The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-11-09
OUR STOR Y TELLER.
THE MARKED ARM.


sharp sound wakened Mrs. Halifont.
The room was dark. Not even a CLEAN
OF moon or starlight fell through the
curtains of the windows. 1t was very
strange sound indeed, but she saw moth
ing, heard nothing more.
She sat up, leaning on her dim pied
left elbow, and put out her right hand
and touched her husbands shoulder.
He lay upon his pillow sound asleep,
and did not waken at her touch.
1t must have been dream" said
Mrs. Halifont; and her young head
she was only the bride of year-nestled
Il 'wn again closer to her husbands
arm. and she slept again.
Clicki
This time the sound did not arouse
Mrs. Halifont. 1t was her husband who
awakened. He did not pause to listen.
but grasped the revolver beneath his
pillow and jumped out of bed at once.
Ia an alcove in the next room stood a
stfe which contained money and valua-
b.es. 1t was not one of the wonderful
new safes which defy fire and burglars,
but an old one that had been in the
family a long while. Mr.. Halifont
knew on the instant that some one was
opening this safe.
A man OF courage, a man who never
hesitated in the face of danger-one,
Zoo, who had warm regard for his
worldly possessions. Mr.. Halifont strobe
at once into the room where he knew
house breakers were at work, and run
ming in the dark against a powerful
man, tackled him at once.
The light If lantern flashed across
the room. There were two more men.
Three against one.
The. sound of blows, struggling, and
the reports of a pistol, aroused the
young wife once more. Amidst her ter
ror she had the good sense to light the
gas. 1t shone upon a spectacle OF hor-
ror. Her husband, weltering in his
blood, wrestling with gigantic man,
whose features were concealed by mask
OF black Grape; man, the upper part
OF whose person was clothed only in a
knitted wooden shirt, of some dark color.
with sleeves that left his great arm bare.
On the right one, the one which
clutched Mr.. Halifonts throat, was
red mark or brand, scar, birth mark.
1t would have been impossible for Mrs.
Eailfont, even in a calmer moment to
tell what it was; but it indelibly i'm
pressed itself upon her mind, as she
bravely cast herself into the struggle,
and fought with all her might to drag
the horrible hand from her husbands
throat, screaming all the while for aid.
A blow, kick would have silenced
her. The burglar must have known that
but there are very bad men who could
not use violence toward woman to save
their own lives. This man could not.
His companions had flown with their
b'oty; help might have arrived at any
moment. With great effort he
wrenched himself from the clutch of
hts victim, end let go his throat, and
sped away. 1t was not too soon. As
sistance arrived, now that it was too
late, but Mr.. Halifont did not live to
TELL the story. He was mortally
wounded. His young wife watched by
his bedside until he breathed his last,
then dropped beside it senseless.
For weeks she raved in wild del;ripu
o. the murderous hand, of the great
muscular arm with the scar upon it,
ana called upon them all to save her
husbands life; but she was Young. and
had q fine constitution. After a while
her health returned, and, at last, her
mind regained it's equipoise.
She removed from the city and took
mp her abode in lonely country place.
with favorite sister for a COMPANION
She had resolved, as all widows who
have loved their husbands do at first. to
remain widow forever. And indeed
though many men would gladly have
tempted one SO young, beautiful and
wealthy. to change her mind on this
point, she seemed to care less for any
'ne OF them than for the kitten which |
buried upon her knee, or the little |
,lack.and-tan terrier which ran by her
ide along the garden paths She was