Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1891-05-14

pose"
"Good graciousl you don't mean to
say the thief has got Toms last gifts 20
his sister," / cried. in Mortified dismay,
Eyes, they are gone, but what are
those bits OF things compared with my
black pearls and real Indian filigree,
and"
/ interrupted with some exclamation
more forcible than polite, / fear, for l
was vaguely conscious of my aunts gaz-
ing at me ia high dudgcon.
What fool had been 10 allow Toms
trust to leave my hands for moment !
was no more fitted to be given such a
mission than any rascally blackleg.
Could ever hold up my head again at
the bare thought of Mary Marsden, whom
had so wronged by my dastardly care
lessness2 And as for looking in her face,
how could / dare do that, unless those
stolen goods could be recoveredl
They must be recovered; If 1t took
my last penny | would win back poor
Toms legacy. or never know light con-
science again.
"What was the fellow like, aunt,
who made the attacks" / asked, with
futtering eagerness.
"a shortish, stumpy man, with a
broad nose, and small, dark eyes. One
of his hands had deep scar on the
back"
This was a useful and important clue,
which the police officers noted with
avidity; and shortly had the assurance
that the best measures possible for trac-
ing the criminal will be taken at once.
My state of mind bordered on despera-
ton, and could see no clear way out of
my difficulty. / shrank from presenting
myself before Miss Marsden minus her
brothers gifts, and yet she might Won
der at my non-appearance, having been
told of my mission by Thompson. On
the other hand, | loathed. the idea of
tarrylng at Mentone where the mishap
had occurred.
In the midst of my perplexities 1
heard the day after the robbery that sus-
picious characters had been traced TO
Marseilles, one Of whom might turn out
to be the man we desired to entrap.
Marseilles being step towards Mary, l
decided to betake myself thither to find
out if there was any truth in this state
ment.
NV only companion in the railway
carriage was a sharp-featured lady of un-
certain age, with multitudinous parcels
and bags. Not wishing to annoy her
--:%h--~%----r-A----Ns-
might be unwelcome, l retired behind
my newspaper, and forgot the lady's ex-
istence.
Though stared fixedly at the printed
page, my mind was miles away with
Mary, whom l was fated, perhaps, never
to see.
Mr. bitter-sweet reverie was disturbed
unexpectedly by my travelling compan-
ion twitching nervously at the corner of
my paper. | looked at her in aston
ishment, and saw that she was much
agtated; she drew the paper from my
hand, pressing her finger to her lips to
enjoin silence.
''I'm in for some sort of romantic
set-to with crazy woman" / thought
to myself, as l involuntarily glanced at
the alarm signal on the wall opposite.
The lady wrote hastily some words
upon the margin of my paper, which she
then returned.
read:-
There is a man hidden uuder the
seat. Arc we in danger of an attackr'
Much puzzled to know whether my
companion was off her head, or really
frightened with cause, wrote in reply
"Are you sure2 Did you see him get
inf"
mo, felt him; he clutched my foot, "
was scrubbed hastily beneath my query.
1t was clearly my duty to investigate
the cause of my fair neighbours growing
alarm; so with astute caution | asked,
with marked distinction, If the lady OBJ
iected to tobacco smoke, comforting my
face the while with signs that She was
not to answer in the negative.
She confessed to decided preference
for the odor of good cigar.
madam; deprived of my smoke, 1 really
suffer"
1t was such relief to speak after our
solemn interchange of written sentiments
upon the ragged edge of the Times, that
l was prepared to give utterance to any
amount of garrulous platitudes. LIGHTED
match, talking volubly the while, and
when it was blazing. purposely dropped
it upon the floor, exclaiming at my own
awkwardness:
1T was my last match, too. really
must try to save spark of it to light my
cigar"
/ stopped to pick up the burned frag-
ments,. and took one sharp, compre
hensive glance beneath the seat. My
companion was right-a man lay
crouched and huddled there among the
shadows. His face was turned away
but saw his hand clearly, upon the
back of which the scar was visible
through the dirt and CRIME.
At sight of this Misunderstanding
hand, my heart began merry dance
Not from fear-mJ self-respect oblige'
me to protest against this possible impu
tation- but because we seemed to have
in our clutches the rogue who had stoler
poor Toms medals.
might dare to present myself befor'
Mary, after all. instead of hanging back
like whipped hound.
cam not rightl" the lady said, will
her eyes this time, instead of with he,
pencil.
eyes" / wrote; "we must give thu
fellow in charge as soon as possible
Don't let him know we suspect hi
presence"
reflected that our precaution o
writing everything referring to the cul
prit was perhaps needless, as a common
thief from the Riviera would scarcely b.
likely to understand English, still, il
such cases, the extreme of prudence wa
better than the lack of 1t altogether.
The half-hour elapsing between thu
discovery of this man and our arrival a
I tho naxt station was frauOht with i'll