Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-01-12


round, ran his hand in drawer, and
whipped out revolver. but before he
got a good grip on il, knocked it out
of his hand, straddled il on the floor, and
covering him with my own said: Come,
come, Mister Fire-Eater, none of that!
That isn't what we want you to get out
Of that drawer. A little cash would make
it easier for both of u.s.
"Like all bullies, the fellow was a
bluff and coward. He saw we had
him and he cooled down, stand
ing sullenly by while Scott fin
ished the paper, and then ran
sacked the miscellaneous stock on the
counters and found some tacks and a
hammer, with which he fastened the
notice on the outside of the door. Then,
rejoining me, Scott kicked the fallen
pistol under one of the counters, and.
getting behind Gringo, requested him TO
preccde us out of the store. This done,
he locked the door, put the key in his
pocket, and we then babe our host
pleasant good evening, and then walked
over to the racks to get our horses.
az don't think it would be bad
thing for our health to get out of here as
soon as we can Scott said. The boys
are mighty late getting in. They may
be in skirmish somewhere
"We watered our horses, mounted and
rode down the main street. AS we
passed little shanty close to the road
Scott SMILED and said: That smells
like fried ham and eggs, don't itl Let's
stop and have snack
1--WE alighted, fitched our horses be-
hind the house in an angle made by a
shed room which served as. the kitchen,
and, going inside, seated ourselves at
one of the two oil-cloth covered tables,
aud gave our order to an old man, who
filled the joint and respective positions
of proprietor, cook and waiter.
"While we were eating we were inter-
rupted by the entrance of q girl, whom
| recognized as the customer in at Grin
COS when we first called on him. She
had an old shawl over her head, between
the close-held edges of which her small,
intelligent, frightened face peered out
strikingly. She could not have been
more than IA years old, yet her face had
all of the shrewdness and strength of a
woman's. Darling past us she made a
hasty survey of the Kitchen, aud turning,
asked: 'Whar's TobeP
" Gone to the well, said, thinking
she meant our host, and, half rising and
smiling, in spite of myself, added, after
the manner of the country town store
keeper, Can | do anything for you,
missp
'She came close to the table, and,
leaning on the back of SCOTS chair, she
said nervously:
"'You'ns better clar out, quick! Dad
an the boys is on your trail. He come
home to supper and raised cain. Me an
maw's hide IL git it fur you'ns doin's.'
1--WE understood in flash that she was
warning us against Gringo.
"'Who are you, childP Scott asked,
turning and taking her hand, why do
you come to save usF
% Il amt kearin 50 much about savin
youns as gettin' him tux up, she an.
swered seriously. Still, / didn't want
him to git the drap on yer-that ain't
! fair
"She watched the door furtively, and
gathered up the ends of the shawl as
though for flight as she went on: He:
my step-paw, an meaner cuss never
lived. Me and maw'd a lef' him long
ago, but he would kill us if he ever
ketched up with us The only way to do il
to git him TUX up for some NV his devil
try. and put in the penitenshury, whar
he can't git at us. But, honest, you fel
lers better vamoose. You amt got nc
time TO fool. He's gone after the Cowles
boys, and heard him tell Dick Sims an
them to jine 'em, back thar, back er the
callyboose.' She pointed to the rear of
the house. Some of 'em is goin' to lay
fur yer in front, and some NV 'em is goin
to lay fur yer benin, an yer can't git out
N town no ways. You better git a move
on yc:, honest"
''She started to the door, then shrank
back. 'Thars the Cowles boys, now !.
she exclaimed. Dad amt fur off. FL
he sees me I'm goner.'
''By this time Scott and / were on ou
feet, and the proprietor came in with hi
bucket of water. His manner led us Il
suppose and hope-that there was moth
ing unusual going on in the street. Set
ting the bucket on the shelf, hc wipeC
his hands on the tail Of his coat, and tax
ing plug of tobacco out of his pant
pocket, bit off chew as he remarked
casually: Il reckon you fcllers Is beer
dom somethin', an thar is goin' to b'
some tighten. / seen Gringo Perez anC
| the Cowles boys an Dick Sims an or 10
NV 'em, an they seemed TO be surround
in the house. Fun as l Kin see, you'n
amt got no show. You mought jes' a
we'll thro' up yer hans an s'rc>.der.'
swell, 'as fur us could see, this wa
the statement of an unhattering fact
Don't bolt, Rice, Scott said quietly, hi
words accompanied by the rapidly re
. volving six clicks of his pistol, the boy
will be in any minute we're oil right!
'"'Let's get'to our horses, Isaid, AN
make dash for the thicket'
!" Stay where you nrer he answered
:. and his voice had the ring of the Dor
commander
/, "'Whst are you going to dor asked
: nettled.
=" Whip the whole town. he replied
beginning to barricade the back doc
: with barrels of sugar and -four.
4 "Meanwhile the child stood there, til
e shawl dropped back from her head an
4 shoulders, her little white face stud
1 of disinterested curiosity aud approb
ton. Her hcavy-lidded black eye
t glowed with excitement, and her this
I archcd nostrils contracted and distende
t like restive pony's.
L ~ reckon you'ns is gwine to ketc
, himr she said complacently. Just hel
Il nv attention was diverted to Tobe, who's
sir name of Hartsfield we had not y
e learned. Going to rack over the doc
n between the two rooms, he took dow