Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-10-24

rested ON me to save Jacks property.
.Joe," said, II must 20 down TO the
ofiice-can you go with me;"
Joe looked solemn. s'pIl have to, miss,
and let the houses watch themselves. Mr..
first of ALL" flew to dress myself for
the street, and In two minutes was ready.
Twenty minutes more and we were before
the Office door. The air was sitting
felt as / watched the fire brands in the
air and heard the roaring OF the flames
that the warehouses were doomed.
Joe found truck and box, and
loaded books and insurance papers into
them. had just finished when l heard
Mr. Gaskell's voice behind me. "Miss
Lawrence, this is no place for you, but
it's like you to be here first" he added
quickly. "You have the books and
papers, ! see; Is this your watchman?"
nodded.
"Have him take them to the house;
you must go with him, and leave me to
save what can. hate to have you take
that money" he added, seeing the bundle
hid under my shawl perhaps, though,
it will be safer with you than me, and
leave me free to work"
He put his hand on Joe's shoulder as we
reached the street. Take care of her."
/ heard him say in q low tone. sand this
night shall make better place for you"
He laid his hand on my arm one instant.
II will come as soon as l can leave; Pm
almost determined to go now and see you
safe home first"
''Joe will be ample protection" /
answered hurriedly, and we parted; but
through all the excitement. worry and
care, l was not discouraged. That thought
full care encompassed me to make even
trouble lighter. The street was full of
rushing, hurrying human beings. 1t was
hard for Joe to force u passage for his
truck, but we reached the house i'm safety
with our store.
Joe placed the box in the hall "A big
fire is the very time to look out for thieves
miss, but don't be scarey, I'll keep sharp
lookout" was not scarey. knew Mr..
Gaskell would come to the house as soon
as the fire stopped his work.
dreaded to hear Maggie's lamentations.
| knew any loss to Jack or me would be
more to her than her own loss, so fore
DOiC w NuhC nCi hhitC tOiCC cCit
on the gas range. Icould not move with
out the money. 1t haunted me If laid
it down. Finally raised the lid of the
piano and laid it softly on the strings.
Then crawled upon the sofa in The
corner of the library. did not mean to
close my eyes, but was very, very tired,
/ suppose, and the next 1 knew my eyes
were opened very wide indeed staring at a
great tall dark man, who stood at the
front of the sofa. / heard Joe's voice.
though muffled and l saw him with his
face cut and bleeding being dragged into
the hall. gasped and closed my eyes.
Yes, that is just what did Eleanor
Lawrence, who have always had theories
on the subject of conquering burglars by
outwitting them and showing no fight
'She'll make us no trouble-ker heart is
in her throat already" the tall man said,
looking towards two others who held Joe
firmly bound in the doorway.
"Don't you dare touch hair of her
head" Joe cried, struggling to free him
SELF
"Be quiet, unless you want to be
Drained; we've told you we shouldn't harm
the woman. Tell us where you put the
money or it will be worse for YOU" said
the tall man again. / saw he was the
leader.
II never brought no money" Joe
answered; "only books in the hall where
showed YOU"
More words and the click of a pistol
All this time had seemed frozen TO the
sofa, but had breathed prayer and for
answer n sense of protection had come
over me, and realized that Mr.. Gaskel
might even now be on the way to aid me.
| never thought Of his exposure to danger
in coming. felt he was equal to emer-
gencies. If could only gain time-and
like flash my old resolutions came over
me, and fear that had exposed poor
Joe to this awful danger and was respon-
sible for his life. With that thought /
was Eleanor Lawrence, spinster, and in
my sound mind in moment.
| rose from that couch suddenly, and
said: Leave that young man alone, he
is telling you the truth--he brought no
money"
And stood by the library table and did
not so much as lay finger on it for sup
port. The man guarding me would not
have been any more astonished il corpse
had spoken, believe. lie jumped two
feet at least, and the other two fellows, of
course, looking rough fellows, both
grinned broadly as they looked at him.
EASY to deal with, pard, eh?" said one
of them, coarsely.
Cant you hand the lady chair, Jim?"
said the other.
"Quit your fooling," answered the dark
man. CURLY. "We'll bring the lady to
terms without any trouble, l guess"
"We know, madam" he continued,
turning to me, ''that there was money in
your safe last night; we know either you
or Mr.. Gaskel saved it; he hasn't got it,
so it's here, and we're bound to have it, so
hand it over"
"I1e hasn't got it." How did they know
that? For just one second the room swan
before my eyes. Had they robbed Mr..
Gaskell already and left him murdered
where the fire would oblterate every trace
of their crime? All this in moment of
time flashed through my mind. 1t takes
long in the telling, but it was quick in the
thinking.
''Givc the lady plenty of time, do, pard, "
sneered one of Joe's watchers. Wen have
to put the thumb screws on the boy to
make him speak," added the other. That
recalled my thoughts to Joe; the other
thoughts tried to Danish. must see Joe
first.
care you fiends," asked the leader,
''that you harm an innocent MANI"
well not harm you, madam" he an.
swered quickly, "but the money we will
have"