The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-09-18
THE MYSTIC SIGN ,
The King of the
Mountain.
BY ABBTE c. M'KEEVER.
CHAPTER l.
THE RICH MAN DIES.

CHAPTER L
THE RICH MAN DIES
The lights were lowered and curtains
drawn in the chamber where rich old Con-
ncr Martin lay dying.
Dying Yes, the pinched, drawn face so
CHASTITY pale, the sunken eyes, all told of
the near approach of the dread messenger.
@Lora! Lora, my darling"
"Yes, dear; what is it,"
The dying man shuddered and tried to
motion away the fair face that bent over
him.
Not you-not you, he said, you heart
less tiend! but Lora, my own little pet, my
neglected. darling child"
''She is coming presently. Here, take
this potion. Your doctor left it only half
an hour ago"
81 overheard your whispers. Your doc
tor-your brother, and paid accomplicel
Oh, heayens how blind | have been! Take
the poison away" he gasped; you have
given me enough already"
How wild you are tonight" sighed the
beautiful nurse, and how madly you talk,
and then she bent down and pressed her
red lips to his death damp brow.
Judas" he gasped, and died.
"All is over, unused the woman, as she
stood above him, an exultant light in her
yellow, gray ewes. at is ended, and I'm
worth one million dollars"
Softly she moved across the room and
rang the bell, and when the door was
opened, turned with pale face and stream
ing eyes to meet the servants gaze, and
10 tell him his master was no more.
Go, rouse the household. Tell Miss
Lora-" Then the seemingly broken
hearted young widow sank into graceful,
l,neeling posture at the bedside.
They came in softly and gazed in sad
wonder on the face of their old master
Some turned away weeping, and every one
thought of poor Miss Lora" and watched
the door for her appearance.
She came at last, little, black robed
figure, her mass of shining, gold-brown
hair falling around her like cloud, her
pale, lovely face shining like star.
She made 10 moan. but quietly walked
mp to the bedside and gazed down upon the
face of her father, cold and dead.
What were her thoughts, standing there
50 still, SO pale, SO composed? What did
that old, loved face tell her; those silent
lips, so ashen and colorless? No one
knew or could have guessed from any out
ward sign, for, silently as she came, she
turned and moved away toward her own
chamber.
But within its closed walls she laid her
head down upon the pillow of her bed and
sobbed wildly
papa! oh, papa~ she moaned; poor
deluded papal you know all now. The
cruel, cruel arts and wicked meaus that
kept me from you; the barred doors, and
the vile, sleeping potions. Oh, papa |
am not so much alone as l was while she
divided us. Now she can never, never part
as more
The night dragged on its weary length;
morning dull and gray came at last, and
the widow of the old man dead drew aside
the rich hangings of her window and
glanced down the street.
That must be the housemaid, Susie. |
cannot imagine what takes her out so early.
/ must question the butler. Ali there
comes Adolph-what splendid doctor he
makes!" and she smiled until she disclosed
her white teeth and began smoothing her
hair with her white. jeweled hand.
Your patient needs your care no longer. "
Well, is it over? l thought as much.
Has everything been attended to properly
oh, yes; everything The old will is
where it viii be found and the last new one
is-safe." And she smiled with a wicked
CLEAN in her gray eyes of amber lights.
The pretty daughter is cut OFF altogether,
then. Rather sensational, but there is no
accounting for an old mans whims Let
me congratulate you on the possession of
you splendid fortune"
Your share is
Yes, yes, hush But what becomes of
POOR, little Lora? presume she still has
her jewels, small fortune in themselves. y
no; | think she will find even they, too,
have disappeared. l sent for Rick to visit
her room. l thought it best to leave her
quite penniless."
Don't overreach yourself, Corinne: you
know five thousand dollars worth of Jewels
are not 50 easily lost, and are well worth
looking after. Has the girl any suspicion
of foul play2'
Not in the least. Ihave been very care
full"
How did she appear when told of her
fathers death?'
calm, very; never a sound. l expected
tempest of sobs and all that. but was dis
appointed.
Looks like she mad put strong control
over her actions. | fear she is deeper than
you imagine. l have seen that in her pale,
childish face that tells me she might be a
dang porous enemy.
Nonsense! But l must attend to nv
orders for a grand funeral. Then Will come
the reading of the Will You must see me
no more here. / will meet you at the old
place and time, occasionally-until We &c
West, as planned
All things transpired as the young widow
had designed. The last viii that could be
found left all his wealth to the wife. while
the daughter, his only child. was a beggar.
People talked; indignant murmurs were
heard IN many places against the cruel
etepmother who had wronged Lora out of
her rights. But what could be done? Who
could prevent 1t, with such a will which was
proven to be genuine? No onel The girl
was pennlless, for the lost jewels could not
be found. That was another mystery
After the lapse of some months the
widow expressed determination TO 90 Il
California for her health The grand home
WAS sold and she departed.
In the meantime Lora had taken refuge
IN home of lend, kindly offered to her
Only for short time l viii trouble
you, she said; Il must earn my bread
now"
but YOU cannot. You are welcome tc
stay here as long rs you wish.
Lora smiled sadly and answered:
have other friends, relatives of my
mother, whom | desire to visit They live
lar from here. and will help me in the work
wish to undertake.
What can that be. Won foolish cbild?"
am not free TO tell you now. Some
day YOU NAV know all. y
Lora kept her secret we'll. and went away
50 quietly no one knew whither-excep
one trusted friend, whose name. if it ha6
been whispered in the cruel stepmother
aar, would have palsied her with terror.
CHAPTER IL
TIE MYSTERIES OF DANGER PASS
he sun was creeping behind the mount
I'm tops, It's golden rays fast turning tc