The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1894-11-22
CHAPTER I.


The Three Masks.
About seventy miles from London
westward, there was, at the period Of
which we are about to write, small
struggling village called Crawford.
That village has long ceased to exist
wherefore, will be explained hereafter
About two miles from Crawford, to
wards the mighty city," the London
Road was met and crossed by three
or four other roads, and this conjunc
ton of ways had formed itself into 4
large and perfect square, and from q
huge solitary tree which grew beside
one of the cross roads, at the spot
where all united, was called and known
and well known, too, as One Tree
Square.
An awkward square for strangers
travelling ON dark night to arrive at
since to read the directions on the fin
ger-post which stood near to where
the roads conjoined was then Of course
an impossibility.
And indeed the directions on that old
and time-worn post were not easily
read even by daylight, since most Of the
letters of which they had been com
Beneath that large, solitary tree
three persons were standing-and oil OF
them were eloaked and masked.
Clouds were scudding rapidly across
the full moon, now briefly obscuring
now for few moments revealing her
brilliant light.
But the moonlight reached not those
three masks. Standing beneath that
tree, they were in most complete
shadow.
Any one might have passed almost
within a yard Of them, and yet have
seen them not.
II am weary of waiting thus" said
one of those three persons.
Have patience. the moment Is al
hand.'
1t was a woman who first had spot.
en-.
But it was a mans voice which had
replied to her
And both had spoken almost in a
whisper.
It was a man, too, who presently
said, in low and husky tones:
II am nipped up with cold-you
said you'd got some brandy, master"
Eyes; but wait, wait
Il can't wait, -
The master" as he had been termed
sharply commanded the grumbler to
| be silent, and then all three listened
and the sound of approaching carriage
wheels was heard.
at is he!" whispered the woman,
| and the words slightly trembled on hel
lips.
"Be firm and ready" said he who had
been called master, and drawing the
other man quickly away with him into
deep, dry ditch by the way-side.
| The woman remained standing near
| the tree.
The chaise which had been heard ar
rived by one of the cross roads, and was
| stopped at about two hundred yards
from the spot where those three people
| were In ambush. A gentleman descend
ed from the vehicle and advanced to-
wards the tree.
| Those who were watching him, saw
| that a child, warmly and comfortably
| enwrapped, was lying in his arms.
The woman quilted not the shadow
of that tree; but as the man carrying
| the child approached, she removed heI
| mask, taking care, however, though
seemingly without intending it, to keep
| her face averted from the newcomer
To this man she displayed ring
and he then, after kissing the child
placed it within her arms.
II need not entreat you to take good
| care Of the treasure / now contide tC
you," said the man who had brought
thither the infant.
The woman made no answer. The
| man bowed to her, and then returned
to his chaise and drove away again.
The other two men emerged from
their concealment, and rejoined the wo
man beneath the tree.
The moment the man who had
brought the child had turned to leave
her into whose custody he had give1
| Now, and be speedy" said he who
appeared to be the principal in this
| business.
"(fiye me some brandy, or l sham
have courage for the job" the Other
man hoarsely whispered.
The master" gave to his coarser com
panion flask, the man swallowed
hastily a portion of its contents, and
the woman then thrust the child into
his outstreched hands.
mot here-not herer' said the wo
man, trembling and averting her head
The man carried the child on to the
/ London Road, and, standing in its cen
ter, drew forth poniard, and strucl
with it the infant sleeping in his arms
At the same moment, the rumblins
of wheels was again heard, but still a
some considerable distance.
And at that moment, too, the ruf
fan cast the child down in the road
and reeled and staggered towards {
copse by the wayside.
"Poisoned!--oh, what an idiot to b.
30 caught am poisoned!' And he fel
and lay in the copse writing with al
excruciating torture
The master" having seen the blow
struck, fled with the woman rapidly
from the spot by one Of the cross
roads.
The mail coach came spanking alon,
on it's way towards London.
The horses suddenly swerved to on,
side of the road; and the coachman
looking TO see what had occasionet
them to do SO, saw what appea. ID t,
be bundle lying on the ground.
He called to the guard, who i'm
mediately alighted and snatched up tn
child, which was covered with blood.
All this that we have just related hap
pened on the night of the fifth of Feb
ruary, in the year one thousand eigh
hundred and seven.
CHAPTER II.
nunlfca4x