The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-12-13

| IAN so you chaps has been In the gulch
looking for the body of that spitfre gal"
Mother CABRERA gave vent to q peculiar
| grating laugh that sounded harshly in the
ears of Captain Starbright.
'That is the truth, Mrs. CABRERA" as
| sured the Captain "Your son Hank tells
me THAT terrible accident happened, re-
sulting in the death Of my esteemed friend.
Miss Joyce. The whole country is aroused,
and 1t is highly necessary that the truth be
| known. Miss Penroy and her grandfather
| are nearly distracted with grief Since we
! did not find the body am not sure that
| Lura Joyce is dead"
"You would like to know that she ISL"
Captain Starbright cast quick glance at
| the second twin, who lounged on the floor
near, with pipe between his red jaws, and
said:
"On the contrary, should be glad to
know that she is alive. It grieves me sorely
| to think harm has come to one who was my
| friend''
1.-THE spitfre gal was your friendp"
The beady eyes of the bag pierced him
like twin dirks.
"The best friend had in the world" as
| serted Captain Starbright, with apparent
| feeling.
He had confided only in the bag, and was
| not yet ready to place himself at the mercy
| OF the two ruffians who were supposed to
be the sons of Mother CABRERA. He had
evinced too much feeling in the presence Of
Hank, he feared, and resolved to be more
careful in the future.
After moment of silence Mother CABRERA
stepped to the Captains side and touched
| his arm.
"Come with me, Captain" she whispered
| in his ear. Then she crossed to one corner
OF the room and slipped aside mat re-
vealing trap-door.
Selling candle that stood near she lifted
the trap and stepped through the aperture
thus exposed.
Was there danger in followinga
Captain Starbright was not ready to trust
these people fully. He knew that his life
would not be worth picayune should the
inmates of the gulch cabiH deem it money
in pocket to take it. He had gone too far
now to recede, however. and So making
sure of his weapon, he followed the bag to
the cellar below.
As the trap closed above them Mother
CABRERA said:
u knew you was embarrassed up there
afore the boys, so thought 1 would bring
you here where you could speak freely"
She flashed the blaze of her candle about
the room, small, square apartment, with
but the damp earth for floor. Some boxes
and barrels stood about, and on one Of the
former Mother CABRERA seated her gaunt
form.
81 s'pose you was expectin' this accident
little sooner?"
''No. I had nearly forgotten about it. 1t
was an accident, then?"
1T looks that WAN"
Ut IS very SAD. 1 am sorry that the body
was taken away. There seems to be some
mystery about it."
A low chuckle answered him.
''It's plains the nose on yer face, Captain
Starbright."
''What do you meana"
II attended to the body. was down
while the boys was away and fetched the
poor gal up an planted her here"
The hideous bag indicated with tap Of her
foot the center of the room, which seemed
a little higher than the surrounding ground.
"Good heavens Do you mean that Lurs
Joyce's dead body lies here under our very
feeti" cried the Captain, his face white and
CHASTITY in the dim light.
That's it exactly. Hold the candle
mlnnit aud I'll show We proof" 49, :.