Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1889-08-01
CRAWLING, MICHIGAN THOKsDAf.AO OuooI ,looa


the inquiry:
where was the robbery? Was it at
Tommy Gfaybs'?" Tommy. Graves
was the largest store In the villageD
The gentleman was naturally of an
obiiging disposition, and, observing the
great interest taken in the case, he re-
piled:
"Yes, at Tommy Graves One hun
dred thousand dollars worth of goods,
and his beautiful grand daughter, Miss
Grace, in the bargain"
The youth trembled in his excite
ment. But remembering that the
Roaring Ranger" did not tremble, even
when covered by the weapons OF his
enemies, he made desperate effort to
control his nerves.
The two gentlemen passed on their
way, talking and chuckling in know
ing manner,
The youth cleared the fence with o
bound which would have astonished
even th6 "R6aring Ranger" and which
certainly would hftve struck tcrrr5r to
the heart of his deadly enemy, "Bleary-
Eyed Bill" the fiend who abducted the
beautiful Esmeralda. Crouching like
a tiger, he cautiously wended his way
homeward, for he well knew that the
redoubtable Maria Jane was ironing
clothes by the kitchen window, with a
freshly cut "gad" lying conveniently
by, and her. eyes roaming over the out
living premises for glimpse Of his do
voted head.
He crept-almost crawled- ar6tind
the house to the apple tree Which,
grew under his bedroom window;
Climbed the apple tree, and efept In
ut the window;
Safely inside, lie made straight fdr
the rag-b bag, which lay in a corner,
plunged into it's capacious depths, and
succeeded, after some difficulty, in
bringing forth small wooden box
which contained motley assortment
of goods. The first thing to attract
attention was thirty-two caliber re-
volver, in a very dilapidated condition,
minus both sides of the handle and the
cylinder pin, and having, in place OF
the latter useful appcndage, large
and very stiff wire, which protruded
an inch or two beyond the muzzle Of
the weapon, ending in ring.
Among other things the box also
contained bowie-knife, o 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 n stealthy tril
to the attic. Then, stealthily rs be
fore, he descended the tree, crept t.
, the barn, and ascended to the loft.
1t was grUtesque figure tina
slipped down from the loft a. the houl
: of nine, and, with cautious glanc
} around him, started up town. On III
head covered by n wig of gray hair
i was a slouch hat with several holes II
: the crown. The coat was cutaway
and rather large for the wcarer, Will
the trousers aud shoes we're the one
worn through the day On his fac
was fierce, black mustache, aId
long, flowing gray beard, AID as TIL
wind blew the loose vest slightly on
of place, it disclosed very brigh
piece of tin, the bottom of an 0yste
can, on which had been laboliousl
worked, in sprawling characters, TIN
following:
"Old Thurderbclt, tile Lightning
Detective"
As he stepped ipto the street he di
not notice two dark forms In the door
way of his fathers abode, that starte
slightly at first, and then slyly follow
ed him. Their actions, however, woul
o not be hard to explain.
A search had been instituted by hi
, parents, and, the father of the famil
CHANGING to question the gcntlema
e with whom our hero had had the con
! versation In the cemetery, they ha
! started in on the trail of the detect
! i've, and, having spotted him, they pre-
posed to shadow him and get on to hi
3 game.
Il must start In on the trail at tn
I point where the robbery and abduction
$ were committed, muttcred "Cld Thur
p derbolt," as we shall hereafter desip
2 nate our hero. "Once started i'll o
the trail, / will rot eat or sleep until
5 have tracked the villains to their lair.
0 And as he SPOKE he had faint reco
lection of "Old Electricity" or som
e other detective, having once used til
Il same words.
Gradually the store and residence {
Tommy Graves hove in sight, and, a
o he came rearer, his eagle eye scanne
, the premises with lightning like rapiC