Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1889-08-31

enemies, he made a desperate effort to
| control his nerves.
The two gentlemen passed on their
way, talking and chuckling in q knew
| ing manner.
The youth cleared the fence with a
bound which would have astonished
even the Roaring Ranger" and which
certainly would have struck terror ia
the heart hf his doatily eneh1y, "Bieary'
Eyed Bill, - the ticnd who abducted the
| beautiful Esmeralda. Crouching like
tiger, he cautiously wended his way
| homeward, for he well knew that the
redoubtablc Maria Jane was ironing
clothes by the kitchen window, with a
freshly cut CAD lying conveniently
by, and her eyes roaming over the out
| lying premises for glimpse of his de-
| voted head.
He crert- almost crawled-around
The house to the apple tree which
grew under his bedroom window,
climbed the apple tree, and crept in
Mt the window.
Safely inside, he made straight fol
the ragbag, which lay in corner.
plunged into its oapociUus depths, and
succeeded. after some difficulty, in
! bringing forth q small wooden box
which contained a motley assortment
of goods. The first thing to attract
attention was a thirty-two. celber re-
volver, in 4 very dilapidated condition,
minus both sides of the handle and the
cylinder pin, and having, in place Of
the latter useful appendage, large
and very stiff wire, which prUtruded
an inch or two beyond the muzzle OF
the weapon. en,ling in ring.
Am3ng other things the box also
contained bowie-knife, small mag
nifying glass, false mustache and
whiskers and several wigs.
For half an hour he busted himself
with the contents of this box and some
old clothing, secured by stealthy trip
| to the attic. Then, stealthily as be.
fore, he descended the tree, crept to
the barn, ard assembled to the loft.
1t was grptUsQUe figure that
Slip ed down from the loft at the hour
cf nine, and, with cautious glance
around him, started up town. On his
head, covered by wig of gray hair,
was a SLOUGH hat with several holes IL
| lllt tIoN II. IHt COdl WIS 1t tul;tN ny ,
and rather large for the wcarcr, while
the trousers and shoes were the ones
worn thro~gh the day. On his face
was a fierce, black mustache, and a
long, flowing gray beard, and as the
wind blew the loose vest slightly ont
Of place, il disclosed very bright
piece of tin, the bottom of an oyster
can, on which had been laboriously
worked, in sprawling characters, the
| following:
"Old Thurderbolt, the Lightning
Detective"
As he stepped into the street he did
not notice two dark forms in the door
way of his fathers abode, that started
slightly at first, and then slyly follow
ed him. Their actions, however, would
not be hard to explain.
A search had been instituted by his
parents, and the father of the family
CHANGING to question the gentleman
with whom orr hero had had the con-
versa ion in the cemetery, they had
started in on the trail of the detect
i've, and having spotted him, they pro-
losed to shadow him and get on to his
game.
Il must stnrt In on the trail at the
point where the robbery and abduction
were committed" muttered "Cld Thun-
derholt," as We shall hereafter desig-
nate our hero. "Once started in on
the trail, | will not eat or sleep until
have tracked the villains 70 their lair
And rs he SPOKE he had faint reeol
lection of "Old Electricity" or some
other detective, having once used the
same words.
Gradually the store and residence O.
Tommy Graves hove in sight, and, as
he came nearer, his eagle eye scanned
The premises with lightning like rapid