Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-02-28
CHAPTER vi.
AN OMNIBUS CONFAB.

Captain StarDrlght stood biting MS mus
! tached lip without moving. Had he not
| known Lu-a Joyce so intimately he would
| have thought nothing of her remark that
she Missed notify in his ear. He knew tho
determined nature Of the girl however,
and realized that his plot for a million was
about TO be frustrated unless something
! happened TO remove Lura Joyce from his
path.
Something must happen, was his men
tai decision.
He did not follow Miss Joyce into the
house, but walked down the steps and hur-
ried swiftly away to the stable. Here he
saddled one of his grays, led him forth, and
soon galloped swiftly down into the hollow,
then up the incline to the level ground be-
yond.
Before going a mile the horseman turned
his animal into the thick bushes lining the
road, and after going u short distance came
TO halt and dismounted, securing the horse
TO sapling
II hope Mother CABRERA is at home,n he
muttered Il have business of an impor-
tant nature with her tonight
He pushed through the bushes at a rapid
pace, consuming haff-hour's time, per-
haps, in following an ill-defned path, and
then halted in front of a log cabin built on
the edge of deep guieh.
Night had now fallen, but light glowed
through the one front window, assuring the
Captain that an occupant was within. he
went at once and raped When the door
opened i'll answer to his summons he
quickly crossed the Inresssols1, a,sii as it
closed behind him he found hmsels fa,isIS
an Unlocking crone, who had been engaged
in the interesting operation Of getting
41r.sa /. 4
Eth! Cap'n Starbright as live ejacu-
lated the female, resting the gaunt end Of
her under jaw on the end of her thumb as
she spoke, the pipe swinging TO and fro at
her side between the fingers other other
hand.
Don't guess again, Mother Cubera,''
said the Captain, with a low laugh. "Are
you alone
Don't look like it!'
Eyes. The twins, where are theyr
son one of their larl1s, reckin / haini
seen hide nor hair on lem in three days
now.n
You ought to learn them better
LEARN EN-, is it! I'd like to see you," she
interrupted, with a scowl.
II shall not attempt it at any rate was
his answer. Il suppose you arc open to
business now as ever, Mother Caberaln
''Ef it brings something to keep the pot
a-boilin' I'm ready she answered, with a
grin.
at will, you may be sure The fortune
telling business must be dull at this season
of the years'
II should say it was.''
"Nothing doing for a long timer'
Nothing
Il imagined so. Have you. visited Lone
Hollow of late.n
Il haven'tn
"Grace Penroy's cousin has arrived
Il heard something about at she was ex-
pected. A great beauty, s'pose, with airs
enough to smother persons'
Nothing of the kind. She's mannish and
fiery. don't like her, and that is why I've
come to you"
sWell!'
Mother CABRERA grinned more pronounced
~. Her eyes were sunken deep under a
narrow skull and looked very like two black,
twinkling beads, There was the glitter of
avarice plainly revealed. Her visitor knew
her we'll and was cautious enough not to
commit himself in way that might after.
ward prove dangerous.
. Sit down and let us have quiet talk,
mother,' he said, at the same time placing
himself squareIy on rickety chair She
followed his example, and as they sat there
they made an odd picture-he with his un.
spotted garments, with oiled and combed
locks, she with gown whose original color
was nndiscoyerable from grease and dirt,
her hair in dubious tangle and frowze.
A unique picture indeed.
Now, then, Mr. Starbright, I'm all ears,r
she SAID, carefully depositing her clay pipe
on the floor, and leaning forward until her
gaunt form, with pointed chin resting on
her attenuated palm, resembled semicir-
Gle of bones.
"Td like,n SAID the Captain, 'sfor this
newcomer at Lone Hollow to depart from
there Immediately. Her coming has COM
pletely upset my plans, and that is very an
noying, as you may well believe"
OF course,n agreed the crone. "You
would like her to drop dead with heart dis
ease or somethin' of the kind A leetle Of
my cough drops"
''For heavens sake, Mother Cabers J..
stopii he commanded, hoarsely. II hadn' l.
such an idea in mind | wouldn't think Of
numbering the girl. I'm not that sort W
person. hope"
A low, whitening chuckle that caused b IS
flesh to creep interrupted his speech.
He glazed at his companion. then sprar q
to his feet with a muttered imprecation
''rll have nothing TO do with you, Old
woman, not a thing
Then he walked to the door, opened it and
gazed out into the darkness. He did not go.
however, neither did the crone offer to pre-
vent. She sat immovable, glaring at him
with her black, beady eyes in way most
unpleasant. She knew Captain Starlight
even better than he knew himself He had
come TO the cabin for purpose that night
and Mother CABRERA knew it.
After brief moment the Captain closed
the door. slipped wooden bolt across the
opening, and turned once more TO the pro-
prietress.
81 am sorry that you can not trust me,
Mother CABRERA" ..,
70 BE Continued.
GREAT BATTLE
Is continually going tn ~ the human
system. The demon Of impure blood
strives 10 q in victory over the constitu-
tim Ia ruin health in ,ira,r -,iot7.,a t.