Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-06-06
HOLLOW:
Or, The Peril Of The PenrOyS.
A Thrilling and Romantic Story
Of Love and Adventure.
By JAMES NJ. MERRILL, AUTHOR or Bogus
BILL" FISHER JOE" AND
OTHER STORIES
(copyright 1889 by me A. " Kellogg Nssos.
paper CompaDgl


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the captain 5 hat lay on the floor. Hi.
coat was of, his arms bare to the elbows
and he was evidently meditating some
terrible deed. Fingal saw him move toward
the bed, gaze for one moment at the placid
face of the apparently sleeping girl, then
bend forward with the look of fiend, and
Irvine his fingers about the throat OF hi:
unsuspecting victim.
Great heaven! he would strangle heri,
gasped Fmgal, hoarsely almost losing hi,
hold in the intensity OF his horror. With
mighty effort he steadied himself, seized
the sash, lifted it swiftly and plunged head
| long into the room.
| The noise and the unexpected appearance
of the hunter startled the would-be assas-
sin from his work, and he at once turned
\ bis attention TO the newcomer. He glarec
an instant in evident alarm, then, with an
imprecation, sprang at the youth as he came
to his feet
Murderer cried Fingal.
Ha! the Internal hunter sneak IN
throttle you for this ami Captain Star
| bright, evidently completely mastered by
rage and fear, sprang with the fury Of q
mailman at the throat Of his unwelcome
visitor.
/ Together the two went TO the floor in a
1 struggle for the mastery AT the same
\ time wild scream filed the room Grace,
Weakened by the combat, was terribly
I frightened, and it was her voice that filed
| the old house with its piercing notes OF
alarm.
Fingal struggled desperately, but seemed
TO be no match for the Infatuated Captain.
"rll throttle YOU" Kissed Starbright.
you have meddled with me aud my affairs
for the last time.
/ At this moment the long black hair on
Fingaps head came into the clutches of
Starbright, another moment and his locks
were free from the head Of his antagonist.
With great cry Captain Starbright came
/ to his feet, quickly followed by the hunter.
A hand tried the door, and voice without
demanded admittance. Unheeding this the
Captain stood staring at Fingal His
astoundment seemed too fun for words
And no wonder.
Before him stood, in the person Of Fingal,
another person entirely. There was no mis-
taking that face, the pug nose, with mus
tache brushed aside, that dancing, red
foretop.
"Lura Joyce, as | liyer' exclaimed the
astounded Captain.
The girl regarded him with folded arms,
breathing short, her eyes flashing, her
white teeth cleaning. She felt herself
mistress of the situation. Her hand shot
forward suddenly, q bright object gleam-
ing at the end
Your race is run, Captain Starbright,n
she uttered lowly yet fercely. Stand
aside, wish TO open the door"
He seemed 10 have no desire to thwart
her wishes while cooked revolver was
pointed toward his breast, and so he obeyed
without word. He glanced at the bed to
note the fact that Grace had tainted.
With some difficulty Lura turned the key
and admitted Dr. Arthur Cotton.
"Alone!" uttered I.ura
"Wait"
This was all The doctor glanced at Cap
tain Starbright. then at the girl. He
seemed astonished to find her in male attire,
and Lura fancied she saw q look OF semi
disgust on his grave face.
II can explain, Arthur
lit doesn natter he uttered, shortly.
My business IS with Clinton Starbright.
! suppose YOU recognize me. Captain
Starbrig3.t had recovered his composure,
AID stood with folded arms regarding the
doctor from under frowning brows.
81 suppose do. You are the gentleman
who pretends to knowledge of medicine
DR. Cotton"
''The same
"But let me tell you,' grated the Captain,
with angry vehemence, Il have permitted
your interference here to the cost OF a life.
Looliyonder at your work You shall suffer
for this-thls murder"
He pointed to the bed.
Quickly DR.. Cotton stepped TO the side OF
Grace and bent over the wasted form. A
moment thus, then he faced the inmates of
the room once more. ''She has tainted 1t
is better so for the present. Should she die
you will have another murder to answer
for. know that you have been systematic
ally poisoning this girl
"That is false"
Don't interrupt me-" said the doctor,
with strange calmness, no trace Of emotion
on his grave face II made a discovery not
long since that startled and shocked me be-
yond measure You had the reputation Of
being generous gentleman, with few bad
habits, and all your acquaintance looked
upon you as an honorable man"
Really snecred the Captain, ''you do
me proud, DR.. Cotton"
"You may feel less so before / am through
with little history propose to relate"
II pray YOU, don't put yourself out on my
account, doctor"
mo, but on several accounts | will pro
coed. Some years ago you fell IN with Mr..
Penroy, Grace's father, and became very
intimate with him. He trusted you fully,
and TO his cost. The time came when that
man was brought home dead, with his skull
crushed, said to have been caused by the
kick of horse. believe, however, that il
was done by club, and that it was part
Of plot formulated in California to gam
possession Of a million dollars
Indeed sneered'the Captain.
Il am getting ahead Of my story, how
ever" proceeded the doctor, as Captain
Starbright coolly assumed a chair. The
doctor and Lura remained standing, how
ever.