Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1905-04-21
THE MAN IN THE MASK.
oNNNNNN~N~N

(HpI NE HlSIJ was udIh anu ulonl J
no moon shone in the heavens
q TO light the paths Of the late
wayfarer. Even the electric lights
seemed to have forgotten to throw
their CHEEKY glow over the scene.
Down the darkened highway stealth
lily crept the deep shadowy form of a
man on mischief bent. His clothes
were rough, his hat drawn low down
over his eyes, and the collar Of his
coat was turned up, although 1t was
not very cold.
Now and again he would stop and
listen, ana when the SOLITARY police
man walked his beat near him once,
he darted into nearby doorway.
Cautiously, keenly, he looked at
every house until he came to one
little more pretentous than the rest.
Producing skeleton keys, he silently
unlocked and opened the side door,
let himself in and, by the aid Of a
dark lantern, he swiftly made his way
toward the dining room. There, he
knew, was the sideboard; on 1t would
be some valuable silverware, well
worth his pains and he thought the
table, too, might yield rich booty.
He was hard up for money, they had
plenty and could spare little just as
well as not.
But for the very people that house
now sheltered, he, too, might be hap
py, loving, loved and, above all, hon
est His wife should wear the silks,
the velvets he knew Mrs. Markham
now Haunted. Often had he cursed
her as she had passed him on the
crowded street, drawing her rich skirts
more tightly about her, lest they should
become contaminated by contact with
him. Him! What was he to her?
Nothing worse than nothingl
Just such thoughts ran through his
fevered brain while hunting for the
dining room door. Into the room he
went, and cast his light around. AT
the farther end hung a picture, over
the mantel shelf. Going to the shelf
he threw the rays upon 1t, and sud
denly started back. He looked at the
picture again. 1t was a likeness OF
himself! How came 1t there?
'Oh, God Of heaven" he murmured
what does it mean2 Is she here?'
At one side was smaller picture. As
the tiny ray Of light fell upon 1t Ii,
saw the picture of child, with hi,
own brow, eyes and general expires
sion.
MY God, thou who hast been 8,
good to ME, spare my baby now! Oh
don't take my only comfort, my onl.
onel Ny baby, cannot, cannot par
with your
From the other room, a low, swee
voice in agOnized, pleading tones cam
sobbingly to his startled ears.
Father In heaven, bless my baby
papa, he who never saw his child: sen
him back, oh God! Tell him. Lore
i love him now after all these lona
heartbreaking years of silence, just a
much as when | married himW
AS the sweet tones became faintt
and fainter and more broken, the ma
folded hands and bowed head, he mu
INJURED: my little faithful wife! 1t
to good to be true. She has kept h,
love for me, thank God but she mu
never know how low 1 have falle
Please God, will turn about. l wi
swear it. will be honest fro
henceforth!" And picking up the lit
lantern he silently turned, looked on
more at the pictured face Of the bab
and. making his way out, he shut al
locked the outside door and disappea
ed down the silent street, wiser,
better man.
At first, for many long month.
was hard, uphill work trying to
honest, but those pleading words, tn
sweet, wee baby face, were his gu
ing stars, his guarding angels.
One day sweet, sad-faced lit
woman was hurrylng along the ste
and unknowingly, she dropped
glove.
There happened along just behi
her a tall, handsome man dressed
well-htting, new-looking clothes, wi
as luck would have 1t, was none otl
than the gentleman whose coun
nance, when he first appeared to
was well concealed by a SLOUGH |
and a black mask. He saw the gle
fall, hurried forward and picked 1t
But the crowded street was no pl,