The Red Cloud chief., 1889-05-24

nad been with him when he died in q lonely
cave on the gold range. Morgan was deep
ly grieved. For Karl's sake he befriended
Brandon, who now bore the assumed name
OF Starbright-"
''This is false,'
''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 the
narrative.
Lawrence Brandon murdered his trust.
ing friend and zane East for the purpose OF
stealing a fortune. Had his murderous
blow succeeded, all might ever now be well
with this villain. Karl Vandible was not
killed. however. He lived and came East.
but the blow had affected his brain and he
| as demented.
'Instead of coming to Lone Hollow he
hid In 4 cave, once a counterfeIter's resort,
in Hangman's Gulch. Sometimes he had
moments of sanity, but they we're of short
duration. He led a 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 viilainy,
among them the poisoning of Grace Penroy,
that he might, through a forged will, seize
upon the million left by Morgan Vandible."
THAT will is not q forgery"
keep quiet" ordered Lura.
Il have come near to the end of my
story" proceeded DIR. Cotton, with the ut
most gravity. Before you wen: 70 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 our designs upon the
u%nsuspecting Old man Vandible and upon
Grace. although ut 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
been quite successful in thwarting your
villainy. Your attempt upon her life on
two occasions failed signally. She discov-
cred your attempt to poison her cousin"
"By heaven! 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
h.re. l uds the friend of Karl Vandible.
~ hoAhAS % eCaA VI Ay
ado you deny that you attempted his
lifes' interrupted the doctor.
~ do, most emphatically."
"You did not strike him down in Cali
f~ornial'
"No.o
"You did not set hired assassins on his
track but a few weeks since, and sink his
body in a dark pool in the woodsE'
White, stern, grim as fate was the face
of DIR. Arthur Cotton as he put these
questions swiftly to the trembling man be-
ere him.
'N-n-o" faltered Captain Starbright,
reeling and cringing.
"Then, perhaps, you will dare deny these
things to another Witness
DIR. Cotton turned swiftly and flung wide
the door. Two men crossed the threshold.
Captain Starbright glared wildly into the
face of the foremost man, then he uttered
great cry of agony and terror. The dead
had indeed come back to earth to stand as q
witness against him.
"karl Vandible alivew
Then the shattered spirit sank weakly,
and Captain Starbright fell heavily into his
chair, covering his face to shuto out the view.
Before them stood the man we have
d. DOu DCAlltO VIC lSALidC ANoW
there was the light of reason glowing in his
eyes, yet he was thin and pale, and leaned
o n the arm of his companion, an officer, for
support.
II am not dead, Lawrence Brandon"
said the wronged Californian. in q solemn
voice. "a blow from your hand clouded
my brain and sent me forth o demented
wanderer upon the earth. A weight of
years has whelmed me, yet I did not forget
nor forgive the man who struck that blow,
the man I trusted and confided in only to be
murdered, almost, by his treachery.
"YOur last attempt upon my life proved
as futile as the first, thanks to this brave
doctor and his equally brave helper, Lura
Joyce. Both were on hand to rescue me
from the watery grave into which your
mnious had cast me. The stone broke
loose at the outset. Twas unconscious for
some time, and these friends conveyed me
to StOnefeld in a light vehicle. The shock
to my system was terrible, but it served the
good turn to restore my reason.
From the hour of my rega;ning conscious |
ness l knew every thing. My head is yet
sore, and l am very weak, yet l managed
last night to astound you on the brink of
the forest pool, where you had gone to con- |
your latest villainy. l had been to
the cave after something left there by me,
and spying you moving toward the pool /
logged your steps and executed a little
tableau that frightened you so that you
swooned. From our pocket 1 distracted
holding up a delicate vial, Switch the
good doctor informs me is subtle and
deadly poison. You have used it. My
brother Morgan died from its effects before
he signed the will, 70 which you afterward
affixed his name. Your race is run, Law
renee Brandon. You have many murders
to answer for, all to gam a million that was
not for you"
As the man paused Lurah held aloft fold
document |
''rhe last will and testament Of Morgan
Vandible, which leaves all his property to
Kari, his beloved brother. This will has
been concealed, and is the only genuine |
document in existence from the hand of
Morgan Vandible.. l congratulate you. Mr.. |
Starbright dropped h 5 hands and glared
at the paper in a hopeless. despairing way. |
His face was like death'itself.
land now said Karl Vandible, 81 have
the satisfaction of turning you over to the
custody of an officer, Lawrence Brandon"
Watt cried the culprit, huskily, as
companion advanced, displaying
a pair of handouts. Then he came to his
feet and shrank back across the floor