Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-12-22


The machine referred TO was small
box with thin, uprlghtrod on which
were two horizontal arms, each with
a small, round, shining mirror at the
end. The dark man touched string
and the mirrors rapidly revolved.
Peter looked at the whirlfng mirrors
intently for a moment then leaned
slightly forward with his eyes widely
opened.
The stranger watching him keenly
for few moments at last stopped the
machine. Peters eyes remained
gazing flXedly at nothing.
"You are asleep" said the man
quietly, passing his hand over Peters
face
The eyelids closed and Peter an
Swered not.
when you awake you will be stone
deaf-you will hear absolutely moth
ing You will have TO be very care
full at the street crossings, and wher-
ever there is danger. Now wake up. "
A shiver ran over Martins body
and he looked around wildly for a
moment.
''What have you been Going to me?"
he asked.
"Can you hear me speak?" said the
man loudly
What have you done TO me?" re-
peated Peter. "Everything seems
unnaturally quiet"
The dark man drew a writing pad
toward him and wrote on it, handing
the result TO Peter. He read the
words:
'You are stone deaf. Try the ef-
fects for two weeks and then come
back and see me. If at anytime be-
fore you wish TO have your hearing
restored, come to this address. Try
the effect for two weeks if you can
-stand it..
Here followed the mans name and
address Peter folded the paper in a
dazed sort of way anG put it into his
pocket. He went out into the street.
| The traffic was as busy as ever, but
an awful silence was over the city.
There was something unearthly in the
| appearance Of hustle and the absence
of all sound. He was in a city of
phantom's, and it frightened him at
first, but finally there seemed to come
over him sweet peace, because noise
\ did not exist.
When he went home that night his
good wife received him as she had
done these MANY years.
Now, you old good-for-nothing,
what's kept YOU? Here l am toilIng
and moiling and getting something
! to eat for an old fool that doesn't
know enough 10 come home for it be-
fore it's cold. Nice sort OF family
man, you are, you doddering old
| say! what are you looking at me like
that for? What's the MATTER with
you? Been drinking again?"
Now Peter neither drank nor
smoked, which no one knew better
than Mrs Sally Martin. He couldn't
afford either, but, as he always WINGED
when she accused him of it. she ac-
cordingly flung it at him.
Sally" he said, quietly, "rm
deaf. l'suppose you are speaking ia
me, but l cannot hear word. You'll
have to write it down"
Write it down." cried the good
woman aghast.
She had some idea that he was
shamming, but as she watched him
she saw that this was serious She
broke out occasionally in wrath, but
quickly subsided and murmured:
"'Oh, LORI"
And Peter Martin spent the frs.
evening of peace at his own dreside
for 20 years.
In two weeks Peter Martin called
on the dark man in the fine house.
He was looking much better ia health
than he had done when he left that
place fortnight before. The far-away
look of the deaf was already begin
ming to appear IN his eyes A sweet
serenity sat upon his countenance.
II am pleased to see you look So
Then the man remembered and drew
his writing pad toward him.
'AIf you will sit down in the chair
I will take away your Deafness" he
wrote.
Peter read it with a smile.
II merely came to thank you," he
SAID. IL will not sit down detroit
Free Press.
|