The Iola register., 1889-05-17


The house was gloomy, and the sound of
his feet sent cold chill over him.
He passed out and walked to the edge of
the gulch. a little way Of. The depths
were shadowed and gloomy. Autumnal
frosts had changed the leaves to brown and
yellow in places, and the air that sighed
through the trees was chill and uncomfort-
able. There seemed premonition of an early
winter in its breath
While he stood there with the grim shad-
ows of the short afternoon lengthening into
the gloom of night, Captain Starbright
thought of the past, Of the year gone in
which his brain had schemed and plotted
for selfaggrandizement.
st is more than two years now since
struck the first blow for the Vandible mill
ion amid the hills of California he NUT
tered, inaudibly, while his thoughts ran on.
Then came the sudden death Of the
other. and my coming to Lone Hollow to
win The friendship OF an easily-duped old
man I pretended to be the friend Of his
idolized though erratic brother, and brought
him Q memento from the far-off land of
gold told how I had ministered to the
dying. and completely won old Morgan Van
dible's heart Karl, his youngest brother,
he idolized. He would have made him his
heir had he lived. This the old millionaire
told me in confidence. 1t seems that the
blow that sent Kari over the precipice IN
the gold range did not kill
my treachery might have been discov-
cred, for Karl Vandible lived, but he came
back from that fall crazed being. sup
posed l had nothing to fear, and yet he
recognized me that night in front of Lone
Hollow, when he fired with murderous in
tention. 1t is well that made sure work
of the old man at last The pool will never
yield up its secret 10 mortal man"
The mention Of the pool seemed to affect
the Captain strongly.
He Strengthened suddenly and began
walking away from the edge of the gulch.
Soon his form was lost to view IN the gath
ering gloom
He gained . position near the bank Of the
cedar-fringed pool
How cold and forbidding looked the black
water. There was not ripple on its sur
face, and the silence that rested over ev-
cry thing was oppressive
IAN uncanny place" muttered the Cap
tain. much like a tomb, indeed. No Sc
cres can come forth from thy depths, old
pool. Bow much safer than the Califor-
MIA gulch- You reveal no secrets, that gulch
did"
Then he walked completely around the
pool. scanning the water from every point
It was solemn place, and the time one to
bring gloomy thoughts to the brain of the
lone man who stood thoughtfully regarding
the calm water.
Swiftly the minutes passed
Nights curtain dropped from the skies
and wrapped its folds softly over bush, and
tree, and water.
Not a sound but the faint murmur Of the
evening breeze through gold-brown tree
tops. And Captain Starbright allowed his
thoughts full sway.
He had once been the pride Of kind
mothers heart-his father he never knew,
and he recalled the time now when his
nished by blood outlines.
Ihave gone too far to retrace my steps
now" he cried aloud, as though holding
argument with his inner self.
"TOo far!"
What was thatl An echo Of his owa
thoughtsi His words had been lightly ut
tered. He trembled and gazed about him
in the shadows The words were Lot re-
pested, but his eyes became riveted on one
spot on the further shore Of the pool Slow
" a human figure rose and stood facing
him. A giimmer of starlight touched the
face. 1t was ghastly white. There was
rope about the neck, clinging stone, drip
ping weti Starbright gazed in silent hor-
ror at his murdered victim 1t was the face
Of the dead man Of the pooli The blood re-
eeded from his heart deadly faintness
seized hiu.and, tossing up his arms, Clinton
Ssarbright fell fainting to the ground.