The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-05-06
NO. "A.
A Man In a Black Mask.

Is the residence OF a wealthy widow, Mrs
Harvey G. Law One nigh recently
Mrs. Law, who was in deep mourning
was sitting with her married daughte
aud her son.in.law ut the dinner.tabl
talking about the deceased relative
The house was quiet as usual, being il
u retired neighborhoOd, Mrs. Law ant
her daughter thought they were quite b,
themselves, when on sudden the doc
opened. They looked mp and saw the
face Of man. The face was black.
Mrs. Laws daughter, who saw the man
first, thought it wns Peter. the black
servant. She took a piece Of steak
which she was about to,Gut, but on look.
ing again Mt the door, became aware that
Peter Ind not shut the door, and had
not gone about his business, but stood
staring tiercely at her and Mrs. Law from
under his big bnshy eyebrows. She
looked at him again, and saw that the
mans face was not black. He wore a
black mask His eyes glared at her.
He had on red cloak, and was dressed
in the costume of Satan. The young
woman gave II scream and dropped knife
and fork. She was speechlcss with terror.
"Mercy upon us, /" said Mrs. Law, very
much frightened; and thinking her
daughter would faint away, she had paid
no attention, still thinking it was Peter
who was at the door. Mrs. Laws
daughter gave another scream.
Mrs, Law looked up, and saw that it
was n strange man. He held revolver
in his hand. His red cloak was flying
wide open. She even thought she saw
his hoof. The man kept staring tiercely
at the two women.
"Mercy upon u.s." Mrs. Law cried,
rushing from her seat. She thought the
man would shoot Mrs Law is n woman
about fifty years of age. She is delicate
aud rather timid. Her face became
white with terror. She held up hel
hands and cried "Don't shoot" Her
daughter Ind tainted away On her chair,
md threaten to drop on the floor.
The man raised his hand as If to point
the revolver ut Mrs, Law, when her SON
in.law jumped upon him, and he fled.
He dnrted through the back door, the
two women after him. He ran through
the conservatory, jumped over the fence
and escaped. Mrs. Laws son-in.law
was sick, and therefore unable to follow
him.
The two women rushed up stairs into
their room. The drawers Of one bureau
were found forced open and papers,
,n,,nl, nn1 ,n1unI,1no nf al l,;n,1,, ,,nr,,
found strewn on the floor. Mrs. Law
almost thought her satanic visitor had
taken nothing, when she discovered that
her late husbands gold watch and chain,
which she priced beyond anything in
the world, were missing. Something
else was mlssing-it was the will OF
Harvey G. Law. Mr.. Law died only
four weeks ago, and left an estate valued
ut $500, O,0O0 or S35O,O0O. The colored
servant said he came upon the thief while
the hitter was searching for the will
among the papers. Satan quickly pre-
scented u pistol ut his head and told him
he would blow his bruins out il he ut
tered n sound. Thereupon Peter kept
quiet.
A reporter called ut Mrs. Laws resi-
dence. When he ring the bell he heard
chain rattle, and the door was opened
an iuch. The servant girl took good
look at him, us though satisfying herself
that he was not burglar or robber, and
that he wore no red Cloak. Afterhe had
stated that he wanted to see Mrs. Law,
she called another girl, who also took u
good look ut him through the aperture
The chain was still unloosened, and the
reporter could not open the door. The
two girls, after consulting each other
five minutes, finally concluded to trust
the reporters appearance aud to let him
in. The chain fell down and the door
opened.
Mrs. Law, who is very genteel, nice.
looking lady, begged the reporters par
don for not having ordered the servant
girl to admit him at once. AZ have been
so terribly frightened" she said, "that
| have given orders not to admit any
man. For several days l have not been
able to make up my mind to allow man
to come into the houe. l thank God
for having spared my life. | felt almost
sure that the man would kill me"
Reporter-Do you suspect anybody
Mrs. Law-Yes, I do but l have nc
right to tell my suspicious. l may dc
them wrong.
Reporter-Could any one profit by
stealing the will?
Mrs. Law--No; not,at all, not us the
will now stands. Thinking a while
and with tears in her eyes. Still,
think they might have waited II little
longer to get me out Of the way. III
Just four weeks since my husbandLdied
aud | was so sick aud so worried-they
might have waited little longer.
Reporter-Could you recognize the
man
Mrs. Law-My daughter could. She
could not stay in the house after this oc
currence We both Of us were KEEP
awake all night thinking of the frightIu
vision, and she has left the house now.
and is staying with n friend of hers.
Reporter-Do you think twas pro.
fesSional burglar2
Mrs. Law-No; / nm convinced THAI
he was not burglar? ? He left great
many valuablcs he might have taker
along just as wellas not. l found n rope
in the second story window. l don't
know what he expected to use it for. ]
am so sorry for the watch. I looked
ut it that very same morning, and said tc
my daughter: az wouldn't part will
this for the whole world. Crying,
Now have had to part with it, W,
have lived twenty.iour years in thi
house, and never had any trouble, Oh
the next thing can expect is to lose m.
life.
TIE HlaHwAY OF LtFE. Ten thousan,