The Red Cloud chief., 1889-03-15

tOu " IWWCOI1UcIy WOvIu8 IbO@ tOO OPOG
The twain were not y long going up -
coming down, and both wero extremely
glad when tho welcome light from the
In their eyes. The brave Captain actually
threshold.
CHAPTER XII.
CHILD.
IAN % you chaps has been in the gulcA
looking for the body Of that spitdre gal"
Mother CABRERA gavo vent 70 . peculiar
grating laugh that sounded harshly In the
ears of Captain Starbright.
THAT u the truth, krs. CaberA." -
sured the Captain. "Your con Hank tells
me that . terrible accident happened, 70
sulung in the death Of my esteemed friend,
Miss Joyce. Tho whole country 10 aroused.
and It 10 highly necessary that the truth b
known. Miss Penroy and her grandfather
are nearly distracted with grief. Since W
did not find the bndy lam not sure that
Lurs Joyce u dead"
"You would like 70 know that she is3"
Captain Starlight cast quick glance q
the second twin, who bunRed on the noor
near, with Q pipe between his red jaws, and
said:
ION the contrary. ! should be glad 70
know that she 10 alive. It grieves mo soroly
to think harm has come TO one who wa my
friend"
1.-The spit1re gal WA your fricnd?"
Tho beady eyes Of the bag pierced him
like twin dirks.
"Ths best friend I had in the world" a.
serted Captain Starbright with apparent
feeling.
He had conided only in tho bag, and was
not yet ready to place himself ii tho mercy
Of the two ~ruiiians who were supposed to
b the sons Of Mother CABRERA. He had
evinced too much feeling In the presence Of
Hank, he feared, and resolved to DO moro
careful In the future.
After . moment Of silence Mother Caben
stepped TO the Captains side and touched
his arm.
"Come with me, Captain" she whispered
in his car. Then she crossed 70 ono corner
Of the room and slipped aside . mat 10
vcaling Q trspdoor.
Seizing . candle that stood near she lifted
the trap and stepped through the aperture
thus exposed.
Was there danger in followingl
Captain Starbright was not ready to trust
these people fully. He knew that his life
would not DO worth . picayune should tho
inmates Of the gulch cabin deem it money
in pocket to take It He had gone too far
now to recede, however. and GO. making
sure Of his weapon, he followed the bag 70
the cellar below.
Al tho trap closed above them Mother
| Cabers said:
Il knew you was embarrassed up there
afore the boys, % l thought I would bring
you here where you could speak freely"
Shc flashed the blaze Of her candle about
the room, . small, square apartment, with
but the damp earth for . 1oor. Some boxes
and barrels stood about, and on one Of the
former Mother CABRERA seated her gaunt
form
"Is'pose you Was expcctin' this accident
Q little ooncr"
NO. I had nearly forgotten about it. 1,
WAS IN accident thcnf"
1T looks that way"
ut 10 very ssd lam sorry that the body
was taken away. There seems 70 b soms
mystery about t."
A low chucklc answered him.
"Its plans the nose on yer faos, Captain
StarbriRht"
What do you meant
Il attended 70 tho body. I was down
while the boys was away and fetched tho
! poor gal up an planted her here"
The h,deous bag indicated with . tap Of her
foot the center Of ther room, which seemed
. little higher than the surrounding ground.
Good heavens! Do you mean that Lura
Joyce's dead body lee hero under our very
feet" cried the Captain, his face white and
Rhastly il the dim light
That's It exactly. Hold the candle Q
minnit and I'll show 70 nroof"
Mother CABRERA thrust tho candle into hio
hand and going TO the aide Of the room lift
I'd . spade that leaned against the stones,
and began digging in the center Of the eL
lar.
NO, no: that will do" cried tho Captain.
sclammy sweat oosine out on his face -
the spade struck something beneath The
surfaco with . thud that was sickening.
"Be you satisfied! Is Wua't take n
Rorn . minnit-"
mo. Iwant NO further proof" groaned
the wicked Captain. II Nm assured thai
poor Luna Joyce IS decd. Let " % up"
"Here II more proof, il you need IL"
chuckled the bag. as the same time produc
ing . soiled envelope. and thrusting il 70.
ward the Captain. I'm cpinioned that the
gal was scarryin' this fur the heiress q
Lone Hollow"
1t proved TO b the letter that Lurs Joyus
lost and had doubtless been stcsea BY he
bag while telling the 9iris fortune On the
previous day.
Captain StarbrSeAs rod the letter with
it, a6ecticoate words for the Ssoueneld me-
chanic. md felt hs muscles hArdea. III
feelings CONCEAL with ragA
IL Will keep this" b said
III you ny for IL yoa may"
The hAG held out . bcny Aaad. He tAruss
Q wallet counting out several hank AoesA
nese he handed over . As cpmpaaioa-
"That - ~ 1ns inssaQDeat" - ~, u
Q Sow tone.
"when does u asxs Genet"
"Whea I N nastee q ~ vanACAao
uilliooA No oao OtnDds ID NJ W1y nov.
anA before he s1sus q CAEtsenaa wAia9
~ ground I VII - aasssr q Looe uallov
anA ~ outlying landAs
Noehsr CaAe1 secreeoa ~ money, ~
turned 10 retx1os ~ sseps - ~ r6u0
shove EvidenNysAs ~ shns faf saeiaAea
with the sitastSoa-
"Ouo moment"
TAs had Of Capeaia SeAraeieAs aseaiAsd
IL hae.
.Yea must kssp tAis aRair wholly -
yourself % evsa vAisPesiae " Urs b Z
- year sosA"
"Iaapsf nel CapeniA"
hi seemed n11ci0e 0sWu. 81 ~
tWo Fupairea - ~ Hus0 ohUVA Ar Q
1sw neeo vurds VIII - 1nsodA OpnniA
0AEae,gAt IN ~ 0bb - nE1a10
soso 0a 0seo sDWoe0k ua0OOL
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