!6 THE SPORTSMAN'S PARADISE; 



second summons which informed us that breakfast was 

 now ready. However, owing to greater promptness on 

 the part of others, there were seated around the large 

 hotel table about twenty persons at the time we en- 

 tered the dining-room, who were observed to cast side- 

 long glances at us without speaking. Few words were 

 spoken during this meal by any of the guests, but our 

 party was closely eyed. It was not, however, until after 

 breakfast that the lawyer and myself learned the purport 

 of all this when our gunner, Alfred Goldsmith, called my 

 legal friend aside and informed him that the proprietor 

 of the hotel did not seem to be quite at ease in regard 

 to the nature of our business. The lawyer informed me, 

 after his interview with Mr. Goldsmith, that the proprietor 

 had been quizzing our gunner in regard to our intentions 

 in visiting that section of country. When informed by 

 the latter that we came from New York to Tennessee 

 for a few days' quail-shooting, the proprietor expressed, 

 emphatically, his doubts in regard to the accuracy of this 

 statement, and promptly informed Goldsmith that he was 

 not prepared to believe that the gentlemen with him were 

 such fools as to travel so far merely to kill a few birds. 

 This remark was too much for Goldsmith ; he had no 

 answer for it. The proprietor observing his silence, in- 

 formed him that he had had the honor of entertaining, 

 within a few months, Jesse James and his party, and that 

 while stopping in this hotel they had occupied the same 

 rooms in which we were now lodged. Goldsmith was 

 now asked if he was familiar with the different points of 

 interest about Shelbyville. He answered in the negative. 



