Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-08-22

The deacon sraspsd my hand ID
both OF his. and wrung u until II
ached
How can / thank you - he OK.
claimed. Wen 60 tonight. And
II We catch him you will see the
prettiest fight of your life"
i prepared myself for The expedi-
tion by donning an old suit Of clothes
and leaving my valuables at home.
I had q perpetual winding Water
bury watch which used when on
hunting expeditions, and took 1t with
me. also $40 in silver and small,
plain. but serviceable revolver. We
procured horses at the hotel stables
and rode into town in the early even
ing.
Boomopolis ut that time was only
an infant among the cities of South
ern California. There were huge
gaps among its business houses, now
filled with stately edifices. There
were no pavements, and where q
hundred globes of electric fire now
glare at night upon the passerby,
there was then only the dim and fit
full CLEAN of lamps from the windows
Of the scattered stores.
After an elaborate supper at the
Transcontinental, prepared by a
French chef from Dublin and served
by retired cowboys from Arizona, we
sailed forth to visit the saloons and
gambling places in search Of our rob-
Der. We made three or four circuits
of the town without success. and
finally found ourselves in the Mag
nolia Club Rooms" The establish
ment was really only single room,
on the ground floor back of cigar
store, arranged for faro and other
games of chance. It was lighted by
O solitary, mammoth lamp, which
was suspended from the ceiling over
q long, green covered table, upon
which were scattered cards and gold
coins. Around it were perhaps q
dozen men, OF various sorts and con-
ditions, all intent upon 1.-THE game"
AS many more, including ourselves,
were interested onlookers. The room
was blue with tobacco smoke, and the
door at the farther end, which af-
forded communication with an ad-
joining bar, was perpetually on the
swing.
l was enjoying the character Of q
detective hugely. So far there was q
pleasant tinge of excitement-or
rather, an expectation Of excitement
and very little danger. But as we
scanned the faces of the company
without seeing our man, the deacon's
brow grew black with disappoint-
ment, 1t was now after midnight.
The cigar store was closed, but the
bar was kept open all night. Disap-
pointed in our search. we became
absorbed in watching the game.
There was something of the gambler
in every man, and, as looked upon
the tense excited faces of the players,
the contagion of their example seized
me, and l felt in my pocket for
coin. Finding nothing but silver,
which 1 did not like to stake, as
there was none on the table, was on
the point of borrowing a double
eagle from the deacon, when heard
q quiet but distinct voice, at the end
OF the room, say:
Glands up, gentlemen, if you
please %
CHANGING around, saw q man
standing at the door leading to the
bar, with q revolver in each hand
pointed at us. He was a short, slight
man, with dark hair and flaming
scar across his face.
There was no confusion. One OF
the 'oungers quietly placed his back
against the door leading to the cigar
store and drew two revolvers. which
he pointed along the table. Two
others, evidently confederates also,
stood at ease awaiting the next order.
The rest of us lifted our hands SIM
ultaneously. Any one could see that
it was the only thing to do. The
deacon's face was white rs snow and
his jaws were set like steel trap.
1.-THE gents that are seated will
kindly rise" said the voice near the
door.
The gamblers rose as one man.
Now then. Everybody right
about and face the wall, was the
next command.
We faced about.
March," said the cool, emphatic
voice. 1.-TWO feet from the wall stop"
We advanced in two rows to the
opposite sides OF the room and stood,
as directed, ranged against the walls.
Then the two confederates stepped
leisurely to the table, and scooped
the gold into a couple of little sacks
which they produced from their
pockets.
keep your hands up, everybody,
came a quick and sharp warning
from the door, as some one inadvert-
emily lowered his arms a trif1e.
Were not through with you yet"
the voice added.
Having secured the money on the
table, the brigands proceeded to rob
our persons. With a great show OF
politeness they requested us to give
up our watches, money and weapons.
/ was one of the first to comply. The
fellow tossed my revolver and my
few silver dollars into his sack. and
grabbed at my watch.
Just then there was q crashing,
explosive sound, deafening in the
narrow confines OF the room-then
nother-another and another. Then
came darkness, q quick rush Of feet,
q tumult OF shouts and groans.
1t was the deacon, of course. i
knew it before the welcome. hurried
arrival of men from outside, with