Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-10-17

The momenlary silence that followed
was broken by tiny click, as the captain
cooked pistol.
The bald young man started slightly ct
| the sound, the recumbent figure ON the
settle opened Its eyes, and the two ex-
changed = glance, 80 rapid as TO be scarce-
ly perceptible.
''Sir," answered the young man, earn
estly, ''you touch me nearer than you
know. l am naturally eager for social
advertisements; and own 1t seems hard
that single traveller like yourself must sit
and twiddle his thumbs because his fellow
guests chance to be clergymen. Yet, see
how 1t is. Before was u man grown,
gave my word to my father never again to
touch the cards."
Johnny broke in the old gentleman,
al give you back your word. Do as your
conscience bids you. And call to remem-
brance the House OF Rimmon, sonny"
may" said the captain, pleasantly,
"say no more. would not be an occa-
sion of stumbling to any. 1t would be a
thousand pitics to risk q sojourn In purga-
cards." and cooking the other pistol, he
laid one on either side of him.
The bald young man, good deal fius-
tered, drew up chair and sat down, wip-
ing the beads of Precipitation from his
forehead with his coat cuff.
ut becomes my turn to entreat the
pleasure, although fear you will find inc
but dull opponent" he said, with a
CHASTITY attempt at urbanity. "Come, sir,
let us tot lam heartily glad Of the OPP
portunity."
mo, no." said the captain, shutting the
cards. "Y' are forcing yourself out of
sheer good nature. see it, l will have
no man blacken his record in heaven for
me! |"
"Not jot, not a tittlc," returned the
other, with an obsequious alacrity. "And
/ take it greatly rs favor you should play
with so rusty an amateur"
| swell, have 1t as you will, them" said
the captain. Sand what shall we call the
stakes?"
| "Shall we say-Jacobuses ?" said the
bald young man, smoothly.
| A doubt crossed the mind Of Captain
Jacobus. and he looked up sharply at the
speaker. But the bald young man was
laboriously dealing the cards. his white
face creased i'm fatuous smile; and the
captain could make nothing of his ex-
preston.
"Why, yes, with all my heart" returned
the captain, "Jacobuses, certainly" and
the two men settled TO the game, the cler-
gyman coming his play with the most ar
duous attention, often clutching his jaw
and pausing to consider; and the captain,
with scarcely glance at his hand, nom
chalcntly tossing his cards on the table.
They played without exchanging q
word; at intervals a smouldering log broke
and fell upon the hearth, disengaging a
shower of sparks; the old clergyman
snored in the chimney corner, and the
night wind rustled in the trees outside.
At first the game went evenly; but, as the
night wore on, a little heap of gold began
to accumulate at the elbow of the bald
young man, in q manner to the captain
quite unaccountable. The doubt in his
mind grew and pricked him. He began
to watch the other narrowly, and present
ly detected piece of very deft manipula-
ton. The highwayman said nothing, but,
twisting his moustache, looked the other
full in the eyes. The cheat binked, went
very white, and glanced swiftly round at
the sleeper, who continued to snore pla-
cidly; but the captain, at the moment Of
choosing card, and without turning his
head, saw the old mans eyes open wide
and shoot an answering look of meaning
at his son. The incident passed so quick
| ly that to an onlooker the pause in the
game would have been barely noticeable.
Captain Jacobus, under cover Of the table,
unsheathed short dirk, and laid it, naked.
on his knee.
Soon the pile Of gold pieces began to
dwindle and change sides upon the table,
when suddenly, as the bald young man
laid down fcard, the Captain, with an
OATH drove his dagger through the back
of his opponents hand, deep into the oak.
"Not again, my cully!" he cried.
The man screamed and fell back In q
swoon, and at the sound the other parson
leaped to his feet with cry, whipping a
great horse-pistol from his pocket. But
the Captain was too quick for him; before
he could bring the ponderous engine to
bear the highwayman had caught his
wrist with one hand, and trust the muzzle
of pistol into his face with the other.
The clergyman's weapon exploded harm
lessly, the bullet striking the ceiling
Now" said Captain Jacobus, releasing
him, sits my turn! Obey orders!" he
Numbered. Hand up those saddes!"
The old man with shaking fingers and
a very wry face, heaped up the baggage
and dumped it on the table, where the
litter of cards was afloat in widening pools
Of blood.
Empty out the saddle-bags!" Give me
but the shadow of dsobedience, and I'll
put bullet in you. What's here? Now
what is couple of rascal parsons doing
with fortune of gold? Won at the cards,
l suppose! And what kind of gear is this
for clergyman p
For among miscellany of personal ef-
fects were two bulky leathern bags, full to
the throat with broad pieces, great,
jcweled watch, and handful of ladies
rings and trinkets. The sham clergyman,
biting his fingers, and looking haggardly
at the spoil, stood in sullen silence. Al
the other end of the table the bald young
man was moaning and writhing in hi:
chair, his hand pinned fast. The Cap
tain, vigilant as a bird, but thoroughly al
his ease and enjoying himself hugely,
leaned against the panelling, cycling the
pair by turns.
"Come," he said, ''speak up, parson
Make clean confession. You may tie
up your little boy, If your care to, while
you talk"
The old man cast venomous glance o.
contempt upon his abject offspring
.'Serve him right I" he broke out savagely
1.-THE clumsy fool!"