Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-28

Centaur." Then she laughed merr1ly. and,
stepping into the hall, closed the door be-
hind her.
They were both in the shadow. He
felt wicked just at that moment. and
raised his hands as though he would
this was not the time or place for such work
and restrained himself, and muttered some
thing commonplace.
Then he opened the outer door and passed
out. f4ts
So You are here at Lone Hollow, SER
pentr' soliloquized the girl, in low, mean
ing tone. "Well, reckon it means war be-
tween us, Captain Starbright, and the
sooner it comes to q focus the better for all
concerned"
1t was almost night when Captain Star
bright stepped upon the long porch. He
glanced up and down keenly, but saw no
one. Old Mr.. Vandfble had retired to his
room, but his great armchair stood there
reminder OF the old gentleman himself
Captain Starbright flung himself into the
capacious chair and with knitted brows
thought over the situation
:" must consult Mother CABRERA" he
muttered. ''She will be able to help me in
this emergency"
A light step startled him. He wheeled
about in his chair sharply to meet the smil
ing gaze of Lura-
''You must be weary after your days
vig1S, Mr.. Starbrlght / am requested by
Grace to ask you to come in out of the
damp. She is indeed most solicitous after
your health.o
He realized that hidden sarcasm lurlzed
beneath her words, and he felt angry.
9'sYou have met Grace, thens" he ques-
| toned. indifferently.
eyes. We are already friends. Feeling
somewhat indisposed she requested me to
4 q
s'Sit down there, Lura Joyce" he inter-
! rupted, shortly. 81 wish a word with you.''
! He pointed to the vacant chair near She
accepted it without q word, and cast de-
mure glance at him from under her sandy
brows.
"Why have you come to Lone HolIow2''
he demanded, bluntly.
her reply.
He seemed angered at the announcement
eyes, Captain Starbright, my home" she
repeated. grimly 81 am Grace's cousin,
and she has kindly invited me to live under
| the same roof with her. With million
more or less at her command can see nc
harm in this"
emo" with frown.
Snow permit me to ask you one"
She lifted her head, and her short red
curls danced defiantly. He made no re
mark and she proceeded.
"Now, sir, why is it that you are here
Answer me that, please"
81 am simply guest"
"Simply guest! Do you expect me to be
lieve that, Clinton Starbright2"
81 care not what you believe"
81 suppose not. You may, however, be
fore this war dance ends,'' fired the girl
with an emphasis quite unnecessary, he
thought. He remained cool under hel
whitening gaze. This was not the frs
| time the two had crossed swords. Once
not year before, he had actually paid
court to the fiery Miss Joyce.
| At the time he was led to believe thai
she was to inherit a large fortune. A col
lapse in her fathers fortune came sud
denly, and Immediately after, the death Of
the old speculator. Then Captain Star
| bright lost all interest in the girl, and ha6
had the ill grace to make sport of her at hi.
club. Lura Joyce had come into possession
Of the facts, and from being friendly sh'
came to be the Captains most RELENTLESS.
enemy. He had more than once felt wha
| it was to have this girls hate, and he real
| lied that it was no small affair.
[TO BE Continued