Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-07-22

and the find he had made. something valu-
able, and that must be kept a strict secret,
he said, and vaunted. how he would serve
the Yankees il he ever had another oppor-
tunity to try conclusions with them.
"Black suspected that this find referred
TO the papers, and he managed to elicit q
confirmation of this idea by few deftly
put questions.
"After the spy had been over an hour in
their company the officer proposed to
break up.
"The most sober one Of the party left the
house, the other two retired up stairs, the
inn-keeper and Black assisting them.
"He saw the Captain ushered into room
at the front OF the building; the windows
opened out upon the veranda, and Black
seized the opportunity that offered to make
a closer survey of ths apartment and its
connections.
at was nearly bare of furniture, poor
bed, table, and couple of chairs being
all il contained.
"There was no place to conceal the pa
pers, had the Captain been in condition to
think of reserving them.
"When Black returned to the bar-room
with the innkeeper, the latter yawned and
intimated that his unlimited guest would do
we'll to leave.
"Ths suited the spy very we'll, and after
finding that he could not be kept in the
house he went out, and the door was fast
ened behind him.
Ale did not 90 far from the house, how
ever, but waiting about until the light was
removed and the ilnkeeper retired, he ap-
preached the veranda.
Moving silently to The window of the
Captains room, no listened. All was still.
Black tried to raise the window; but it was
fastened.
Drawing knife from his pocket, he be-
gun to cut the sash from about the pane
nearest the catch.
"He soon broke out the light, and with
considerable difficulty found and threw
back the catch.
"Then he paused and looked about him.
Nothing was stirring, the night was dark,
and the sentinels seemed to be sleeping.
Slowly and cautiously Black raised the
window and slipped into the room. He
could hear the labored breathing of the
Captain, and moved toward the bed with
the stiffness of q cat.
"He searched around in the dark for sew
eral moments, trying in vain to find the
clothing the Captain had thrown off.
"He was forced to light match at last,
and by its light searched the pockets of the
clothes, which were thrown over the head
of the bed.
"But his search met with no reward.
What had become of the papers? As last
resort Black felt under the pillow. His
hand touched some articles; he was certain
the papers were within his grasp, although
he could not see.
But the spy was not to accomplish his
hazardous work without trouble. The
sleeping officer had been aroused by the
presence near his bed. Several times he
had changed positions uneasily, and as
Black drew out the papers, he gave surg
ling cry and stated up in bed.
"Black dnrted toward the window, ut the
instant the Captain leaped from the bed.
"Springing out upon the veranda, with
the spells clasped close to his heart the
spy ran down the street. followed by n hull
let from the Captains pistol, which cut
wonderfully close to his head.
"Every one was awake in moment aud
now lay close concealed IN the stable at the
back of the hotel.
"The search was given up before morn
ing and much TO the disgust Of the Cap
tain. He was q few days later informed of
the spy's identity and in what manner he
escaped.
when Black reach ID the camp, which
he did during the following day, having
escaped past the pickets, he handed me the
lost diary.
at had been with the papers which he
had lost, and the spy had brought away all.
"This Black was a strange man. Inever
learned where he was from or anything
personally relating to him.
ale lost his life soon after the adventure
have been relating, but the story is too
long to tell tonight"