Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-16
LONE HOLLOW:
VI, The Peril Of the PenroyS,
a Thrilling and Romantic Story
or Lovo and Adventure,
Ok JAMES NJ. MERRILL. AUTHOR OF BOGUS
BILL, FISHER jog" AND
OTHER STORIES
,tcopri5M, 1889, oy the A. v. Eello7o Macs.
paper Conapaayl
CHAPTER XVII.-CoNrrNuEp.

suffering. It's always so, however, in love
arairs Of course Austin did not get the
letter l undertook to convey that awful
night on which came near bidding final
adleu to this mundane world. Had he
received that letter all would have been
well between you. I can tell you for GER
tnlnty, however, that you have suffered
even less than Austin, who, not receiving
a reply to his forgiving note, deemed you
unylelding, and that G reconciliation was
now out of the question:
How could he think so when"
"Of course it was strange" interrupted
Lura, with a covert smile, '.but it will all
come right in the end if you just refuse to
countenance that villain, Clinton Starbright.
shall see Mr.. Wentword and tell him all
about it, and then the crooked paths will all
be made straight
You are very kind"
No, I'm not I am utterly selfish" as
serted Lura; 81 do all this to crafty my
own heart I've set my mind on outwitting
villain, and mean to do it or die trying.
L came near it, too, that night. / will tell
you about it, for know you are anxious 10
hear the wonderful story.
am deeply anxious" assured Grace.
s q" You all thought me dead!r
I" I had come to believe so. Romeo came
any thing. OF course we were puzzled to
know what had become of you if Romeo had
flung you from his back. Either living or
dead you ought to have been found, that
was the pulling part of the whole affair "
Exactly, and Captain Starbright was as
deeply puzzled as the rest.''
Certainly"
A low laugh fell from the lips of Lura.
The red curls danced on her forehead and a
fierce light burned in her eyes. 1.-The con-
summate hypocrite!'' she cried, in wither-
ing way that thrilled Grace to the quick.
''But won't indulge in invective against
that creature now. mean to hunt him to
his hole and then see that he meets with
q just punishment
Lura then proceeded to relate how she had
taken the path leading along the edge of
Hangman's Gulch, past the cabin of the
witch, Mother CABRERA, whose name she had
since learned; how she had become Devil
dered and turned about to retrace her steps.
and then of her meeting the two ruffians in
the immediate vicinity of Mother Cabera's
cabin; of her being jerked from the saddle
and lifted high above the precipice.
''Did you ever go up high, way up to the
tree-tops in a swing, Graces You know, if
you have, what a scary feeling shoots all
over you; that was just how felt when
those ruffians lifted me over that abyss. l
was too frightened to utter q word-it was
the first instance in my life that got so far
used up as that Presently l felt myself
going down, down, shooting like rocket
through the air; then bush switched
against my face, a terrible scratching on
hands and limbs, then a crash and utter
blackneS5.'
Lura paused in her narration.
Grace Penroy was breathing deeply, her
faco male hnr Orpat honest
dllating with the intensity of feeling aroused
by the words of her cousin.
$50 on, Lura, am listening" aspirated
the heiress after brief moment of silence.
"You wish to hear all about it now-you
are not too tired!'
"No, no, go on; am dying to hear the
whole story of your adventures, dear
cousin.'
at seems wonderful, something like a
fairy story to me now" proceeded Lura,
..but have evidence of it's utter truthful
ness I might have been dead, but was
not In descending the sixty feet to the
hard ground below, I had passed through
the bushy top of tree which, IL seems, had
the effect to break my fall and land me
stunned and bruised, yet alive, on the stones
and Leases at the foot of the declivity.
81 must have lain there several hours ere
a strange creature came by, saw me ap-
parently dead on the ground, and in the
kindness of his heart lifted and carried me
nearly a r,ile in his strong arms. When
opened my eyes the glow of flame filled
them and was nearly blinded. l was very
weak and could not sit up. Soon, as spoke
and called for water, for l was very
thirsty face bent above me, a kindly Old
face, framed in with white hair and beard,
the face it seemed to me of one of the an
cient patrs.rchs.
REST quietly, pretty dove he said. 4
will bring you water and food, but you must
not stir for the present. You are one OF the
victims of the Doge, and L VIII save You. ,
l thought the mans language was strange
in the extreme. He was kind and atten-
tive, however, ministering to my every
want. but had been so rudeiy shaken up,
it was more than a week before was able
to be on nv feet and move about. Then
made an examination of my quarters, to
find quite an extensive cave. 10 me IL
seemed TO have been fashioned by the hand
of man. mourning of the old man, he as
sured me that his name was Don Benlto,
once a subject of the Doge of Venice. but
now an exile, and that the cave had been
excavated by men many years before 1of
hiding place from the wrath of the Doge
OF course. I knew that this was but the
wild talk of mailman, in whose power
had fallen after escaping from death at the
hands of tramps, as then supposed my late
assailantS to be.
"Of course / felt uneasy, and was anx-
ious to make my escape, but TINS coulu
not do, since Don Benito kept close watch
upon my movements. In my opinion the
cave was xcavated by horse-thieves or
couuterfeiters: and am of the opinion that
the present dweller may have been at one
time a member of the band. L made no
such suggestion to him, however. be was
constantly harping about his wrongs, ana
assuring me that the Doge had attempted
to murder him with his own hand 10
prove his assertion he showed me scar
over his right ear, where the assassin 5
blow had been delivered
"Of course 1 humorcd his Authorization,
and so we got on swimmingiy together. OF
course he left the cave occasionally, ana
went i'm ouest of provisions for his larder
On these occasions he locked me III a room
openiug from the main cave, the door OF
which was made of heavy oak. L presume
it had been used as the prison-room OF the
outlaws who once inhabited the place
SIT was not until very recently that L
persuaded nv keeper to permit me 10 &C
company him on visit to Stonefield, maze
In the night and on foot. 1t was then that
I gave him the slip and managed 10 Keep
safely out of his clutches. nave met
Austin Wentword since, and learned from
HIM that Don Benito has been known 10
him for a long time. He considers the OLD
fellow harmless, but decidedly lunatlc.
1t was q strange story indeed that Lura
Joyce told Grace Penroy, under the glowoI
the swinging lamp in the privacy OF her
own room. It did seem much like fairy
, tale, and yet the presence of Lura was