Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-07-25

the parlor and really did wonders. Leander
fell In love with her over and over again.
But for the diamonds they would have
been IS happy as larks.
Did they hear sound at night--it was
q burglar after those precious gems. They
were afraid TO leave the house alone lest
thieves break In and steal. and one or the
other Of the two was compelled to be the
hiding place of the jewels. when they went
out together. Mabel did not care to adorn
herself with diamonds when she went to
market or to church, but she could not
listen to sermon In peace II the gems
were not about her. And somehow 1t did
annoy her TO carry concealed wealth, like
brigand or smuggler.
| But when Leander had chance to buy
shares In the Little Catawba" Lumber
Company, and to make as much In three
months as he would in year by his clerk
ship, Mabel would not listen to the sug-
gestion that the bank would advance
enough on the diamonds TO enable him TO
make the investment.
Then Leander discovered that his wife
could be very obstinate woman. 1t was
In vain that he laid before her the benefit
that would result from transient disposal
of the gems. She replied, not without
| logic on her side, that the ''Little Catawba"
might be failure, and then her precious
securities would be forfeited. Leander,
man fashion, grew angry. and after some
hot words reached the penultimate OF pas
sion.
II WISH" he said, in tones Of invective.
''that burglars would get the hateful
stones. They might at least be of some
use to them!"
1t is said that curses, like chickens, come
home to roost. After Leander had asked
forgiveness for his rudeness and Mabel had
sweetly extended the olive branch of con-
Citation, he suggested that she be doubly
careful of her cherished possessions.
"The town is full Of burglars, and they
know the people who have fine diamonds,
and If they once set out to get them they'll
succeed"
Mabel did not sleep with the diamonds
in the same room. Womanlike, she
thought If she secreted them In some place
where they would never be detected, they
would be safe. Neither the ash barrel nor
the rag bag entered into her calculations,
but places just as inconsistent did.
One night there was crash in the room
below. Mabel shook her sleeping husband
and whispered in his ear:
Burglars! Get your revolver and 60
down stairs. The diamonds are in the
bottom of the clock"
Leander was startled and confused, but
as the noise continued, he hurried on his
clothes, and taking his revolver ran softly
down the stairs. Mabel remained where
she was, shivering with fear.
There was fearful commotion below,
the noise of falling furniture, opening and
closing of windows and the rapid firing of
the revolver after some flying robber.
Then regard for her husbands life CON-
PEELED Mabel to hurry to his assistance.
She found him lying on the floor grasping
his revolver.
She did not faint or shrek, but kneeling
beside him bathed his face and besought
him to speak to her.
"Where am ?" he asked feebly, as he
tried TO raise himself. "Are the diamonds
safe?"
'Never mind the diamonds" said his
wife. care you MORALLY wounded any
where?"
~ don't know" answered Leander
feebly, and, to her credit, be it recorded,
Mrs. Leander assisted her husband to a
couch and sent of, or rather called for as
sistance. before she even thought of her
diamonds.
Then the open door of the clock told the
whole story. The diamonds were gone,
root and branch And they were the only
things stolen.
If Leander had been su rprised at the
manner of his wife on receiving the jewels,
he was astonished at the calm indifference
with which she parted from them. She
allowed the usual course to be taken to re-
cover the thief, or thieves, to justice, but
when no results followed, she said she was
glad of it, that the gems had been like an
evil eye to them, and for her part she never
wanted to hear Of them again.
II wonder" she said, 'that did not
see it in that light before. will never
keep anything in my house again to tempt
the cupidity Of the wicked or unfortunate.
To that extent am my brothers keeper"
But the effect upon her husband was en-
tirely different Either he caught cold on
that night Of the burglary, or his nervous
system received shock, for he was almost
i'll from the effects of his tussle with the
burglar. And he could not endure to have
the subject mentioned before him. Not
even the success of the Little Catawba,"
in which friend had invested for him,
gave him the peace and rest he craved.
A little incident that happened at that
time did, however, help to restore him to
his normal condition. His wife received q
small package, accompanied by soiled
and dilapidated note, which, upon being
opened, read:
''honord MAIDEN:
81 gets no sleap sence stoal yure d.
mons no yure lady an am reich If
giu them up pra fur me.
San unnone frend."
And in the package Mabel found her
diamonds, exactly as she had last seen
them.
She was pleased-where is the woman
who would not have been ?--and she at
once showed her confidence in her husband
by placing the gems in his hands for safe
keeping in the bank.
Il wish had taken your advice earlier"
she said gracefully; lit would have saved
us so much trouble"
I.eander murmered something about all
being well that ends well, and at noon
brought her certificate of deposit.
There we leave them, on the way to for
tune and happiness If -if--Leander's con-
science does not upset the whole scheme.
He would give great deal to know, what
no cairvoyant could tell him, how much
or how little Mabel has discovered. My
own opinion is that she saw through 1t from
Tho fret and holia haroalf auuallv 0uiltv