The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-05-23
HOLLOW;
Or, The Peril Of the PenrOys.
A Thrilling and Romantic Story
of Love and Adventure.
BIZ JAMES NJ. MERRILL, AUTHOR OF "BoGus
BILL" FISHER JOE" AND
OTHER STORIES.
toeFynign, 1859, BY the A. " Kellogg Ee'rs-
p0per CoE,pGnyl
cHAPTER xXX.-coNr1vrEp.


The house was gloomy, and the sound OF
bis feet sent cold chill over him.
He passed out and walked to the edge OF
The gulch. little way off. The depths
were Swallowed 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 frightening into
the gloom of night, Captain Starbright
thought of the past, Of the year gone in
which his brain had schemed and plotted
for self-aggrandizement.
sit 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. pretended to be the friend OF his
idolized though erratic brother, and brought
him a memento from the far-off land OF
gold. told how had ministered 10 the
dying, and completely won old Morgan Van
dible's heart Karl, his youngest brother,
ne 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 Karl over the precipice IN
the gold range did not kill
"My treachery might have been discoy-
cred, for Karl Vandible lived, but he came
back from that fall crazed being. l sup
posed had nothing TO fear, and yet he
recognized me that night in front OF Lone
Hollow, when he fired with murderous in
tention It's well that / made sure work
Of the old man at last The pool will never
yield up its secret to 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.
An uncanny place" muttered the Cap
tain. "Much like tomb, indeed. No Sc
cret can come forth from thy depths, old
pool Bow much safer than the Califor-
MIA gulch. You reveal no secrets, that gulch
iid.n
Then he walked completely around the
pool, scanning the water from every point.
1t was q 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 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 a kind
mothers heart-his father he never knew,
and he recalled the time now when his
hands were free from stain, his soul unfair
nished by blood outlines.
81 have gone too far to retrace my steps
now,n he cried aloud, as though holding
argument with his inner self
"T00 fdrin
What was that An echo Of his own
thoughtsi His words had been lightly ut
tered He trembled and gazed about him
in the shadows. The words were Eot re-
peated, but his eyes became riveted on one
spot on the further shore of the pool Slow
ly human figure rose and stood facing
him. A glimmer of starlight touched the
face. 1t was CHASTITY white There was a
rope about the neck, a clinging stone, drip
ping wetl Starbright gazed in silent hor-
ror at his murdered victim. 1t was the face
of the dead man of the pooli The blood re-
ceded from his heart, deadly faintness
seized him, and, tossing up his arms, Clinton
Starbright fell fainting TO the ground.