Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1895-08-15
FOR His SISTERS sgKE.

"Hush Listen Didn't you hear
che breaking OF twig ?"
As the words were whispered the
speaker spread out his arms to ar
rest the progress of his three COM
panions. Under stunted tree they
crouched, listening for the faintest
sound.
They were poaching, Jim Hawel
and three others thrown out OF work
by the closing OF the pits. and poach-
ing on the most dangerous estate
that they could possibly have chosen
for their operations. For Hopsley
Grange belonged to Col. Traite, q
sportsman extremely jealous Of his
preserves and notorious as the very
sternest J. p. in the county.
But times were bad and for food
for themselves and theirs men will
dare anything.
you're mistaken, Jim. There s
nobody about. 1t was only q fox or
something stirring in the under
wood"
The three men moved out in the
open again, and Jim followed them
uneasily.
Truth to tell he didn't half like the
Job, although it had conjured a rab-
bit into each OF his capacious side
pockets. 1t was his first experiment
in poaching, and horribly nervous he
felt ever since he set out on the expe-
dition.
Jim, you'll never take to this
night,work like the others, will you ?''
his sister Bess had pleaded. True,
we're hard up for food, but, though
you say I'm weak and ill, l can share
with you till the pits open again. 1t
can't be long, and we'd better starve
than you get sent to prison."
OF course Jim had promised that
he would do nothing of the sort.
But when he remembered his sister 8
pale face, and noticed how, day by
day, her cheeks got thinner, the
sight of the rabbits and pheasants
that played, even in the country
roads about which he and his mates
wandered all day long to while away
the weary hours, was too much for
him; and that night after Bess had
gone to bed, Jim stole noiselessly
from the cottage and joined the
others at the gate of Hopsley's Cop
piee.
And now the others, we'll satisfied
with the result of their nights work,
were stealthily making their way
back again.
A bright moon floated in the clear
sky above, but in the woods silvery
mist arose amid the dark shadows of
the trees and shrubs, rendering all
objects hazy and indistinct.
Crossing a broad patch Of light,
Hawel, still haunted by this strange
unrest, glanced back at the woods
behind; and, as he did so, his heart
gave thump as some half dozen
figures, throwing black shadows on
the moonlit ground, dashed from the
cover of the bushes.
Look out, mates The keepers !"
The others gave one look round,
then broke into run. On the hard
ground the footballs of their pursuers
sounded plainly in the ears of the
startled poachers.
Then came voice, stop, or We'll
fire % And, as the four still tore
blindly on, the report of gun sound
ed out, echoing in the woods around,
and with q cry Of pain the rearmost
man dropped to the ground with q
charge of small shot lodged in his
legs.
How it happened Jim could hardly
say, but a second after he and the
others were fighting hand to hand
with the keepers, exchanging muir
derous blows with fist, stick and gun.
They were but three and wounded
man to six, and in few minutes the
fight was over. A blow on the head
stretched Jim Hawel senseless on the
ground. his mates were speedily over
come, and, additional aid having been
summoned. the captives were taken
away through the woods and lodged
in the stone lookup.
''And you, James Hawel, what
have you to say for yourself?"
Jim Hawel, standing before the
magistrate with his three fellows,
didn't know what to say. The other
Judges, taking into consideration the
fact that the men were out Of work,
and that great distress prevailed in
the district, were evidently inclined
to adopt a somewhat lenient view OF
their case, especially as the men
swore that the keepers had fired upon
them before being in anyway threat
ened; but Col. Traite, displaying his
usual severity, and easily swaying
his less strong minded colleagues,
promptly frowned upon the slightest
suggestion that any mercy should be
shown to the delinquents.
James Hawel, have you anything
to say?" he asked, sternly.
Jim shuffled his feet, trying to find
words for the thoughts that came
readily enough to his slow brain.
The eyes of all present were upon
him, but he saw only the face Of his
sister. who, lying i'll in the little
cottage, he knew was waiting with
feverish eagerness for the result OF
the trial.
I'D like to say lot, Colonel, your
Honor" stammered Jim, "but amt
no good at talking. / was there
right enough on your land, and the
rabbits was yours. But, Colonel,
p'r'aps you've never been starving and
seen food running about wild, and
yet you mustn't touch 1t. 'Twasn't
for myself / stole it. I'm man, and
short commons for bit don't brighten
me. hut',-and here his voice faltered