The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-05-30
LONE HOLLOW;
Or, The Peril Of the Psnrsys.
A Thrilling and Romantic Story
OF Love and Adventure.
OF JAMES NJ. MERRnL, AUTHOR OF -Boous
BILL" "FIsHER JOE" AND
OTHER SrohIEs
copyright. fsSs, By ne A. " Kellogg Hnrs-
paper conpaavl
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
10 RETRmuTIos.
u Don't put yourself out, doctor,n said II
: Captain, with IN assumption OF GOODNESS i
d did not feel. Il care nothing for this var
OF yours, and can not wait TO hear it,
:. He came to his feet.
}, sit down." ordered Lura, cmphasizin
the order by covering him with her cooke
: revolver. He sank back into his chair wit
o muttered imprecation against the "tige
. cat"
= lit was in California about two year
n ago that my first scene opens" proceeds
y the doctor. Two men among the gol'
o hills OF that State became bosom friends
T Lawrence Brandon and Karl Vandible
: They first met In San Francisco and wen
{ 10 the mountains together. Karl Vandibls
= was an eccentric man past the meridian o.
; life, one who had seen better days, he as
{ serted, and Brandon believed him. In time
Vandble made confdant OF his young
. friend, Brandon, and told him strange
J story of the past
"Karl had been the black sheep in the
family OF four BOYS. Two were dead, and
Karl, the youngest, had drIfted TO Cali
fornia in search Of adventure even at the
age OF fifty-six He assured Brandon
that 1t was not really necessary for him TO
fight hand to hand with tho world, since
he had brother who was millionaire in
one Of the States beyond tho Mississippi
That brother SAID Karl, always sympa-
ihized with me, and defended me against
the assaults of others. Twas proud, how
ever, and wouldn't accept his bounty.
haven't seen Morgan for ten years, but l
know he must be very old man now
Then Karl Vandble took from his
pocket letter which had lately come from
his aged brother beyond tho mountains. /
wall read part Of it,
The nonchaiant expression on the Cap
iain's face changed TO nervous agitation
as DR. Cotton drew forth wrinkled en-
velope, stained and frayed at the edges
from apparent rough usage.
This is nothing tome, > growled the Cap
tain, again attempting 10 rise.
''Sit down r.
Again Starbright looked into the muzzle
II Lura's revolver and subsidized x..:.Sout
more words.
Opening the letter, DR.. Cotton proceeded:
Come home, Karl. ! am intending TO
pass the remainder of my days at Lone
Hollow. the old stone house where YOU once
staid for a day and liked the hunting so we'll
You shall one day own the place and every
thing that have In fact, l have made
will in your favor, leaving everything 10
YOU with the one condition that you allow
my granddaughter, Grace Penroy, an an
nuity OF twenty thousand year after she
comes Of age. j make the stipulation be-
cause love the girl, and she has been most
dutiful and kind 10 me. You are twenty
years my junior, and will have ample time
to enjoy my wealth after am gone Come,
Karl, l am becoming feeble; feeling my
years and infirmities more and moro every
day, and wish to ENJOY your company
little while before pass 10 tho other shore
If yon receive this L am sure you will not
refuse to grant the prayer OF YOUR last Of
kim
That is the substance Of the letter read
% Lawrence Brandon By Karl Vandible,r
said DR.. Cotton, '.and it was that letter that
influenced Brandon TO commit an awful
crime
what is this TO mer' demanded Captain
Starbright, curtly. Il can not remain -
''But YOU must remain" declared Lura,
with seeming malicious satisfaction. And |
he did.
1.-THE reading of that letter set evil |
thoughts at work in the brain Of Lawrence |
BRANDON proceeded the doctor. HE
suddenly conceived tho idea OF winning the |
Vandible million for himself. Karl OK
pressed determination to return to the
States, and Brand N expressed desire to
accompany him The two set out from the
mining camp together; but one Of them
reached Observation-Disclosures Brandon.
In the night time he stole up behind his
ompanion, dealt him a murderous blow
from behind, and then, after making sure
Of his death, he hurled the body into a
gulch and fastened on his way. will be
brief for time is speeding. Brandon came
10 the States and finally ensconced himself
At Lone Hollow He told Of his friendship
FOR Karl, Morgan's brother, and Of how he
bad been with him when he died in a lonely
ave ON the gold range. Morgan was deep
s grieved. For KarIs sake he befriended
who now bore the assumed name
# Starbright-"
This is falsel"
''Sit down. commanded Lura. as the ,
'illain attempted TO rise. Il won't speak
gam, either. A bullet will be the next
compliment you'll geti'' j.
White now, with cold sweat standing out
n great drops, the pseudo Captain was
bliged to listen TO the remainder of the Z
arrative.
Lawrence Brandon murdered his trust I
lg friend and came East for the purpose OF :
;eaiing a fortune. Had his murderous 4
low succeeded, all might even now be well
nth this villain. Karl Vandiole was not d
filed, however, He lived and came East, 7
ut the blow had affected his brain and he b
$ de mented.
''Instead Of coming TO Lone Hollow he
id in cave, once counterfeIfer's resort, 4
! Hangman's Gulch. Sometimes he had e
loEents Of sanity, but they were of short
uration. He led a hermit life, and watched Il
meet Lawrence Brandon. He did meet p
i'm finally, and recognized him. He fired s
it'll the intention of taking life. Somehow,
seems that Brandon, alias Starbright, s.
we'd to concoctt urther schemes of villainy, n
nong them the poisoning OF Grace Penroy, j.
Iat he might, through forged will, seize n
pom the million left by Morgan vandible" 81
That will is not a forgery Il
keep quiet ordered Lura. Ia
Il have come near to the end Of nv W
ory,n proceeded DIR, Cotton, with the ut ID
ost gravity. Before you went to Cali
rnia you had sought TO win the hand Of ~
iss Joyce. She read your character and u
.spised you. Afterward, when she learned al
at you were at Lone Hollow, she re- a.
lived to thwart your designs upon the 81
old man 'Vandible and upon tn
-ace. although at that time she knew moth 10
2 Of the crime you had committed among al
G gold hills Of California W
q Disguised as Fingal, the hunter, she has
en- quite successful in thwarting your u, u.
lainy. Your attempt upon her life on p,
ID occasions failed signally. She discov- ny
cd your attempt TO poison her cousin--r
BY heaveni this is too much" grated on
g Captain, white and trembling, at the W
me time coming to his feet This plot
ranged between you and this shameless
II win not succeed. In good faith / came ~
re. l lras the friend Of Karl Vandible. ~ ~
: name is Starbright, and-n ~
: Do you deny that you attempted his. ',
e." interrupted the doctor. %,
= do. most emphaticaly.r ~
+. You did not strike HIM down in Cali =,