Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-01-18
A Robber Bold and Gay.
BY N. 3.

Grain! Rain. Will it never stop
raining!' Clover Beaver with an i'm
patient stamp of her foot looked out
of the window upon the drenched
fields and muddy roads.
mo tennis this afternoon, and had
so set my heart upon playing with the
new guest. Will the sun never come
ont again."
A loud rapping upon the door was
the only answer.
Gomez called Glover, and rather
petulantly, too.
The door was thrown open and a
girl, radiant in her youth and sweet
beauty, rushed up TO Glover, and, kiss
ing her, said as she twined her arms
about her waist:
Il knew you would be consumed by
the blues, dear, thinking how the rain
had spoiled our projected pleasure, but
bring goood news
"Good news?" said Glover, brighten
ing at once, what is it, Alice?'
"Just the incest thing in the world!
At the hotel we We're quite as disap-
pointed as you, and while we sat about
grumbling someone suggested that we
have an impromptu fancy dress ball
tonight"
Splendid" cried Glover.
"Yes; we all jumped ut the idea and
as the girls began to arrange their
dresses l ran over to tell YOU"
''You dear girl"' exclaimed Glover,
all smiles. In five minutes she was in
the hotel with Alice busily changing
a gray morning gown into a "Falka"
costume. 1t was at a fashionable SUI
burban resort. A large hotel was the
center of life and about it were a num-
Der of beautiful cottages. In one of
these lived Glover Beaver, her parents
idol, while Alice Hilton, with her faith
er, mother and brother, Harold, was
staying at the hotel. Both young Ia
dies had just come out of their "teens"
and they were very pretty, Alice fair
and Glover dark.
The new guest of whom Glover spoke
was young man who had been ex-
pected for several days. Glover had
set her heart upon captivating him,
and she was very much surprised,
therefore, to find not long after she
went to the hotel that he was an old
friend and her ardent admirer Frank
Carlton.
Just as the day was drawing to a
close Harold Hilton rushed into the
group Of busy sewers gushing over
with the news of the robbery of safe
In the express Office at n station sew
eral miles away. He had just heard
the tale from the Waterman of the
office, who had been surprised by the
two robbers and bound while they did
their work. He described them to
Harold as being most dashing fellows,
and said they wore large SLOUGH hats.
black cloaks, masks and nigh boots
with clanking spurs which gave them
a most brigandsh appearance. The
leader was particularly handsome in
form and feature, he said, and was in
very gay humor. As he went about
his work he quoted poetry, and talked
philosophy, but lost no time, and the
two soon clattered away on their
horses.
This story attracted deep interest
and talk about the robbery filled the
interval until the gay party began tc
assemble in the hotels large dining
room in the evening. "Falka" was
there ablaze with diamonds which she
wore rather in a joke to dim the imita
ton splendor of the unpopular girl
The brilliant flashes from the costly
stones in her hair, about her neck anC
in her ears were seen in al. the gayes
revels. She had cavaliers in plenty
but the most attentive was tall Ne
phistopheles, Frank Carlton.
Dance followed dance and prom
eDade after promenade had passed
while Mephistopheles and Falka wer,
together. The gentleman from the in
fernal regions bowed over fair Falka'
shoulder and whispered while the mod
est CARRIED convent girl seemed intense
ly happy and not at all dismayed a
the presence of the enemy of man
kind.
The ball was n grand success. Ey
eryone said so. Music was crashing
lights flashing and the time whel
masks must be removed drawing neal
For the first time Mephistopheles ser
arated from Falka. After lancier
he bowed over her hand and went int
the garden. He did not stay ava
long, however, but entering by anothe
door made his way again to Falka'
side. His sudden return attracted a
tention and great many eyes followe
him as he crossed theroom. Man
marked a difference in his bearing, h
walked with wabbling gait and hi
whole air was n devll-may-care cha
acter Then, too he seemed taller an
not.so broad. Those who noticed thes
things a minute after laughed at then
selves for having such ideas, it wa
so absurd.
Miss Beaver" he said, bending owe
Glover. please come with me for
stroll in the garden? The storm ha
been over several hours and the moo
and stars are shining beautifully; yo
promised me the next waltz, yo
know"
How bad OF you to come back
whispered Clover in reply. II sci
you away to stay at least three dance
arl then to say that promised yo
the next waltz. think you have ha
quite enough. Did you carry my me