Year: 1878

Click! In the dead of the night a
sharp sound awakened Mrs. Halifont.
The room was dark. Not even CLEAN
of moon or starlight fell through the
curtains of the windows. 1t was a
very strange sound, indeed, but she
saw nothing, heard nothing more.


She sat up, leaning on her dimplcd
lett elbow, and put out her right hand
and touched her husbands shoulder.
He lay upon his pillow sound asleep,
and did not awaken at her touch.


1t must have been a dream said
Mrs. Halifont; and her young head
she was only the bride of year
nestled down again closer to her hus-
bands arm, and she slept again.


Click!


This time the sound did not arouse
Mrs. Halifont. 1t was her husband
who awakened. He did not pause to
listen, but grasped the revolver be-
meath his pillow and jumped out OF
he'd at once. In an alcove in the next
room stood safe which contained
money and valuables. Ii was not one
of the wonderful new safes which de-
fy fire and burglars, but All old one
that had been in the family long
while. Mr.. Halifont knew on the in.
stant that some one was opening the
safe.


A man of courage, man who new
er hesitated in the face of danger-one,
too, who had warm regard for his
worldly possessions, Mr.. Halifont
strobe at once into the room where he
knew housebreakers were at work,
and running in the dark against a
powerful man, tackled him at once.


The light of lantern flashed across
the room. There were two more men.
Three against one.


The sound of blows, struggling, and
the report of q pistol aroused the
young wife once more. Amidst her
terror, she had the good sense to light
the gas. 1t shone upon spectacle OF
horror. Her husband weltering in
his blood, wrestling with a gigantic
man, whose features were concealed
by a mask of black Grape; man, the
upper part of whose person was only
in a knitted wooden shirt, of some
dark color, with sleeves that left his
great arms bare. On the right one,
the one which clutched Mr.. Halifont's
throat, was red mark or brand, a
scar, a birth mark. 1t would have
been impossible for Mrs. Halifont,
even in a calmcr moment, to tell what
it was; but it indelibly impressed it.
self upon her mind, as she bravely
cast herself into the struggle, and
fought with all her might to drag the
horrible hand from her husband s
throat, screaming all the while for aid.


A blow, kick would have silenced
her. The burglar must have known
that, but there are very bad men who
could not use violence toward wO-
man to save their own lives. This
man could not. HIS companions had
flown with their booty, help might ar
rive at any moment. With great eff.
fort he wrenched himself from the
clutch Of his victim, and let go his
throat, and sped away. 1t was moi
too coon assistance arrived, not that
it was too late, but Mr.. Halifont did
not live to tell the story. He was
mortally wounded. His young wife
watched by his bedside until he
breathed his last, then dropped beside
it senseless.


For weeks she raved in wild delir
ium of the murderous hand, of the
great muscular arm with the scar up
on it, and called upon them all to save
her husbands life; but she was young
and had a fine constitution. After {
while her health returned, and, at last
her mind regained its equipoise.


She removed from the city and tool
up her abode in lonely country place
with a favorite sister for companion
She had resolved, as all widows wht
have loved their husbands do at first
to remain a widow forever. And in
deed, though many men would gladl.
| have tempted one young, beautiful ant