Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-07-16

4 Dawes face blanched to q salloV
Wilderness, but he pulled her quickl
inside the door.
"What you gwine to dor" Sue asked
nervously, keeping near her cousin, bu
he apparently did not hear. He hat
taken down rifle that had belonged t
Sues brother, who had also offered u
his life on the altar of the cause, leav
ing his weapon to his sister as a mean
OF defence In just such emergencies n
this.
girl persisted, coming closer and laying
her hand on his arm. Dave shook sew
eral cartridges into the cylinder Of thu
rife, and waiting in silence, apparently
not aware that Sue had touched him
Only a few more moments to wait and
then the last act in the commonplace
little tragedy. A loud pounding at the
rickety cabin door, and a derisive i'm
perative voice demanded:
Hi, In there, open up, or We'll make
spllnters of yer OIL door, The threat
was garnished by several strong ex.
pletives and accompanied with more
vicious pounding.
Then for answer went the spiteful
snap Of the rifle followed by a surprised
howl Of pain, more voluble profanity
and footsteps in rapid retreat.
Dave went to the window and
through a knot hole in the shutter re-
viewed the situation Of the enemy.
through the aperture the rifle again
spoke with decisive, leaden emphasis,
and when the smoke cleared away the
lying prone across the freshly hoed
potato rows, while another limped pain-
fully in the rear Of the retreating trio.
In the short silence that followed the
last shot the arid topography Of Honey
path seemed to fash before Dawes Wis
ion, each popularity standing out
strong and clear The fine, white sand
covered everywhere with fat-leaved
prickly pear and cactus that blOomed
perpetually in big butter cOlored flow
ers; the bright, blazing sky, the heat
that rose and hung heavily over
man and beast, the many insects that
sat out In the furnace-like sun, rafting
shrllly with very joy. Then the dense
shade of the murky Swallowed swamp
and the big scaly black scorpions and
dainty multi-colored lizards that played
an eternal game of hide and seek
among the rotting rails of the old snake
fence.
The trio had disappeared into the
swamp and Dave calmly refilled his
rifle, waiting as though lost in thought.
Presently from the rear Of the cabin
came the harsh command:
"You cowardly bushwhacker in there,
come out an fight like a man! If We
don't, We'll burn We an yer shanty an
the gal with ye."
There was no opening in the rear Of
the cabin, the logs were thick and the
chinks were well stopped with clay,
so that Dave could not return leaden
answer to this brutal challenge. He
fingered the rifle nervously and looked
ut Sue.
"Oh, Dave, don't open the door," she
pleaded, meeting the earnest look bent
on her face from beneath the brim Of
Dawes frouzy SLOUGH hat; II amt
Altered to burn"
His lips blanched, his knees were
wobbly with fear, but he had not for
gotten the one boast of his poor.
Dinched life, uttered so long ago. TOO
purtec' yo' honah on happiness, 'ud
throw away my wuthless life." He
uttered the words again mOnOtOnously,
lingering the rifle that was held Imply
IN his shaking hands.
Poor Sue, there was no answering
laughter in her soul now for those
sententious words which
broke in husky monotone on her hear
ing like last prayer.
In that moment Dave, who had al
ways been a coward, who had all his
life long borne meekly the scorn and
opprobrium attached to the character,
he whom heretofore nothing could
arouse to a sense of his degradation,
calmly arose to the very pinnacle Of
heroism.
I'm coming out, The called and shoot
ing back the bolt he stood on the cabin
step before them.
Fall back and give him a show; he's
coming out, boysv' Sue chung to him,
pleading, Dave, don't; there's four to
one. Don't gov but he pushed her
gently backward into the room.
bolt the door behind mev' he said
and passed out.
Sue stood motionless in the center of
The room waiting for it to begin. Dave
pulled the trigger Of his gun and
turned the corner and instantly four
weapons barked with one voice.
Sue heard something heavy fall
against the side Of the cabin; then in
stantly the sharp, clear utterance of a
rife answered the carbines again and
still again. One carbine only an
swered; then all was still; only the fret
full warbling of wren in the nearby
rose hedge breaking the tense
silence Of the drowsy afternoon hush.
Anxiety conquering terror, Sue drew
back the bolt, throwing the door wide
open. A broad stream of yellow light
and a rush of heat met her, passing
over a figure on its knees that always
at the sight Of deep water.
Dave gasped his last breath. Bleed
ng and shattered, he crept to her feet,
after the manner of faithful dog, to
lie. In the grave gray eyes that were
raised to hers there was the light Of the
exaltation of passing spirit, triumph
A.. - L. - Il ~ -
ready darkened them. His lips moved