Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-02-01

eHOfts, WOuiu burst the Douuus Oh
prudence.
With smothered ejaculation Miss
Judith seized me by the arm just as
crushed the boots into my pocket and
hurried me of the porch and into the
very midst Of a thicket Of shrubbery
near by.
II thought You had more cense,
Paul." she whispered, half angrily,
with something very much like an adj
monitory shake. How do you know
the williams are not on the watchy'
But somehow l could not settle into
the gravity suitable to the occasion.
Laugh l had to, and laugh ] did, In
spite of every consideration. But sud
denly my mirth was silenced by low,
vehement:
paul, you're fool! See there!"
And with no gentle hand Miss
Judith jerked my head toward the
proper quarter
"A man. whispered, sententiously.
mo ghostr' Miss Judith returned, as
sententiously.
Yes, it was a man, and my first ir-
repressible burst of merriment had no
doubt drawn him forth. l saw him
distinctly, as he stepped from the
dimly lighted hall to the porch. He
closed the door and traversed the
porch from end to end. Suddenly his
footsteps ceased, and before we sus-
pected his approch we deserted his
form dimly visible within three feet
of our hiding place.
DOWN. whispered Miss Judith.
And as we dropped heavy blow from
cane smote the bushes over our
heads.
Nobody there" growled a gruff
voice. II knew there wasn't, without
coming. Just as if anybody would
want to traipse up to this haunted old
place in such storm. But Tins al
ways a-fancyi' something's And
with an added oath he strobe back to
the house.
Miss Judith drew a deep breath of
relief.
THAT was narrow escape, Paul"
she said, Strengthening herself. But |
won't scold you, since the fruitless
search may result in giving the rascal
a greater sense of security. You see
there are rascals here" she added;
land we may congratulate ourselves
that the suspicious Tim did not make
a search here in person. But come, j
know of another anw more secret en-
trance-we won't risk this side of the
house again, and neither will we be
driven off by fear. I'm determined to
know what the wretches are about"
/ wanted to think, and did not i'm
mediately reply. AS we reached the
door-a low basement one, completely
concealed by tangle of dead vines
and shrubbery, which had been allow
ed to encroach upon it, l turned and
said:
Miss Judith, did the name he men
toned impress you at all'
NO" answered Miss Judith, an as
tonished inquiry in her voice. "Tim's
n common name"
80 it is" l replied; but it belongs
to one uncommon man."
l felt her start, and then she whisp-
cred:
Tim DawsonT'
"The same ;" / returned. This place
is exactly suited to his operations, is
it not?"
Exactly! she answered, emphati-
cally. But, come, let us decide the
doubt, and woe be to the bold forger
If herer'
The door opened readily and we en-
tered. We waited for some sound to
guide us. 1t soon came, in the shape
of voice from above. Miss Judith
clutched my arm.
This way" she whispered, excited
ly. THE room to the right has a
dumb waiter opening into the one
from which the voices come. If the
upper door should fortunately be ajar
we shall, at least, hear something. Be
careful-slide your steps slowly. But
hark"' she suddenly added.
And she clenched my arm much
more firmly than l found comfortable,
as door closed and a heavy step re-
sounded on the stairs above. Ny
breath came fast.
The adventure was quite to my
taste, so far as it had gone, but l did
not relish the idea of meeting one or
more of the villains assembled above.
But fortunately the steps came from
an upper flight of stairs and on de-
scending to the hall retreated to the
room over the one for which we were
bound.
''Good"' whispered Miss Judith, with
an inspiration that testified her relief.
Now, come. Be careful
Sounds became distinct enough as
we cautiously made our way to the
dumb-waiter, both the upper and the
lower doors being open. The gruff
voice we had heard in the shrubbery
was evidently answering an inquiry.
II went right down to the basement,
| tell you, after beat the bushes and
then i went up where our ghost lights
are playing. You're afraid of your
own shadow, Tim Dawsonr'
Miss Judith and l simultaneously
pinched each other.
And did you lock the hall doorsY
inquired strange voice.
YES" returned the first, with an
impatient oath. But who the devil
do you think wants to come up here
among tho ghosts aenociolIy ouob a,