The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-15
THE Man WITH THE BLACK MASK.

SparguT Hulse.
1t was a most picturesque spot, GER
tainly; only woodchopper's cabin in
forest of the California Sierras. 1t stood
III the center of a clearing hardly worthy
the name, for only few of the lofty pines
had been removed, and even to the walls
OF the cabin grew great punches of chap
arral with dark, glossy foliage and spikes
OF creamy blossoms that filled the air
with delicious fragrance. a few PAGES to
the left, mountain stream laughed and
murmured unintelligibly as it ran and
danced and now and then fell over the
rocks on its way to the valley below.
over beyond the stream, at the foot of
great tree, man lay, face downward, in
mortal agony, one might have thought,
for his slender and shapely but toilworn
fingers clutched at the grass, tearing it
out in handfuls, and the form, clad in
oId oYeralls and scarlet flannel shirt,
Wrlthed ike that OF one in commissions;
yet no sound escaped his lips.
Ailer while he lay quite still; then he
arose and looked sCOrn1ully toward the
blue sky, seen here and there beyond the
dark pine boughs. No, he would not ask
AID from the God who mad fOrsaken him.
Alice had done that and no aid had come;
Alice, who would die and leave him
alone! OH, GOd so fe&riuily alone I'M
less he saved her! Save her he would,
he must, cost what it might. He shut
his teeth hard, drew a deep. quiveriug
breath, and, striving to regain his wonted
expression. walked slowly toward the
cabin.
fad you entered also, reader, you
would nave noted the fireplace built of
rough. uneven stones, the rude table and
chairs, strengthening chest in corner,
and lastlY-no, you would have seen first
the miserable bed and Its occupant al one
end OF the room.
Beautiful she must once have been, this
woman who lay between the rough blank
cts, her wan face bearing the traces OF
months OF wasting illness. JiuJ the large,
dark eyes were strangely soft and beauti-
1ui, and the long brown hair, though
streak ed with gray, lay III thick and
waving masses on the pillow.
The man moved quickly but quietly
round the room, followed always by the
fond gaze OF The sick woman. lie made
some coffee, fried some slices OF bacon.
and from shelf took down some bread
Oh uuInvltIng appearance. Approaching
the bed, he bent over to kiss the sick
woman's cOlorless lips and smooth her
dark hair with hand as gentle as a
WOman'S.
Can't you eat a little, dear?' he ask ed.
She shook her head with faint smile.
lie turned away desUairlugly and ate his
supper i'll silence. Every mOuthtul of
the coarse food seemed like to choke him,
yet lac ate, for he had need of strength.
The meal finished, he once more APP
preached the bed. Are you AFRAID to
stay alone, Alice, while L go to town? L
am gong TO ask ConnOr again to trust
me. on must have proper food, darling
wife, Or" The strong voice trembled,
and the sentence remained unfinished.
eS; go, dear, but come nome as soon
as you can; am such coward as soon
as IL Is dusk. Dear, dear Edwin! You
have suffered so much Tor my sake. Ed
win, II God sees best to part us, will you
love me best, aiways?" There was a pa
thetIc earnestness In the sweet, faint
voice, and the thin arms c.aSped his neck
tighter.
Yes, my wife, my only love-" he an
swered, kissing lips and eyes and cheeks
and brow again and again, as some ardent
young lover might have done. Releasing
himself from her cIinging arms. with "A
tender farewell he LETT the cabin, stopping
outside for the gun that rested against the
wall.
"Haltr' The word rang out sharply,
sternly, on the evening air. and the stage
driver refined i'll his horses in obedience to
the command. IL was in a mountain
gorge of the SierraS. Before and behind
the vehicle lay steep and rocky ascent,
and on either side rose a dense forest OF
pines, dark and Somber. From those on
the right stepped man in toughest garb,
with his hat pulled over his forehead ana
black mask concealing his features, while
ne leVeled the cleaning barrel of a rifle
at the occupants OF the stage.
Throw out the box ~ was the next
command, which was promptly obeyed.
There was the fraction of a second during
which the eyes of the mask ed man rested
on the heavy express box, gloatingly and
eagerly. Quick as lightning the messen-
gers right hand sought the unseen re-
volver at his side and a bullet whizzed
past the rObber' head. just as quickly
the fire was returned and the brave mes
senger fell dead against the driver, who,
Notwithstanding the steepness Of the road,
whipped the frightened horses into a
gallop.
a few blows from an ak and the strong
box yielded up its treasure. The man
could carry with him only a portion.
Enough to save Alice's lite and take us
far from here" he murmured, looking
fondly at the yellow gold.
The moon was shining through the
halT-window OF the cabin when its master
entered, his arms full of parcels. He
laid them on the table, softly. Asleep
he whispered. Then he listened intently
for the sick woman's breathing. Silence
intense, fearful silence
tie sprang to the bed. 1t needed no
stronger light than the moonbeams
afforded to show him the beautiful ewes
wide-open yet unseeing, and the hands
he clasped in his were cold as ice.
Another mad entered the cabin since he
left it-and his name was Death!
When a pursuing party entered the
cabin i'll the early morning, they found
only the stiffened corpse of a once beau