
"All OF it?'
"Huh?"
The chief repeated the question.
"Lemme see. Oh, yes, | found el
chunk in de rect
"Are you sure it was in the street,?
"Cose is, Knows de street when
sees it, reckon"
Jim" sa the chief, calling q
policeman, take charge of this man.
'Whut fur?n claimed old Bob.
For stealing wood. -
Oar now; dar now; Use got it
Neber seed ch er fool ez / is. Com,
right inter de lions den an gin myse
up. Thought | wuz gwine ter git SOM
money frum de city. Take me on e
way, an blame eff | keers eff yer fling
me in de riber ''-ArbaRSGU IrdrolGr.