Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-04-11
s.Ncshing doing for long t,mes"

"Nceting doing for long tlmes,
"Nothing''
II imagined SO. Have you visited Lone
Hollow of latel"
81 haven't"
Grace Penroy's cousin has arrived"
heard something about at she was ex-
pected- A great beauty, s'pose, with airs
enough to smother persona
Nothing Of the kind. She's mannish and
merry. don't like her, and that is why I've
come to YOU"
"Well.'
Mother CABRERA grinned more pronounced
~. Her eyes were sunken deep under a
narrow skull and looked very like two black,
twinkling beads. There was the glitter of
avarice plainly revealed. Her visitor knew
her well, and was cautious enough not to
commit himself in a way that might after
ward prove dangerous.
:" Sit down and let US have quiet talk,
mother" he said, at the same time placing
himself squarely on a rickety chair. She
followed his example, and as they sat there
they made an odd picture-he with his un-
spotted garments, with oiled and combed
locks, she with gown whose original color
was undiscoverable from grease and dirt,
her hair in dubious tangle and frowze.
A unique picture indeed.
''Now, then, Mr.. Starbright, Pm all ears"
she SAID, carefully depositing her clay pipe
on the floor, and leaning forward until her
gaunt form, with pointed chin resting on
her attenuated palm, resembled semicir-
Gle of bones.
sid like" SAID the Captain, ''for this
newcomer at Lone Hollow to depart from
there Immediately. Her coming has COM
pletely upset my plans. and that is very an
noying, as you may well believe"
fhn
would like her to drop dead with heart dis
my cough drops"
''For heavens sake, Mother CABRERA,
stop!" he commanded, hoarsely. 81 hadn't
such an idea in mind. l wouldn't think of
numbering the girl. I'm not that sort of
person. hope"
A low, whitening chuckle that caused his
flesh to creep interrupted his speech.
He glared at his companion, then sprang
to his feet with muttered imprecatioa.
'I'll have nothing to do with yoa, old
woman, not a thing
gazed out into the darkness. He did not go,
however, neither did the crone offer to pre-
vent. She sat lmmovable, glaring at him
with her black, beady eyes in way most
unpleasant. She knew Captain Starbright
even better than he knew himself. He had
come to the cabin for a purpose that night,
and Mother CABRERA knew it.
After brief moment the Captain closed
the door. slipped wooden bolt across the
opening, and turned once more to the pro-
prietreSs.
II am sorry that you can not trust me,
Mother CABRERA"
Nobody but fool would do that, Clint
Starbright," the woman interrupted. 1T
would take heap O. sand an soap to wash
your character clean, more'n l can afford to
perduce."
Il suppose you consider yourself immacu-
late''
'sOf course do; don't your
There seemed no good to argue the point,
so Captain Starbright made no further re-
mark, but walked back and resumed his
seat. A covert smile about the thin lips of
the bag proved that he had done nothing
more than she expected. The greater part
of his indignation was simulated, evidently.
Snow, then, will you listen to me in
silence for minute, Mother Cabera"
"Tll make a try ont, Cap'n."
"What wish to say is this. If at any
time during the next fortnight an accident
should happen to Miss Lura Joyce no one
would be found to mourn, and somebody
would find herself considerably richer IN
this worlds goods. You understand"
1--WE got pretty good perceptive faculties,
Cap'n."
this affair at all; remember that, Mother
CABRERA"
Certainly"
s'And it must be on accident entirely"
whats the price fur such delightful
work! A girls life ought to be worth a
good deal these times" chuckled the bag,
unpleasantly.
"a hundred"
flush. she interrupted, angrily. DO
you take me for a common garroter! Not
a cent less N a thousand would tempt me.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Cap'n,
DEAR
Every well, we will not dispute over the
price,
Again he came to his feet, walked to the
door, hesitated moment, then returned to
the side of Mother CABRERA
"Wall"
She regarded HIM with queer glitter of
the sunken, beady eyes.
"Some of your cough drops, madam.
Could YOU accommodate me with q small
vial of the stuffn'
II might"
"Then do so and be quick about it, for I
must get back to Lone Hollow Immediately"
The hag held out her withered hand
"Cross my palm with gold and the elixlr's
yours
He drew from his pocket gold eagle and
dropped it into her hand. Then she rose,
emitting a chuckle, and glided swiftly
to a cupboard near and opened it. After
a short time spent in fumbling about among
various articles she returned and placed a
small vial filled with colorless liquid in his
hand.
Il had it all ready" she said. / reck-
oned you'd be wanting some before long.
The Old gent at the Holler's gettin' old,
and he needs somethin' stimulatln' to keep
his gray head above ground. 'Twould be a
pity eff he'd drop off with heart disease
some day, an awful shock to the community
like: Ell, Cap'n."
None of that. you bag of darkness" re-
torted he, with a nervous grip on the deli
cate substance in his hand. "a will call
again in a short time, Mother CABRERA"
She went with him to the door, and open
ing it saw him pass out into the night. As
he walked silently and swiftly away he
muttered to himself:
There were no witnesses to our meeting,
and that was as l wished. Should any
thing happen, any trouble come of this, that
hag's word would count as nothing against
me. l am sharp enough not to be caught
in a trap, 1 fiatter myself. Had the ugly
twins been present l should never have
made mention of the object of my visit
never. l am not sure that l shall need the
contents of this vial, but it is well enough
to be prepared. The poison is so subtle as
to defy detection, am told, and if Mother
CABRERA could not concoct such potion no
one in the wide world need attempt it."
And SO the scheming Captain was emf
nently satisfied. Perhaps he would not
have felt such citation had he looked into
Mother Cabera's cabin ten minutes after
his departure.