Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1893-03-16

YOU saved her and came near baking my
plans. That stupid guard, who imagines
himself 50 clever, arranged everything
so nicely that he will be surprised to-
morrow when you tell him the whole
story"
"Are you crazyir asked.
"No, my dear. / was never saner than
/ am at this momentw
"Pray what are you driving at then,
I'd like to known
81 will enlighten you. You see that
little parcel on the table, which your
friend the guard let you keep for
hint"
laid my hand On the parcel and gave
her a sinister look.
"Well, what of itl" asked.
at contains q sum of money anywhere
bet een eJ, 900 and f10, co.,"
.Indecd2" said contemptuously.
Eyes. 1t was to be sent to Edinburgh
to-day, and as two OF three OF US got
wind of the affair we concluded to stop
| il. BY some strange mistake on our
part the guard heard Of our little plan at
the other end of the road, and so to balk
us he left it here with you. At the same
time i concluded to play double game
and get the whole treasure for myself.
For that purpose / called you out and
turned the switch in order to wreck the
train and so get hold of the money. You
interfered and saved the train, but not
the parcel. 1t is now in your hands, and
/ will ask you to hand it over without
demur."
She made one step toward the desk,
but leaped toward it and grasped the
parcel in both hands.
"Neverw / shouted. "This goes
into the safe, and / warn you to get out
before pitch you out"
.'Ha. ma, ha, han she laughed derl-
sively; "what pluck l didn't think
YOU would make such fight over mere
money. But this will bring you to your
senses"
Throwing back the cloak which en-
vcloped her small form, she stood before
me why looking man, with piercing
dark eyes. In the right hand jewelleo
pistol cleaned in the lamp light, anc
the hand that held it was as cool anc
steady as possible. / glanced into tn,
small barrel of the pretty plaything anc
shuddered.
"eYou needn't be frightened" con
tinued my strange visitor in the SANE
easy tones. II don't care to commi
murder if can help it, but don't driv
me to desperation.
At this / recovered my self possession
and began to think of way to get nea
D enough to grapple with this desperat
> villain. In such an encounter knew
3 could easily handle him. A sudden
t heavy blast of wind, followed by blind
2 ing flash of lightning, fairly stunned u
for moment.
. THAT was a terrible flash, said, no
t ticing that my companion slightly paled
I "You are not afraid of thunder, ar
your
: "Afraid9 No, you idiotP' he replied
a "But give me that money, or I'll send
G bullet through your mead"
!. zone momentr' l cried.
q "Not a.
The sentence was never finished
There was peal of thunder that SCENE
y to rend tho heavens in twain, and then
t brilliant streak of fire flashed betwee
c us. l felt the building tremble, heard
: confused murmur of strange noises-an
then blank.
II When awoke to consciousness, ola,
light was just breaking in the east. III
e sky was clear as on n summer mornin;
It and the fields and woods were vocal wit
II the songs of birds. But in my. ofii'
I everything was changed. At my fe
l. Law the stranger of the previous nigh
Iirrre dark spot near ms lie
y temple. The heavy timbers of the. ST
p ton were burned and cracked, and n
1T papers were scattered all about. III
G. work of the thunderbolt had been effec
IS i've, but on the table lay the money u
IL touched.
When the guard came, l handed hi
"a the property. The stranger was iden
"a fed as notorious thief, and l was du
e. rewarded by the company for my wo
in saving the money. But since that u
he rible shock a thunderstorm has been
~ me the most undesirable thing on
IN face of the earth.--lEx.