Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1892-07-07

II wish you'd get on that rail an sci
down on the bench like q Christian alb
ruptly spoke Mr.. Gordon.
''Whyf" demanded Jacquelina.
'sYou'll break It down"
Jacquelina broke into short laugh.
"1'm not so very heavy" said she.
"P'raps not, but that rail is hundred
years old, " crisply spoke the old man.
"And II did break it could mend
itw rebelliously added the girl.
In answer to this Grandfather Gordon
only uttered an inarticulate grunt.
Jacquelina, however, transferred herself
to the narrow wooden bench below, a
seat which she found not near so COM
Portable as the perch.
Grandfather Gordon looked at the
river meadows, where the men were
blowing, and pondered on the crops.
81 don't know where to 60" Jacque-
lima presently observed, in rather a
lachrymose tone.
"Go where l did when was your
age, )" sharply spoke the old man.
Where was that 2"
To work. Do suthin. Earn your
own livin'," answered Grandfather Cor
don, with an explosive puff of smoke
betw cen every sentence. ~ earned mine
when was your age, and now t I'm old,
/ don't calculate to keep free hotel for
my relations"
"But, grandfather" protested JAG
quelina, show is woman to earn her
living9"
"Lots o'ways," he CURLY answered.
"I'm sure could keep house for you
better that old Betsey Poole"
"I'm suited with Betsey."
"And, after all, I'm your grandchild. I"
"Your father married to suit himself, I"
said old Grandfather Gordon, vindictive-
ly crushing stray spider with his foot.
II dunno's I'm bound to put myself out
to suit his darter."
"Well." said Jacquelina, with long
sigh, 81 dare say can find something to do
in Waxenville. | might turn factory girl,
or take book agency, or even go out to
service"
To all of which remarks Grandfather
Gorden returned no reply whatsoever
Anyhow" said Jacquelina, spurred
to sudden desperation, 81 suppose l can
stay here tonight at least?"
"I-suppose-so," unwillingly ac-
quiesced the old man. "The stage don't
leave till tomorrow at six o'clock, an 1
s'pose it's too fur fer you to walk to
Bakers station"
whats that tall red brick building
off by the mountain sidel" Jacquelina
suddenly asked.
County Jail, A" he answered, as briefly.
And then he rose and went sullxily into
the house.
"Betsey," he said to his crooked old
factotum in the neglected kitchen, "that
grim have to stay all night. Make up
bed for her in the north chamber" =
Ruff leaks" Betsey laconically an
swered.
"Well then, in the little corner room"
"That there windy amt been fixed since
last September, Equinoctial bowed it
out"
Northeast room, then, with the
Chinese pagody wall paper"
"Why, that's the room where the
ghost walks, " squeaked Betsey.
Grandfather Gordon uttered a muffied
exclamation which savored somewhat of
profanity. ~
'There amt no ghost" said he, "An'
if there was, Jacquelina don't know moth
in about it. Fix it up for one night.
That'll be ALL"
s'Therc amt nothin' for supper" OBJ
served Betsey, who was of a parsimonious
nature, Except just huff cold pork an
greens for you. / was goin' to make
out on mush an milk"
''Mush an milk's good enough fer
Silas' darter, / guess, responded the old
man.
And he went back to the porch and
the pipe without further parley.
Jacquelina's place, however, was empty.
The brown, clear eyes, the tawny, red
dish braids, the CHEEKY, laughing
mouth were gone.
Jacquelina, restless with the unrest of
youth, had started on n journey of in
spection down in the old orchard, where
the gnarled trees were garlanded in pink
bloom, and host of tall red lilies
swayed to and fro in the May wind.
Next she peeped into the huddle of
barns and stables, under the hill, patted
the shaggy pony and fed big-eyed calf
with withered yellow carrot which she
picked out of bin.
'IfIwere a farmer, "said Jacquelina, 'T
wouldn't let things go to wrack and ruin
like this"
With business-like intentness, she
reached down huge old-fashioned pis-
tol from its rusty hooks on the inside of
the barn door,
Trigger bent" she said, to herself.
Barrel all dented in, but / think it
could be fixed. Anyhow, the charge
ought to be drawn"
Jacquelina's father had been gun
smith, and she had acquired somewhat of
his skill in the craft. She eyed the
ancient weapon withe scornful amuse-
ment.
"You couldn't fire it off if you were to
try" thought she.
And {. suddenly strengthening up her
slim form, she held the pistol belliger-
emily at arms length.
Don't fire! For heavens sake, don't
irew
There was a rustling in a mass of dried
cornstalks in the corner of the barn.
A hollow-eyed man, dressed in rags
that were tied loosely about him with
strings, creDt out almost at her very
feet. The pistol dropped to Jacquelinas
side.
"Why, who are your" she cried.
sect me something to eat" he said,
hoarsely. 'I've been day and night