The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-03-07
.NothIne doing for a long timel'

'sNothing doing for long timer
''Nothing.n
81 imagined so. Have you visited Lone
Hollow OF latei"
81 haven't"
''Grace Penroy's cousin has arrived"
~ heard something about at she was ex-
pected. A great beauty, s'pose, with airs
enough TO smother persona
'sNothlng OF the kind. She's mannish and
fiery. don't like her, and that is why I've
come 10 you"
'Welll"
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
ayarice plainly revealed. Her visitor knew
her well, and was cautious enough not TO
commit himself in a way that might after
ward prove dangerous.
"Sit down and let us have aquiet talk,
mother,p he said, at the same time placing
himself squarely on q 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 a gown whose original color
was undiscoverable from grease and dirt,
her hair in dubious tangle and frowze,
A unique picture indeed.
''Now, then, Mr. Starbright, I'm all ears
she SAID, carefully depositing her clay pipe
on the door, and leaning forward until her
gaunt form, with pointed chin resting on
her attenuated palm, resembled semicir-
Gle of bones.
I'D like,m SAID the Captain, "for 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 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 CABRERA,
stoplp he commanded, hoarsely II hadn't
such an idea in mind. l wouldn't think OF
numbering the girl. I'm not that sort OF
person. hope"
A low, whitening chuckle that caused his
flesh TO creep interrupted his speech
He glared at his companion, then sprang
TO his feet with muttered imprecation
'ru have nothing to do with yoI, old
woman, not thing"
Then he walked TO the door, opened 1t 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 Starbright
even better than he knew himself He had
come to the cabin for q 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
"Nobody but fool would do that, Clint
Starbright,m the woman interrupted. 1t
would take heap o. sand an soap to wash
your character clean, more'n can AFFORD to
perduce.n
Il suppose you consider yourself imn1acu-
laten
'.Of course do; don't your
There seemed no good to argue the point,
so Captain Starbright made no further re
mark, but walked back and resumed his
seat. A covert smile about the thin bps OF
the bag proved that he had done nothing
more than she expected. The greater part
of his indignation was simulated, evidently.
snow, then, will you listen to me in
Sllence u hOiuCE SdUcidE
"I'll make a try ont, Capn."
"What wish to say is this. If at any
time during the next fortnight an accident
should happen to Miss Lura Joyce no one
would be found to mourn, and somebody
would find herself considerably richer In
this worlds goods. You understand
"rve got pretty good perceptive faculties,
Cap'n.n
~ believe you. / am not to be known in
this affair at all; remember that, Mother
Cabrera
"Certainly."
I" And it must be on accident entirely"
whats the price fur such delightful
worki A girls life ought TO be worth a
good deal these times" chuckled the bag,
unpleasantly
"A hundred"
"Tushl" she interrupted, angrily. "Do
you take me for common garroterl Not
a cent less IN thousand would tempt me.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Cap'n,
dearn
"Very well, we will not dispute over the
price,
Again he came to his feet, walked to the
door, hesitated moment, then returned to
the side of Mother CABRERA
"Wal!n
She regarded HIM with queer glitter OF
the sunken, beady eyes.
"Some of your cough drops, madam.
Could you accommodate me with small
vial of the stuff!'
81 might"
"Then do so and be quick about 1T, for
must get back to Lone Hollow Immediately"
The bag held out her withered hand.
st Cross nv palm with gold and the elixir s
yours"
He drew from his pocket gold eagle and
dropped it into her hand. Then she rose,
emitting a chuckle, and glided swiftly
to cupboard near and opened it. After
a short time spent in fumbling about among
various articles she returned and placed a
small vial filled with colorless liquid in his
hand.
~ had it all ready" she said. ~ reck-
oned you'd be wanting some before long.
The old gent at the Holler's gettin' old,
and he needs somethin' stim1latin' to keep
his gray head above ground. 'Twould be q
pity eff he'd drop of with heart disease
some day, an awful shock to the community
like; eli, Cap'nl"
"None of that, you bag of darkness" re-
torted he, with nervous grip on the deli
cate substance in his hand. 81 will cal
again in a short time, Mother CABRERA"
She went with him TO the door, and open
ing it saw him pass out into the night. As
he walked silently and swiftly away he
muttered TO himself
There were no witnesses to our meeting
and that was as l wished. Should any
thing happen, any trouble come of this, that
hag's word would count as nothing against
me- / am sharp enough not to be caught
in a trap, l flatter myself. Had the ugly
twins been present l should never have
made mention Of the object of my visit
never / am not sure that l shall need the
contents of this vial, but it is well enough
to be prepared. The poison is so subtle az
to defy detection, l am told, and If Mother
CABRERA could not concoct such potion mt
one in the wide world need attempt it."
And so the schening Captain was emf
nently satisfied. Perhaps he would no
have felt such citation had he looked int
Mother Cabera's cabin ten minutes afte
Il la,1a