Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1894-07-26

The cIanking OF tho pump ceased
The girl looked around with startled
Dir. "Who Spoken" she demanded
A fugitive, utterly exhausted
with fight from q bloodthirsty mob
They are close Mt heels. / can't &c
farther, and / am doomed unless you
have pity and give me help, or con,
cealment."
"Who are your" she inquired, ard
with dreadful sinking at his hear,
he gave his name,i Gilbert Hazel.
ton"
She uttered sharp cry and looked
away where the distant lanterns were
cleaning through the cornfeld-the
pursuers on his track.
II must ask mother" she said,
and snatching up her pitcher swept
past him into the house.
He heard her quick voice, and Mrs.
Westford's startled cutlery, and in
very desperation followed her in.
The old mother met him, white
haired and venerable. $50 thee can
seek shelter here, OF David West
ford's bereaved mother ?" she said,
bitterly, wonderingly.
"Why not ] never harmed you or
him." he urged desperately. "As
true as there is heaven above us,
am innocent of what is laid to my
charge. 1t will be proved when my
friends come. But that will be too
late unless you help me-"
But / do not know it now" Mrs.
Westford wavered. ''Thee speaks
fair, but do not all criminals do the
same? A trial was given thee and
thy innocence was not proved. Why
should save the murderer Of my
boy ?"
Gilbert fell into q chair too ex-
hausted to stand. ''You will know
when it is too late il you refuse me
aid. Madam will you risk it risk
feeling that you have saved an inn o.
cent man, but instead let him go to
his death 2"
'Ernestine, cried the old mother,
piteously, what ought we to do ?
How can we risk lifelong remorse,
or how can we risk letting David s
murderer go free to break other
hearts as ours are broken ? What
does thee say ?"
The girl stood in the open door, her
glances alternating between the
pleading face Of the fugitive and the
lanterns coming along the roadside.
eve must decide quickly, mother"
and her clear voice quivered with
feeling. He may be innocent. 1t
hardly seems as though guilty man
would come hereto David's home
for shelter. And if we are access
sorry to his death-mother, it is muir
der for them TO take the law into
their own unauthorized hands. Our
choice lies between one man, who
may or may not be a murderer, and
a score who will surely be if we do
not hinder
'Then thee says save him?" Mrs.
Westiord asked, doubtfully.
Il dare not refuse it, mother. Do
your"
The old lady hesitated, then, OPEN
ing corner cupboard, took out a
pair Of handcuffs-relics of the days
when David had been deputy sheriff
and earned the enmity of tramps and
evildoers-and held them towards
Gilbert.
III thee will put these on, that We
may have no fear from thy violence
when the mob are gone, we will con-
ceal thee safely, and when the search
is over send thee back to thy lawful
guardian. That is all. cannot
place myself and my daughter at the
mercy of one who may have none.
Will thee consent?"
She was only prudent. Gilbert
bowed silently and extended his
hands. 1t was his only chance for
life, and it would be the height Of
folly to object. Yet a faint color
came into his face as the cold steel
snapped on his wrists, rendering him
helpless-yet scarcely more so than
fatigue had already made him.
The hesitation of both was over
now. Ernest,ne babe him remove his
muddy shoes, while she swiftly closed
the door and drew down the blinds,
and the mother hurried into another
room. Thither Ernestine beckoned
him to follow, pausing only to thrust
the shoes out of sight.
At the door she turned 1T is
David room," looking keenly in his
face. Come in ~
1t was small. plainly furnished
room. Mrs. Westford had drawn
the bed from the wall and thrown
back the last breadth of carpet. re-
vealing a tiny trap-door. At his en-
trance she opened it, and motioned
him down.
1T is only four feet. You can
drop that far" said Ernestine en-
couragingly. "There is no outer
door. You will be quite SAFE"
Her mother smiled sadly. "How
many frightened fugitives have slept
there in safety! But that was years
ago-before the war. Thee need not
fear. Now-but stay, thee must be
faint. l will bring thee food and
drink"
She hurried away, and he swung
himself down. 1t was not very easy,
with his manacled hands, and Ernest
tine helped him. His heart thrilled
at tho touch of her cold, trembling
fingers.
"She shrinks from my touch. She
tk.rl,. ,s,,r l,onI ,to;,aI x,,;tI, 1,ar