Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-04-25

Deed, Cap'n, mistis said I wasn't to
permit your bosses in de stables again."
finally articulated the black boy, the grin
fading from his face when he saw the
wrath gathering in the countenanee of the
aNot to permitm my horse. in these stables,
Your mistress said that."s- ;
''Deed she did, Capn."
"Miss GraCep'
'sNo, Cap'n: Mistis Penroy."
"We'l see about that" muttered the
angry Captain under his breath. 'sMrs.
Penroy shows her hand early"
He sprang to the ground and went about
caring for his animals with his own hands.
Sam said nothing, although he realized that
he was just now between two fires, q po-
sition not enviable by any means.
'"Now, you black rascal, you can gor'
Numbered Captain Starbright, turning
fercely upon the stable boy. ST am master
here, and, since you refuse to obey me, Pn
employ you no longer" asfi
As the speaker reached out to seize the
black boy by the collar that individual dart
ed away and scampered to the rear Of the
house, thus eluding for the time the hand of
punishment
With frowning brow Captain Starbright
strobe toward the house, only to meet
Louis FingA on the verauda. The young
hunter was smiling and apparently in q
pleasant mood, which fact annoyed the Cap
tain more than frown would have done.
'sThat boy seems to cross my path every
where - was the mental ejaculation Of the
Captain.
"What are you doing herea" demanded
Starbright, in a curt tone.
II am q privileged character" answered
Fingal. - might with more propriety put
the same query to you."
Captain Starbright was boiling beneath
the surface. He had been crossed so many
times that now he was fast losing his tenn
"Confound you! =" he said, hoarsely 81
believe you are ieagued against me with
that woman, but"
"Just word" interrupted the imper-
turbable young hunter. sHow about the
strange gentleman who frightened you so
in Stonefield few days since2 You re-
member himp'
"No"
"The fellow that stared at us through
the window. Surely you haven't forgotten
that" $50 9
''No. He had escaped from an insane
asylum. His look was enough to brighten
anybody" and the Captain forced laugh.
You met him again?'
eyes, A dangerous lunatic whom
turned over to the proper authorities. He
is now in an asylum from which he is not
likely to escape SOON"
"Now, Captain Starbright, do you expect
me to believe that?"
Fingal bent forward and pierced the
guilty Captain with eyes of steel A throb
of alarm swept to the Villains heart. ,..s4
81 do not care-' 're.t,- q
"But I do" interrupted the youth, stern
ly. 1.-THE blood Of Karl Vandible cries out
er" Gags
cha, do you accuse me-" nlH-
81 accuse you Of MURDER" Kissed Fingal.
The next instant a set OF dlgirs closed
about the young hunters throat, and he
was forced backward, gasping for breath.
CHATTER XIII
THE WIDOWS DEFIANCE.
All the evil passions of Captain Star
bright's nature mastered him at that mo-
ment. Both men had made q mistake. Fin
gal in accusing the Captain of murder, and
the latter in resenting the accusation as he
did. Conscious guilt, however, made the
Captain Q coward. rl.ri.,
In vain Fingal struggled under the ter
rible grip Of Starbright. He was as babe
in the hands Of q giant. He could not even
cry out for help, and had not third person
appeared on the scene at that moment the
angry Captain might have perpetrated muir
der then and there.
As Fingal was sinking down helplessly
a door opened and some one5 appeared on
the veranda,'s man who, taking in the Sit
uation at q glance, sprang at once to the
rescue and tore the senraeed Captain from.
his victim When Starbright faced about
he found himself con from ted by Austin.
Wentword, the Stonefeld mechanic. B s.
The two had not come in contact in many
Weeks, not since therx scene in the grove
where they colHded With what would have
oeen fatal results but for the Interference
OF Louis Flngal, who, as st win Be remem-
oered, savedthe CapfAln,ell3e at that time.
To-Day the mechanic had met Grace Pen
roy and reconciliation had taken place, all
OF winch had been brought about through
sne gooo omces OF the young hunter and
Lura Joyce The latter, however had abb
sentea herself from Lone Hollow since her
narrow escape from death at the hands of
Captain Starbright. s3t ut4f..3E Il
Did you mean to murder the boyan de-
manded Wentword, sternly. as he faced
" He insulted me. meant to punish him
for insolence.'
Fingal, looking pale and weak, leaned
against post and regarded the two men
without speaking - :,
You are a miserable coward" declared
the indignant Wentword. 81 have notion
to thrash you blind" iste ~
!" think you had better let the Job out, ,"
sneered Starbright, as he laid his hand on
the butt OF revolver that protruded from
his hip pocket 80
This movement was observed by Fingal,
who cried:
:. Draw q weapon, Captain, and it will be
worse for YOU, --s
Then the rattle OF wheels fell on the ears
OF all A carriage halted in front Of the
great mansion. and Ia little thin old man
Captain Starhright at Ionces recognized
nus lawyer from Stonefield. Something of
portance must have sent him here SO
soon after his interview with his client
The Captain was at once anxious TO be rid
Of the two men, and so, forcing laugh, he
said: ..sf5f.sss ~fSr.u s-s-sx ,..ssas
"I was angry, gentlemen, beg your
pardon for what has occurred. I hope we
may be friends hereafter."r - -
ne youns h na1a 1o dsd nin s re-
fused the proffer Of friendship Pluckng