Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-04-18

viii have one Goodnight, my child; VI
will talk further on this subject 1t anothe
time"
Mrs. Penroy rose, went to her daughtert
side, kissed her with seeming tenderness
and then Grace went from the room.
"Saved! thank Heaveni' ferventty ejac
ulated the widow.
CHAPTER Xxx.
UNDER SPELL.
In the meantime Captain Starlight made
his way to the stables, led out his gray
and with his own hands attached them TO {
light vehicle.
81 have been duped N the worst kind Of
way" he muttered through close-shu1
teeth. 'sMother CABRERA Lied to me when she
pointed out that grave In the cellar ana as
| sured me that there lay the mortal remains
Of my enemy, Lura Joyce. That girl sharpe,
| than Q detective, Is determined to be my
| ruin. How did she escape death9 Ican only
answer that the ugly twins have entered the
| league against me. It was all a plot to bring
destruction upon me, but it will not work
Worst Of all, Karl Vandible lives. lean moi
understand that Wonders will never cease
In this world, and all of the fates seem just
| now to combine against me, but will defy
the fates and VIM this game, else go down
| with colors at the mast"
Mounting the seat the Captain drove
swiftly away. Cafio d! 2 q
It was late at night when he reached
Stonedeld-too late to consult with his law
verso he put up at a'little public house, re-
solved to rest until the dawn Of another day.
He was early astir. Almost the first pAr-
son he encountered in the hotel ONCE after
breakfast was Louis Fingal, the handsome
young hunter. The Captain was not exactly
certain as to the status Of Fingal-on the
whole he set the youth down as not his
friend at least, although he might not be in
active league with his enemies. m
81 am glad to see yon, Captain.n
Fingal held out his hand. = -
'sIndeed. We seem to meet at unexpected
times and places,'' returned Starbright,
accepting the friendly profIer.
Eyes. You came from Lone Hollow late
last night"
1.-THE hour was not early, that's fact"
"Did you meet Miss Joyces''
"Slra"
Captain Starbright glanced keenly into
the face Of the youth before him.
81 asked il you met Miss Joyce. Sheris
q friend Of mine, and ss,she set ont to visit
her cousin Grace / thought you might have
met her. The roads seem dangerous to
travel these days, and I tried to dissuade
the girl from going, but she insisted on It."
''Indeed. You astound me, SIR"
now Is LI8Ls''
II supposed you were aware Of the fact
that Miss Joyce disappeared mysteriously
some weeks since, and it was supposed that
she met with an accident-p Il IA
81 heard about it,'' answered Fingal,
coolly, Offering his cigar case to the Captain,
who selected fragrant roll and proceeded
to light it. f.,
"Then you will u understand how absurd it
seems to me when you speak of seeing said
young lady," said the Captain, as he sat
down next the window and proceeded to
pun great clouds of perfumed smoke up
ward. 49, $3.50 y - 80
Fngal cast a keen glance about the room,
returned his cIgar-case to his pocket with
out taking one himself, and leaning on the
Captains shoulder. peered down into his
dark face, and with half smile stirring his
lips, said:
81 suppose you do think 1t absurd, my
dear Captain, yet it is, nevertheless, true
that did see Lura Joyce, and that she did
go to Lone Hollow last night It seems that
an attempt was made upon her life by a
couple of low ruffians, and that it failed,
thanks to the interference of an unexpected
friend I haven't learned the full particu-
lars yet, but 1 expect to when I see the
young Lady again"
"You surprise me-" uttered Starbright.
81 am glad, however, to know that the girl
escaped. Why did she remain away so
longp' ~ - 4
stOf course you are glad. You and Miss
Joyce were such good friends" aV
Was there a sarcastic ring in the voice
of the young hunters Captain Starbright
imagined so, and the small dark face seemed
to take on hooking smile. The Captain
fidgeted in his seat, yet, somehow, seemed
riveted to the chair. ~aV a9~.
He attempted to rise, but Fingars hand
pressed gently yet firmly against his shout
der, and in low voice he said: - 4ifr >
''No. no, my dear Captain, keep your seat
I am becoming interested as well as your
self"
= And the Captain remained. ''v- a5@,i.i !
He seemed subject to q strong SPELL and
faces and objects began. to float and be,
come indistlnct. Even the voice Of Fingal
was but an indistlnct murmur. 40iI J
And still the Captain puhed at his cigar,
and permitted gentle languor to steal over
his senses.
1.-THE girl was miraculousIy saved" pro-
ceeded Fingal, land she has returned to
make it interesting for the villain who en-,
ployed couple Of ruf{ians to murder her.
It was the desperate work Of an assassin
throwing OF the detective that was hot on
his track. A girl detectivei That sounds
odd, yet I do believe that Lura Joyce is
mourning less, ana Cn8b sue VIII not cease
her efforts until a prince of villains is run
to earth"
Captain Starbright, although hearing but
indis tinctly, yet felt a vibration Of fear at
his heart, and the smiling, dark face of
Louis Fingal seemed like q black Nemesis
frowning upon him.
What was it. that bound his limbs as
though in . wise. aud held him on the
rack while being tortureda He realized
now that Fingal was his foe and he Arrived
to extricats himseif from tho unseen
meshes.
Vain effort
Although two tramps seised and hurried
the girl over precipice, she was not killed.
She lives, and you will yet meet her, IL you
have not already, since her resurrection
from supposed death at the bottom Of
Hangman's Gulch." 81 49, ;i'9is
.Why do you thus address met" artie-
ulated the Captain with no little difficulty.
I" What has the fate Of this simple girl to do
with mea'
."Do you say it has nothingi" j :, fe =
The hooking smile still fingered on the
face Of Louis Fip&al = :. = - -.
"Of course, that is the fact"
"But in that case who paid those two
rufaans for their work3n -----a-----
81 do not know"
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