Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-06-17

me to 10 myself just now, ~ ! have
some important business in hand; so
not to delay obtaining the claims, /
have ordered Howard to peg them out
and register in my name, but he can
do nothing until he has the particu-
lars contained in this. Now, do You
understand"
Eyes; but how far is Gibson cogniz-
ant of your plans?"
s'He has found out that i intend
sending the map Immediately to Jo-
hannesburg. This Office is watched;
You will be Swallowed on leaving, and
when they find that you are q passen-
ger by the Roman they will conclude
that you are my messenger. 1t will
be your business to nullify that be-
lief"
IT see."
"You had better pretend to be new
submanager sent out by me to repre-
sent my interests in johannesburg.
Now, can you, do you think, conceal
the map in such way that these
thieves cannot get hold of it?"
sat silent few moments thinking
over the situation, then my eyes stray
ed to some books lying on the table
between us. took up one. 1t was
Lock on Gold" standard work.
II will do my best" 1 said at
length.
Crust no one," concluded my en-
ployer, giving me money for my jour-
new and the boat ticket "Rely on
yourself alone. Pit the map in your
breast pocket for the present, but find
a securer hiding place before you &c
on board. Good-by, and good luck to
you"
Ny preparations were soon made,
and the following morning found me
on board the Roman. had reduced
my luggage to as small compass as
possible. 1t consisted of two small
portmanteaus which would go under
my bunk, some wraps, and few
novels, with clock on Gold" the
latter obtained from my employer to
sustain my character as mining man
ager, and with its covers encased in
gray calico. had joined the ship at
the docks to avoid the crush at Water
loo, and to see the mouth of the
Thames. There were two other men
in my cabin, for the ship was full,
every berth being taken, but they had
not yet come on board, so l arranged
my belongings at leisure, and then
went on deck as we left the dock to
smoke and view the river and the
miles of wharves and shipping as we
slowly and majestically steamed out
to sea. The ship was nearly empty,
and / passed quiet twenty-four
hours anticipating the coming duel
which was to take place, and wonder
ing if my simple scheme would be
successful.
The mail bags and passengers came
on board at Plymouth, and scene OF
animation and confusion followed; but
a rough sea and head wind Gained the
exuberance of many of the company,
and the dinner tables in the saloon
that evening showed an abundance OF
empty seats. Both my cabin mates
succumbed and L left them white and
grooming. Fortunately 1 was good
sailor; and, having enjoyed my dinner,
later in the evening found myself in
the smoking room smoking one of
Jim" Gibson's cigars and engaged in
a chat with that worthy, who was
most friendly and evinced some cur
iosity about myself.
L told him my tale, which he accept
ed with perhaps suspicious readiness.
Employed by Tring, are you? Pep.
perry fellow; / know him well. We
used to be friends; now he hates me
like poison"
He introduced me to his friends,
Spellman, Dunbarton and Vandermit,
who severally expressed themselves
delighted to make my acquaintance.
The first two or three days my adj
versaries only skirmished. tried to
pump me, and dropped broad hints as
to the advantages which would follow
if 1 joined them-hints 1 ignored.
As, however, they felt pretty sure
that / was the bearer of the coveted
map, my portmanteaus were searched
more than once, and my spare clothes
when I was absent from my cabin. II
was Spellman who was told off for this
portion of the quest; finding 1 was not
very cordial toward him, he struck uI
friendship for one of my cabin mates,
which gave him an excuse for enter
ing at all hours. / did not think il
advisable to enlighten the latter, as
my attitude was to blandly ignore my
adversaries' behavior.
Spellman's researches proving of M
avail, the great endeavor to discover i
had the paper took place about ,
week after Madeira was passed.,
was playing in whist tournament
and noticed that Dunbarton and Van
dermit were playing nap with the two
men who shared my cabin. I guessed
that Spellman was making thorough
search, and as soon as 1 was at liberty
l hurried there.
1t had indeed been thorough. Ever,
article had been taken out of the port
manteaus and examined, and the port
manteaus themselves cut and hacke,
in search of q secret hiding place
Everything had been scrutinized; ever
the gray calico cover was pulled OF
Lock" to make sure that nothing wa
between it and the binding. Nor wa
this all, for while surveyed the wrecl
L became conscious of an overpower
ing feeling of drowsiness, and knowl
edge came to me that 1 had beef
drugged. Too late remembered hay
ing just accepted drink from Gibson
but / had only sense enough left {