Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-09-17
CRAWLING, MICHIGAN, THURSDAY. sEPTEl

ing everybody another half-hour 70
settle down again, / started.
Boys, did you ever try to go up OF
down pair of stairs at night without
making noise? You may try all sorts
OF ways, but every stepis sure to creak,
each with peculiar noise of its own,
and loud enough, you arc certain, to
awaken everybo ly. / had gotten
nearly to the bottom, when little fat
dog came trotting along the entry to-
ward me, barking furiously. A sup
pressed "Come here, sir; you, ZipP
silenced him, for he recognized me !;
but the noise started the mocking-bird,
and the dogs in the neighborhood hav-
ing learned to take the cue, OF course
all joined chorus for the third time.
l ran along the passage, reached the
door, and unlocked it, Just as the gov
ernor. reused the second time, opened
his door, and, seeing man escaping
from the house by the. back way, of
course cried '"Thievesl Thievesl" and
made rush after me. 1 was too quick
for him, though, opened the door,
sprang out, and broke for the door
which opened into the room below
mine, and had just reached it when
! crash! within q foot of my head went
a brick, and another voice, that / knew
belonged to next-door- -neighbor Tomp-
kins, joined the governor in the cry OF
''Thievesl Murder Thievesp L was
safe enough. Rushing up the stairs /
shelled myself quicker than 1 ever did
before or since, and was in bed and
sound asleep in less than half
a minute. Wasn't there a row, though
/ never heard 80 many dogs before; the
mockng-bird, of course, outdoing all
previous efforts; the chickens even be-
gan to crow. Tompkins, next door,
was hallooing "Thievesp and calling
the governor. I could hear screams
and all sorts of noises among the neigh
bors, until at length the old gentle
mans voice was heard in the yard, call
ing John Johnl"
John was sound asleep-snoring.
John !" cried the old man in voice
that would have reused man from an
epileptic fit.
L judged it prudent to wake then,
and, jumping from my bed, raised my
window, and, rubbing my eyes, and
looking particularly frightened (Which
1 was), asked:
"Why, father, what in the world is
the matter ?"
There's thieves in the house." was
the reply. "Get your gun and come
down, and be quick. He's in the room
below you, John !" hallooed Tompkins.
"I'm certain of it. saw him as he ran
down, and threw q firc-brick at him.
II Ennu hn didn't fhoE 1AAr M,
Jones'"
was directed to "look out for my
self" The governor stood sentinel at
the door below, armed with q club,
while Tompkins had five minutes to
collect aid from the neighbors. and in
less than half that, so thoroughly was
e~sry house alarmed. there were a dozen
or more men in the yard armed with
guns, pistols, and sticks.
The governor led the attack. Open
ing the door he called: "Come out
here, you house-breaking scoundrel
If you attempt to run or resist, I'll
blow your brains out"
Nobody came, however.
watch the door," was the order,
while go in" and was told to "look
sharp" and "shoot the rascal if he
came up stairs" A momentary search
was sufficient to satisfy everybody that
the thief was not in the room.
"lle's up stairs, them" cried Tomp-
kins, "for I'll take my Bible oath he
didn't pass that door,"
So up stairs they trooped, but had
lit candle by that time, and there was
no burglar there. The strictest search,
even in looking under a boot-jack,
didn't show the slightest trace of him.
The yard was next examined, then the
house, and everybody being to!erably
well satisfied that he had escaped, the
neighbors dispersed to their several
homes; but was appointed sentinel
for the rest OF the night, and ordered
not to sleep on my post under penalty
of fogging.
The articles missing, ON thorough
investigation next day, were two pies
and the old lady's silver thimble. The
thimble turned up in week or two,
being discovered under the corner of
the carpet. but the pies have never
been accounted for to this dav.
On oath L could have given very
material testimony as to the disposition
of the stolen property, but as the case
did not come before the courts / re-
mained quiet.
Didn't the local editors boom, though
Cne of them elongated himself through
a half q column, and headed the item /:
a Diabollcal and Atrocious Attempt
at Burglary and Murder" describing,
with graphic particulars, the fiendish
attempt to throttle Miss and her
servant, complimented the GOODNESS
and resolution of II. Tompk rs, ESQ.,"
and perforated with whitening anathe-
ma on the want of vigilance displayed
by the police.
It was fun for me to see with what
wide-awake sagacity the watch used to
stop at the door and listen during their
nightly rounds for months after; and
you could not have hired youngster
to go under the porch, on any account,
after dark. The excitement died away,
though, after awhile; but I'll never
forget the night tried to get in with
out making a noise.
| T.oofu,aot of CoarIaf Eavor