Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1885-08-20

IN u lltllc tllno supper Wdb uuuOuHccu,
and / went into the next room, where a
frowsy- headed woman of middle age poured
tea aud waited on the table. / seemed to
be the only guest. The man of the house.
anxious that should not suffer from lonei-
ness. however, came in soon, and enter
tanned me with a stream Of talk about hunt
ing that was of sufficiently interesting
nature to accomplish the sired object.
When / returned to the front room again
the storm had abated. and the prospect was
brilliant for resuming my journey.
Wouldn't undertake to go tonight on
no conditions, said Mr. Banks, for such
was the name he had given. Another
showers likely to come up. and mebbe the
creeks full 10 overhowin'. You'd be in a
bad fix entirely If you should git caught in
over Pine Creek gone. Take my advice
and wait till mornin, Cap"
1t was sensible advice, surely. Court
would not meet until nine at the earliest.
could rise, at dpybreak and get to Pine
Greek two hours before courJ US.4....~----a, !,
which would be all the time necessary for
consultation W tn Mr.. Jones. After dobat-
ing the slbiect for some time, / concluded
to pass the night at Cottage Inn"
We'll make it as pleasant as possible, "
said mine host.
All HOuI ltJeT WIS COuuuCbcu up Auh-
row, rickety stairs to a straw bed in the
loft. A dingy room it was, with low raft
ers looking like skeleton omens extending
upward from the low walls. / was tired,
not entirely used to roughing it, and as
soon as Mr.. Banks had disappeared from
sight down the fickety stairs / sought the
low couch of straw, removing only my
coat, and was soon in the land of dreams
Confused dreams they were, too. All sorts
of sounds visited my ears, and the tramp
of many feet was quite confusing
Come, Cap, wake up! wake upl"
Some one was shaking me rudely by the
shoulder, and the gov of light filed and
dazzled my eyes.
as it moming?" queried, involuntarily
coming at once to sitting posture.
NO; but you're wanted below" said Mr..
Banks, whose grzzled visage Peered into
my face, tallow ca die held aloft in one
grimy hand.
"Wantedl for what?" in q dazed way.
"Some members of the bar hev come,
and they want to see Jake Brown awful
bad"
well, that's my name" muttered; "but
think they might have deferred their
meeting until morning"
$50 l said; but twan't no use arguin' the
pint, and so come to you. If you won't
go down l."
"Of course. I'll 60"
/ sprang up, donned my coat, and pro-
ceeded at once to follow the proprietor Ct
the wayside inn to the room below.
Three men were there, and each rose the
moment / entered the room. Two of the
men were young and wore good clothes
and shining plug hats; the third one was
roughly clad and held a whip by the butt.
which he swung about in way that be-
tokened long association with the lines. "A
born teamster," was my mental conclusion
at the first glance.
This is Mr.. Brown, suppose?"
One of the men with shining hat ex-
tended his hand.
II hat is my name" answered.
!, So: p-.>sHn-- nf2the trm of Williams
"Ihe same.
"Then you are the man we seek. Mr..
Jones sent us for you. We, Mr.. Kames
and myself, are members of the Pine Creek
bar, and employed by Williams d Jones in
the case of Johnson versus Williams
ct nj.
The man held his hat in hand and bowed
low. plucking at his mustache and smiling
blandly.
"AIr. Jones expected me Tonight"
questioned.
He did, and is in n grand stew to think
the suit is likely TO go against him for lack
of your evidence. Court was in session
this evening, and opens again at eight in
he morning These pioneer judges dis
patch business, / tell you. Mr.. Jones is
| very anxious to see you tonight. The
storm has abated, and you can just rs well
60 Oh as not Ill give you seat in my
| buggy. so your horse can rest until to-
morrow, when Mr.. Jonos will 0end n boy
for him.
| Mr.. Clement was a smooth -tongued fel-
low, but could not but wonder that my
employer should send two lawyers after me
instead of the teamster alone. / mentioned
the stangeness of the circumstance.
Mr.. Clement laughed rather amusedly.
ave wasn't sure of meeting you at oil. but
Jack here was TO go on If we did not find
you Mt the inn. We wanted q little fresh
air, which is delicious since the storm. A
good moon renders the night just splen-
did,"
Mr.. Kames also put in q word, and
finally consented 10 accompany these two
distinguished members Of the bar to Pine
| Creek.
There was moon, rs Clement had said,
but when we penetrated the pine woods il
scarcely served to light the way.
We occupied a double-seated buggy.
Silence, save for the crack of the drivers
whip and his chirp TO the horses, reigned
during the jolting drive. The road was
new to me and l was full of my own reve-
ries, so that l INDUCED in conversation
only when addressed by one of the mem
/ bers of the bar
An hour passed, and then the whoa" OF
the driver brought the vehicle to a halt.
The darkness was intense. The air was
damp, and a distant rumble of thunder an
nounced the gathering of another storm.
felt cold chill creep down my spine.
What is the troubleY"
I'VE stop here.
On the instant q strange aroma filled my
nostrils. / felt hand pass to my face
and realized that something dreadful wa:
about to happen. l made n desperate
struggle. but n vain one, Strong hands
held me fast, and deadly weakness stole
over me. seemed 10 be floating on per-
fumed sea, with tho distant rhythm Of fairy
bells ringing in my ears.
He won't make no FUSS" said a gruf
voice, jarringly.
"He goes off TO sleep like daisy"
Then came jarring laugh, followed by
intense Joking the darkness Of insensibil,
ity. Ever, thing was blank until / opened
my eyes hours later, to find myself lying OF
the damp ground in narrow apartment
apparently q cellar.
struggled TO q sitting posture and gazet
about. Four damp walls met my gize il
the dim light Dartiug pains shot through
my brain, and felt i'll indeed. soon re.
membered the past, and fancy pictured tn,
smiling faces of the two members of tn,
bar as / had seen them la 4 at the old tav
ern.
With some difficulty gained my feet, anC
Staggered TO the wall. The slime and damn