Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1886-05-13

would be rather mean, too.
| "He had Mt last concluded TO allow mat
ters to take their proper course, when he
heard the sound of horses hoofs, and few
moments later several mounted men rode
up to the house.
| "The negroes left their position in front
of the stable, and ran toward the house.
Soon after, the sound of angry voices
reached Charleys ear, and he came around
in front of the barn.
AT the side of the house he saw the
horsemen now upon the ground; there was
a handsome young gentleman in their
midst.
| "He was evidently the Major of whom the
darkies had spoken; but Charley could not
understand who the horsemen were-they
wore no uniforms.
"An old, gray haired gentleman, the Ma
| jors father, evidently, several women and
servants gathered about. Charley was sew
eral rods away, and was unable to hear or
understand what was going forward, but at
last all the company entered the house.
"Then Charley determined TO right the
mystory and stole noiselessly to the house.
| The windows were open, and, as he de-
termined to make no i'll use of the informa-
ton SO acquired, he was not ashamed TO
listen.
"a great deal of high talk took place.
The men were Southerners and neighbors,
but were ill affected in the Confederacy
| Their leader, q large man, with proud,
| sour-looking countenance, was the Majors
enemy, and had seized him as q means of
revenge.
GAS Charley learned this. one of the cap
| tors came to the door to look after the
horses, and he was driven back in the direc-
| ton of the stable.
"He was determined not to leave the
place without paying himself for the trouble
of the visit, and he no sooner spied num-
Der of fowls which roasted upon short piece
of fence at the side of the stable than he
| grasped one.
"He did not secure him very firmly, for,
with a squawk. he escaped from his hands
and flew fluttering along the ground.
"Charley saw him enter the stable, the
/ negroes had left the doors open, and, think
ing it would be less trouble to find him in
the barn than to take another from the
| fence he pursued him inside.
after troublesome search the rooster
was prisoner, and Charley was about to
quit the premises in haste when woman
entered the stable.
"Charley Saw her enter; she was one of
the ladies he had seen at the house, and
was doubtless the Majors wife.
"She was bareheaded and seemed in
haste. Charley tried to escape her obser-
vation, but she saw him ut once.
"'Who are your she demanded, in a
tremulous whisper.
"a friend
eff you are, aid me TO saddle the horse
and she pointed TO magnificent bay that
stood in stall directly behind the adven-
turer.
"The latter hesitated for moment. He
imagined the horse was for the Majors es-
cape.
ing in his mind, and her face became pale
as death.
"'Ill help you, cried Charley at last.
"The woman uttered cry of Joy, and
moment later q saddle was placed upon the
bay, and Charley led him softly from the
stable.
"Quick as thought the woman sprang
into the saddle, and urging the horse around
the side of the barn disappeared.
AT that instant there came q confused
yell from the direction of the house, and,
turning, Charley saw the captors rushing
toward the stable.
"They poured q volley of questions ut
Charley, and when they found the woman
had taken saddled horse from the stable
became furious.
"Our friend would have suffered had it
not been for his uniform. All but one
hurried of in the direction of the orchard
making vain attempt to retake the pris-
oner.
"The man who remained was very COM
municative, and Charley was soon in pos
session of the entire story.
"When they had entered the house with
the Major that gentleman and his friends
appeared without hope.
"But as they were preparing to leave the
officer desired to enter another room, to
take leave of his wife.
"The leader of the visitors was against
this; but his companions outnumbered him
in their assents, and the prisoner passed
from their sight, accompanied by his wife
and mother.
"The leader became impatient as the mo-
ments passed; but as the sound of voices
still came from the adjoining room, the
door of which had been left open, he con-
tanned himself for some time.
But at last lie entered the apartment,
and found the Major and his wife had both
escaped through the window. While the
mother had been talking to the empty walls,
her son was waiting in the orchard for the
steed which bore him away from his foes. u