Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1895-02-07
CHAPTER I.
The Three Masks.

"ASu we uIC slUOut W WlllC, d SAAAAA,
struggling village called Crawford.
That village has long ceased to exist;
wherefore, will be explained hereafter.
wards the mighty city," the London
Or four other roads, and this conf
ton of ways had formed itself into Il
large and perfect square, and from
huge solitary tree which grew beside
one of the cross roads. ut 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 ilnpossibility.
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
posed had become illegitie.
Beneath that large, solitary tree.
three persons We're standing-and all OF
them We're cloaked and masked.
Clouds We're scudding rapidly across
the full moon now briefly obscurlng,
now for Il few moments revealing her
brilliant light.
But the moonlight reached not those
three masks. Standing beneath that
tree. they We're in most complete
shadow.
Any one might have passed almost
seen them not.
Il am weary Of waiting thus SAID
one of those three persons.
hand.'
1t was a woman who first had spok-
IN.
But it was a mans voice which had
replied to her.
And both had spoken almost in a
whisper.
1t was Il man. too, who presently
said, in low and husky tones:
II am nipped up with cold-you
said you'd got some brandy, master
Yes; but wait, watt
" can't wait. I -"
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.
"It is he!" whispered the woman,
and the words slightly trembled on her
dps.
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.
;,1, !, how'd y ~.
lived by one of the cross roads, and was
stopped ut about two hundred yards
from the spot where those three people
were in ambush. 4 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 her
mask. taking care. however, though
seemingly without intending it, to keep
her face averted from the newcomer.
To this man she displayed a ring,
and he then, after kissing the child,
placed it within her arms.
81 need not entreat you to take good
care of the treasure 1 now con1ide to
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 cl,aisc and drove away again.
The other two men emerged from
their concealmcnt. 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 given
it, she had rapidly replaced her mask.
"NOw. and he speedy" said he who
appeared to be the principal in this
business.
''(sive me some brandy, or shan't
have courage for the job the other
man hoarsely whispered.
The master" gave to Ills coarser COM
panion a flask, the man swallowed
hastily Il portion of it's contents, and
the woman then thrust the child into
his Outstreched hands.
mot hcre-not here!" said the wo-
man, trembling and averting her head.
The man carried the child on to the
London Road, and, standing in it's cen
ter, drew forth poniard, and struck
with it the infant sleeping in his arms.
At the same moment the rumbling
of wheels was again heard, but still at
some considerable distance.
And ut that moment. too, the ruff
fan cast the child down in the road,
and reeled and staggered towards a
copse by the wayside.
"Poisoned!-oh, what an idiot to be
SO caught-I am poisoned" And he fell
and lay in the copse writhing with an
excruciating torture
The master" having seen the. blow
struck, fled with the woman rapidly
from the spot by one of tie cross
roads.
The mail coach came spanking along
on its way towards London.
The horses suddenly swerved to one
side Of the road; and the coachman
looking to see what had occasioned
them to do so. saw what appea. ID tt
be bundle lying on the ground.
He called to the guard, who i'm
me4liatcly alighted and snatched up the
child, which was severed with blood.
All this that we have just related hap
pencd Oh the night Of the fifth Of Feb