Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-07-04
CHAPTER XXyu.
RETRIBuTION

Don't put yourself out, doctor,r said the
captain, with an assumption of GOODNESS he
DID not feel. 81 care nothing for this warn
OF yours, and can not wait to hear it.n
he came to his feet
sit down." ordered Lura, emphasizing
the order by covering him with her cooked
revolver. He sank back into his chair with
muttered imprecation against the tiger
cat.''
1T was in California about two wears
ago that my first scene opens,, proceeded
the doctor. Two men among the gold
NUS OF that State became bosom friends
Lawrence Brandon and Karl Vandible
They first met III San Francisco and went
to the mountains together. Karl Vandible
was an eccentric man past the meridian of
life, one who had seen better days. he as
serted. and Brandon believed him. In time
Nandlble made confdant of his young
friend, Brandon, and told him 4 strange
story of the past.
karl had been the black sheep in the
family of four boys. Two were dead, and
Karl, the youngest, had drlfted to Cali
fornia in search of adventure even at the
age OF ffty-six. He assured Brandon
that it was not really necessary for him to
fight hand to hand with the world, since
he had a brother who was millionaire in
one of the States beyond the Mississippi.
That brotner,' sand Karl, always sympa-
thlzed with me, and defended me against
the assaults of others. was proud. how
ever, and wouldn't accept his bounty. l
haven't seen Morgan for ten years, but
know he must be very old man now
''Then Karl Vandible took from his
pocket a letter which had lately come from
his aged brother beyond the mountains. l
will read a part of it,
The nonchaiant expression on the Cap
tain's face changed to nervous .agita;lon
as DR.. Cotton drew forth a wrinkled en-
velope, stained and frayed at the edges
from apparent rough usage.
''This is nothing to me, = growled the Cap
tain, again attempting to rise.
sit down.
Again Starbright looked into the muzzle
of Lura's revolver and subsidized without
more words.
Opening the letter, DR.. Cotton proceeded:
".Come home, Karl. l am intending to
pass the remainder of nv days at Lone
Hollow. the old stone house where You once
staid for day and liked the hunting so well.
You shall one day own the place and every
thing that have. In fact. l have made a
will in your favor, leaving everything to
you with the one condition that you allow
my granddaughter Grace Penroy, an an
nuity of twenty thousand L year after she
comes of age. / make the stipulation be-
cauSe love the girl, and she has been most
dutiful and kind TO me. You are twen;-
years my Junior, and will have ample time
to enjoy my wealth after am gone Come,
Karl, l am becoming feeble; feeling my
years and infirmities more and more every
day, and wish to ENJOY your company a
little while before pass to the other shore
If You receive this am sure You will not
refuse to grant the prayer of Your last of
kim
THAT is the substance OF the letter read
10 Lawrence Brandon by Karl Vandible.''
said DR.. Cotton, land it was that letter that
influenced Brandon to commit an awful
crime"
s.What is this to me.' demanded Captain
Starbright, CURLY. Il can not remain -"
s.But you must remain declared Lura,
with seeming malicious satisfaction. And
he did.
thoughts at work in the brain of Lawrence
Brandon" proceeded the doctor. He
suddenly conceived the idea of winning the
Vandible million for himself. Karl ex-
pressed a determination TO return to the
States. and Brandon expressed a desire TO
accompany him The two set out from the
mining camp together; but one of them
reached ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Brandon.
In the night time he stole up behind his
from behind. and zen, after making sure
of his death, he hurled the body into
cl,lch and FASTENED on his way. will be
brief for time is speeding. Brandon came
to the States and finally ensconced himself
at Lone Hollow. He told of his friendship
for Karl, Morgan's brother, and of how he
had been with him when he died in lonely
cave on the gold range. Morgan was deep
" grleved. For Karrs sake he befriended
T. @lDa
of Starbright-"
This is false!'
s.Sit down. commanded Lura. as the
villain attempted to rise. Il won't speak
again. either. a bullet will be the next
compliment you'll get.
White now. with cold sweat standing out
in great drops, the pseudo Captain was
obliged to listen to the remainder of She
narrative
Lawrence Brandon murdered his trust
ing friend and came East for the purpose of
stealing a fortune. Had his murderous
blow succeeded, all might even now be well
with this villain Karl Nandible was not
killed, however. He lived and came East,
but the blow had affected his brain and he
as de mented.
ssInstead OF coming to Lone Hollow he
hid in a cave. once a counterfeIter's resort,
in Hangman's Gulch. Sometimes he had
moments of sanity. but they were of short
duration He led i hermit life, and watched
To meet Lawrence Brandon. He did meet
him finally, and recognized him. He fired
with the intention of taking life. Somehow,
IT seems that Brandon. alias Starbright,
lived to concoctf urther schemes of vilialny.
among them the poisoning of Grace Penroy.
that he might, through a forged Will, seize
upon the million left by Morgan Eandible."
..Thst will is not a forgery
sKeep QUIET ordered Lura.
Il have come near to the end of my
story" proceeded DR.. Cotton, with the Ut
most gravity Before you went to Cali
fornia you had sought TO win the hand OF
Miss joyce She read your character and
despised you. Afterward, when she learned
that YOU were at Lone Hollow, she re-
solved to thwart Your designs upon the
unsuspecting old man Vaudiole and upon
Grace although at that time she knew moth
ing OF the crime YOU had committed among
the gold hills of California
disguised as Fingal, the hunter, she has
heeu quite successful in thwarting your
yiIlainy. Your attempt upon her life on
two occasions failed signally. She discov-
cred YOUR attempt to poison her cousin"
ssBy heaveni this is too much" grated
the Captain. white and trembling, at the
same time coming to his feet. This plot
arranged between YOU and this shameless
GIRL will not succeed. In good faith came
here. 1 rcs the friend of Karl Nandible.
Nv name is Starbright, and"
"Do you deny that you attempted his
life?" interrupted the doctor.
~ do most emphaticaily."