Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-07-27
Mr.. HUNT, DETECTIVE.
BY JEANETTE SWING.

ffWonder who it can be-" remarked
Nell to Martha. 1t was just about
dusk, and a tall man in a macintosh
stood ringing their door bell.
81 cannot imagine" said Martha,
peeping over her sisters shoulder.
The door was opened by the maid,
and the visitor shown into the parlor
Then the maid hurried up stairs, and
said to the waiting sisters: "He didn't
give no name, Miss Martha, but asked
If he might see Miss Harper"
Martha took off her white apron, and
smoothed back her hair in a very i'm
portant manner, as she started down
stairs.
81 wonder what he wants." muttered
Nell enviously.
To have tall, well-dressed gentlemen
asking for Miss Harper was not an
every day occurrence. Nell began to
surmise. 1t might be an agent for
either books, life insurance, or foreign
missions, or it might be one of the
many lovers Miss Harper had had in
her youth, who had at last come back
to claim her. Nell had known a great
deal about those lovers by hearsay.
Miss Harper was fond of dwelling
upon them, and so many times had she
spun out her stories, that she had al
most persuaded herself to believe in
them. Nell's incredulity had long since
vanished, and now she began to con-
template her sister claimed, and mar
ried and carried off bride in blushing
and happy triumph while she herself
was left an old maid, and an object Of
pity.
The thought was sickening. She
stood in the hall by the ballusters, with
her eye fixed on the parlor door, wish
ing her sisters visitor would depart.
Suddenly the door opened, Martha
came out, and motioned for her to
come down.
81 thought it better to consult with
you, Nellie, in regard to this gentle
mans proposal" said Martha.
"a proposal already" gasped Nell
following her sister into the room.
She was soon undeceived, however,
and quite forgot her miserable antici-
pations in listening to the visitor
He was fine looking man, with a
smoothly shaven face, and close
cropped hair. His manners were per-
feet and his voice low and refined.
II shall explain to you as did to
Miss Harper" he said to Nell, placing
a chair for her CALAMITY: "What tell
you is strictly confidential. In case
you do not care to favor me as wish,
i trust to your honor to keep this visit
a secret. You know that there have
been several burglaries committed in
this town lately"
"Yes," said Nell, 1--WE have been
frightened to death several times near.
ly. Sister is so nervous, sthe slightest
noise at night"
Exactly he said, as she paused
"there have been some heavy losses,
and 1t is thought that the gang of
thieves contemplate more depredations
and it is certain that they are located
In this vicinity"
The two ladies looked with awe.
striker faces at their visitor as he
went on.
81 do not wish to alarm you, for the
thieves are to Ice brought to justice. TIC
do this this requires detective. Now
ladies', 1 do not believe In the old
adage, that none Of your sex can keeT
secret / know better. 4 have had
many chances to try the ladies, and
many time have placed my life 1t
self In the hands of a woman, and die
not regret It. God bless them"
Miss Harper's eyes glistened with
this praise. while her sister leaned for
ward and listened with rapt attention
$50, I am going to trust you with my
secret am Mr.. Hunt" and he drew
out a card case, and presented each
with a piece of paste board, bearing
the simple words, "Mr. Hunt Detec
tive
II have been sent here to work NJ
this robbery business. have come u