The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1879-11-20

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we have the money we will advertise
him all over the length and breadth of
the land. He may not remember, but
the blessed mark you put upon his foot,
that he will know of. He will come to
us-I feel sure of tat last, Martin,
at last"
Eyes, it may be so, Agnes" the
man said. 1T may be so; the time
has been long, the days woeful, but we
may be happy after all that has gone.
Agnes, 1 believe it will be sou
They kissed each other and made
ready for the journey which they must
take to enter upon their inheritance.
And they travelled together over the
road with eyes that grew brighter for
this small speck of hope in their hearts.
Through all the proceedings that fol-
lowed, this grew and grew; and when,
at last. they found themselves I'M
disputed owners of a pretty house
and money enough to live on in COM
fort, they began to feel sure that their
boy would yet share it with them.
The first evening in their new house
was almost happy.
"Agnes, we must put this cash away
in bank tomorrow, said the husband.
counting over a roll of notes. "It is
not safe to keep it here, and we must be
careful; we have that to do which makes
us economical"
"Yes, Martini said his wife, as she
held the light for him and he locked the
small, old-fashioned safe. "You see,
when the boy comes to us we will want
to do all we can for him, and home
must be a pretty place. We can live
on almost nothing until he does come"
Afterward, in the dark, their heads
close together on the pillow, the elder
ly couple talked on, dreaming like chill
dren.
Martini" said Agnes, "when he
does come, our poor boy, perhaps he
will be rough and not well-mannered,
he has not had us to teach him; we
must be very lenient.''
Eyes, yes" said Martin; "but the
boy will improve. Young as he is, he
can 60 to college vet"
AWAY from us?'' said the mother.
mo, no, he shall come home every
day. said the father. "Will he be
tall, 1 wonder? We are usually tall,
but your people are shorter"
Something may have happened to
hurt his looks" said the mother, "but
we would only love him the better for
it if it is so. However he comes, we
will be so good, so good to him. 4 He
will come, will he not, Martin? He
could not be dead, after all.''
mo, no, feel sure that he will
come. I've known all the while that
he was not dead" said Martin. ..Pn
advertise all over the United States-all
over Europe. If that fails, even in
India, in some way. You see, he NAV
have been carried to some foreign
country. Men who know all languages
that are spoken shall see that my adj
vertisement is put into each one. Yes,
we shall have him back"
Hark," said Agnes; "what is
that?''
They listened. A low, grating sound
at the door below, regular and careful
ty subdued-a click-a crack.
'Some one is trying to break in,"
said Martini
Agnes hid her face in the pillows.
They were alone in a lonely house on a
lonely road. They had several thousand
dollars in their possession. Martin was
not a powerful man, and, though he had
a pistol, there might be two or three
against one, and then there was little
hope for him.
He arose and took his weapon in
his hand, and felt about in the dark
for matches. And Agnes heard creak-
ing of the flooring and the sound of
muffied footsteps, and also sprang to
the door.
They are at the safe below" cried
Martin. " Agnes, the money-the mon
ey for our boy! Oh! if my life is lost
for its sake, 1 cannot lose that. can
not-I cannot.''
Martin! Martin! Stay-do not 90.
What can you do, one man alone?''
screamed Agnes.
But he was gone; she was alone in the
darkness. 1t was all over in a moment.
There were shots, oaths-a fall-si-
lence. She crept down stairs, trem-
bling SO that she could scarcely stand.
Leaning against the safe was her hus-
band, blood upon his sleeve; on the
floor lay man in Grape mask, stiffen-
ing in death.
Martini sobbed the woman. ..Mar-
tin!'
II have killed hlmr' cried the man.
"Fasten the door-put up the great
bar. Had I not forgotten that, thew
could not have entered. Oh, it is terri
BILE, but could not lose every chance
OF my boy. They fired at me, at them.
l wounded both. This one is dying.
am little hurt-not much-and the
money is safe - untouched. Oh, to
think l should have killed man! IT,
Martin, he may not be dead" said
the woman. 'He is young. Hope he
is not dead. Perhaps he has a mother
somewhere. Let me bind up your hand.
Then we will try to restore him. Dear
Martin, even if it is SO, who can blame
you? Poor, poor boyr'
She bound up the Craze on her hus-
bands hand. Then they lifted the
young mans body to the soft rug and
undid the mask. A face was revealed.
young and handsome, and pallid as mar
"Oh, it is terribler' said the wife.
"No older than our poor boy. Oh, Mar
tin, he is dead, l fear. 1 will loosen his
neck-tie. You take off his shoes and rub
his feet. oh, morning is so far away.
This is such lonely place. Martin,
what is it?''
She stared at her husband in horror.
His face was as the face of death. He
sat CHASTITY and terrible to look upon,
holding in his hand one of the feet that
he had undressed.
"Dead!' he said, wildly. dead!
and shot him-Ir'
Martini shrieked the wife. She
laid the dead mans head down on the
rug and crept up to her husband. God
will forgive YOU" she said; and then
her eyes fixed themselves upon the
point at which her husband stared.
It was the foot of the young burglar.
The left shoe was off-the stocking, also.
The high, white instep was uncovered,
and on it she saw the little tattooed w
with a tiny cross beside it. It was her