Year: 1878

Cllck IN tne uedu OF the night snArp
sound wakened Mrs. Halitont. The
room was dark. Not even u CLEAN of
moon or starlight fell through tho cur
tains of the windows. 1t was a very
strange sound, indeed, but she saw moth
ing, heard nothing more.


She sat up, leaning 90 her dimpled left
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.


e" 1t must have been dream" said
Mrs. Holtont; and her young head
was only the bride of year-nestled
down again closer to her usband's arm,
and she slept again.


Click


This time the sound did not arouse Mrs.
lalifont. 1t was her husband who
awakened. He did not pause to liston,
but grasped the revolver beneath his pill
low and jumped out of bed at once. In
an alcove in the next room stood safe
which contained money and valuables.-
1t was not one of the wonderful now safes
which defy fire and burglars but nm old
one that had been in the family long
while. Mr.. Hali!ont knew on the instant
that some one was opening this safe.


A man Of courage, man who never
hesitoted in the face Of danger-one, too,
who had warm regard for his worldly
possessions, Mr. Ialifont strobe at once
into the room, where he knew house
breakers were ut work, and running in
the dark against powerful man, tackieo
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 pistol aroused the young
wife once more. Amidst her terror, she
had tho good sense to hight the gas. 1t
shone upon II spectacle Of horror. Her
usbard watering in his blood, wrestling
with II gigantic man, whose features were
concealed by u mask Of black Grape q
man, the upper part Of whose person was
clothed only in II knitted woolen shirt,
OF some dark color, with sleeves that left
his great arms bare. On the right one,
the one which clutched Mr.. Ifaifont's
throat, was red mark or brand sea-,
birth mark. 1t would have been i'm
possible for Mrs. Ilalifont, even in u
calmer moment, to tell what it was but
it indelibly impressed itself upon her
mind, as she bravoly cast herself into the
struggle, and fought with all her might to
drag the horrible hand from her hus-
bands 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 e woman 10 save
their own lives. This mar could not
his companions had flown with their booty
help might arriveat any moment. With
great effort he wrenched himself from
the clutch Of his victim, and let 90 his
throat, and sped away. 1t was not too
soon assistance arrived, now that it was
too late, but Mr.. Haifont did not live to
toll the story. He was mortally wound
ed. His young wife watched by his bed
sid until be breathed his last, then drop
ped beside il senseess.


For weeks she raved in wild delirium
Of the murderous hand, of the great mus
cular arm with the scar upon it, and call
ed upon them all to save hor husbands 5
life but she was young and had a fno
constitution. After awhile her health re-
turned, and, at last, her mind regained
its equipoise.


She removed from the city and took up
her abode in lonely country place, with
favorile sister for companion. She
had resolved. as all widows who have
| loved their husbands do at first, TO remain
widow forever. And indeed, though
many men would gladly have tempted
one young. beautiful and wealthy to
change her mind on this point, she seem
ed to care less for any one Of them thar