Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-01-16

on the snow was hurled and swallowed
with many q savage hiss.
Mariel reappeared Mt the coach door,
but ere she entered the innkceper step
ped zip to her, his hat In his hand.
"A bit OF something warm would he
more like 1t. but all have to offer We
tonight. my lady, Is mr. best thank
yous and my wife's, TO, ana ,ae child
ren's."
She took his wet hand and, looking
him frankly In the face, said:
| II am sorry for your loss, SIR, indeed
lam"
| Don't say word about that, miss.
/ started bare I'm this world, and / still
have hands and health and I'll come out
all right Thank We, kindly, and II
you're passing this way l won't for
get you and yours"
Five minutes later the coach was
jolting and rafting across the moor
drawn by eight horses still trembling
with the excitement of the night. IL
must have been 4 In the morning when
matters resched crisis. For an hour
or more the coach had been laboring
painfully aud occasionally the sharp
crack of tbe whip sounded above the
bowling Of the gale and the creaking
Of the joins. Suddenly there came
wrench and snap, the coach lurched
to one side and then stood still. No one
stirred; all intuitively knew what had
happened, though they were too miser-
able to care. When the poor, SILVER
ing post-boy told them an axle
had given way and said lie would bank
up the snow to the windward side to
keep the warmth. none spoke. In the
gray of the morning the wind dropped
and the sky cleared. and when the post
boy looked out from his warm place
among the huddled horses he beheld a
cheering sight Six horsemen were
plunging through the snOw-drifts to-
ward the stranded coach. The post
boy lost no time in passing the good
news to the Messengers.
Ere's 'elpr he said, triumphantly,
"sh OH 'em acomin' on 'Orses. l 'Opes
as they've Brought sumpin' to heat"
Pm 'ungerer nor n 'awk."
The glad tidings acted like magic:
every one stirred and tried to LOOK
pleasant
The pOst-bOy started to meet the
party, to anticipate as far as possible
the arrival of the ''sumpin' to heat"
but he brought himself to sudden
halt and was about to turn and make
for the coach when a gruff voice com.
PEELED him to stand.
Not a step, you cub. or I'll let day
light, such as 1t is, and fresh air through
you the voice said. And the voice
meant what 1t said.
The boy stood shivering from cold
and fear. In a few minutes the riders
were alongside. All were masked save
one who led a horse carrying a side
saddle.
lis there young lady with-with-
blonde hair among your passengers"
asked the young man who wore no
mask. Before the boy could answer
the gruff bighwayman spoke up.
Not SO fast, young man. We haven't
agreed to let you go yet"
',IIang it all, you have my purse and
pistols. What more do you wantT"
retorted the young man sharply.
Your horses"
"Oh, very well. you may have 'em.
They shall be delivered to you as soon
as get this young lady safely to my
house. Surely my words good for two
horses?"
Fright! It's bargain. And there's
to he no hunting us, or I'll put bullet
through you, IL l swing n thousand
times for it. Let's on to the COACH
Poor passengers! Instead of helping
others the strangers helped themselves.
1t was masked face that looked on
them and voice said
Purses, please. and watches, and any
little bauble in the way of jewelry you
happen to be burdened withal. No
fuss or nonsense, now. Out with every
thing, or I'll bundle you into the snow
to timber you up"
He went carefully through the list
of passengers, refused to take the
purse offered to him by the woman
| with the baby, and when he had gather
ed his harvest lie withdrew his head
and, speaking to Mariel, who sat next
! the window, said:
Lets see, your hair is blonde. That's
what he calls it. Red is good enough
for common man like me. He's wait
ing for you here"
The girl started.
| "Who waits me?" she asked quickly,
paying no heed to his raillery.
| ear, nla.Ehair I'll hall him for want
of better name. We picked him up
on the moor as we came along. i think
he was bent on little coach-stOpping
on his own account. He has a horse
saddled for you. We've lightened him
of his purse, pistols and some little con
ceit of himself, I'm thinking"
The highwayman was pushed uncere-
moniously aside and the face of an
agreeable looking young man appeared
at the window.
"HarwoOd, as I'm alive" gasped the
equity old gentleman, clutching his
crutch as though he intended an on
slaugh. "Oh, you villian-you-"
III moment Mariel was in her sweet
hearts arms, and he had carried her
through the snow to the saddled horse.
"Where are you OF TOP shrieked the
equity gentleman, as young HARDWOOD
mounted his own steed.
"Gretna Green, IL need be-" laughed
the young man, waving his hand.
pleasant journey, and tell Mariers
father we will pay him state visit a
few weeks hence, when we are rightly