Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-16

on business OF tno utuioS1 importance. LOCK
the door and go into the back Office SO that
no one can interrupt us. I've got to get
hack to the Hollow on the fly just as soon as
| / have your opinion"
aYou have it now, them" he returned
| with q good-natured laugh. ST consider
you the widest, maddest girl in ten coun-
ties"
"Come."
She drew him quickly into the next room,
where he soon had the gas lit, and then she
drew forth small bit of folded paper and
laid it in the doctors hand
ssTell me what that contains, please"
ga small white POWDER" he said, after
opening the paper.
eyes, but what Is it?''
"Perhaps I may not be able to tell to-
night" he returned, tasting it.
"But you must tell just as soon as you
can possibly do So" urged the girl, throw
ing herself into a chair, and removing her
jaunty hat
With a good -humored smile the doctor Lit
a lamp and retired into a small apartment
that he was pleased to term his labora-
tory. The time passed slowly to Lura after
the departure of the doctor. She was
consumed with eagerness and impotence
and was soon up pacing the floor.
Slowly the minutes waned.
Lura thought of Grace and Lucy. and
wondered if Captain Starbright would en-
deavor to effect an entrance during her
absence. She was in ferment until Dr.
Cotton returned after an absence of half an
hour
"Well2" questioned the girl, as she
gazed into the grave face of the doctor. He
folded the paper and pinched it tightly be-
tween his fingers and regarded the girl be-
fore him fxedly.
"Where did you get this, Lura Joyce?"
"At Lone Hollow"
''Do you suspect what it is?"
medicine"
"No-pOisonr'
81 thought sop exclaimed Lura. Then
she stood for some minutes regarding the
doctor with clasped hands, paling cheeks and
labored breathing.
"Where did you get ita' again demanded
DIR. Cotton.
sArthur, took that powder from stand
IN the room occupied by Grace Penroy at
Lone Hollow; it is one of many similar that
she has been swallowing during the past
three weeks
"Good heavensl This can not be true.''
sit is true, and Grace still lives, al
though she has been sinking day by day
under this drug that you say is poison"
2 ''But no physician would be guilty of
such indiscretion, such criminality,'' cried
the doctor. @N
"No, perhaps not; but Captain Star
bright's hard is in this, and Grace would
have been dead in forty-eight hours had
not made this discovery"
Then Lura proceeded to give all the par
ticulars in the case to one who proved to be
a most interested listener.
sit is time to check that villain in his
career of crime" said the doctor, when he
had heard and digested the story of Lura
Joyce.
eyes. You will assist me to that end,
DR.. Colton?"
For fully an hour the girl and the doctor
talked, at the end Of which time Miss Joyce
left the Office, mounted Romeo, who re-
manned waiting patiently for the return of
his mistress, and galloped swiftly on her re-
turn to Lone Hollow.
The girl had made horrible discovery,
and she realized that it had come none too
soon-it might be even now too late to save
poor Grace Penroy.
No one was about the premises when Lura
Joyce rode into the yard She hastily dis
mounted, led Romeo into his stall and then
sped to the house.
She found the outer door locked. She at
once passed to the kitchen to find this Sc
cured against her. Then back to the great
front door she sped and rang the bell.
Twice she sounded the bell ere the door was
opened.
$50 you are back again, Miss Joyce?"
It was Captain Starbright. His voice was
pleasant enough, however, and he seemed
to have been reused from sound sleep,
since he yawned and rubbed his eyes.
"It's pretty note for you to be galloping
over the country at such uncanny hours,
Miss Joyce think shall forbid it in the
future. Mrs. Penroy has been terribly
worried about you"
How cool he was after what had happened
earlier in the evening.
s.Indeed," retorted LurA. "And you have
worried, too, no doubt, betwixt hope and
profoundly happy"
'sYou continue to think harshiy Of me, my
dear girl"
'sYou are deserving OF II"
81 protest that you wrong me-"
"How Is Gracef"
81 can hot tell you. haven't been per-
mitted to visit the sick-room. 1t is con-
trary to your orders, am told. How humble
we poor male bipeds have to be when there's
q woman running affairs"
There was tinge Of sarcasm in his deep
ly-modulated voice that did not escape
the notice of Lura. She realized that the
man she had to deal with was not an
ordinary one; that he was cunning and
slippery as an eel, and tonight she had
learned that he was constituencies.
81 will go up at once" returned Lura
He detained her with q touch.
"Lura, how long is this to continuea"
HIS question sounded like demand.
"How long is what to continuea"
This impudent interference on your
part Certainly you must be aware how DIS
tasteful it is to me- am virtually master
here and may not choose to tolerate your
tnsc.ent interference"
1t was dark in the hall and she could not
see his face, but she guessed readily the
ugly look that rested there. Although his
voice did not tremble, she realized that
he was terribly angry.
She was angry as well and her face
showed it, but the darkness was as KIND to
her as to him.
4" This is my house. sir,n she retorted with
al the calmness she could assume, with the
hot blood of Indignation beating fercely
against cheek and brow. Morgan Vandlble
invited me here, and until his granddaughter
orders me hence, propose to make it my
home. No one has a better right to care for
Grace than 1, and you win oblige me much
by keeping your fingers entirely out of the
pie"
She eluded his hand then, and swept up
the stairs to the door Of the sick room She
quickly fitted the key and unlocked the door.