Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-09
LONE HOLLOW;
Or, The Peril Of the PenroyS.

VI, Ta6 fcru VI Wo I0uVyn
A Thrilling and Romantic Story
OF Love and Adventure.
sBr JAMES "a. MERRILL. AUTHOR OF "DoGui
BILL" FISHER JOE" AND
OTHER SroRIKA
fCepyrilAs, 1885, by the H. " kellogg Ns'os
paper Compony.]
CHAPTER xxvL-CoNr1NuED.
he paused. She made no attempt 10 IN
,terrupt him, and he proceeded:
When you put in an appearance At 1one
Hollow realized that my chance OF wan
ming the heiress was lessened. knew no"
you hated me, and felt alarmed. wisneo
YOU away. anywhere but in this house"
"Even under the sod,'' and she smiled
serimly as she interrupted him.
"No. In that you wrong me-" he assert
ed, impressively. II did not plan 70 narm
YOU. could not do that; for to be honest
with YOU. Lura, you are the only girl who
ever stirred the inner depths Of my heart.
II YOU had been the heiress instead OF
Grace could have wooed with tenfold more
fire. But let that pass. ! endured your
presence without attempting to abate 1t.
That night, when you disappeared so mys-
teriously, and during the days that followed
when turned heaven and earth to ind you,
Twas really sad at heart, although elated at
the thought that you would not be likely to
trouble me again. r.
81 was getting on swimmingly with Grace
when, to my surprise, you suddenly re-
turned. I saw you enter the house and 60
to Grace Penroy's room then believed
that you had played . trick on US all, on me,
for the purpose Of beating me out OF this
fortune on which I set such hopes. The
thought that was about to be defeated
when the wealth was ready to fall into my
hands maddened me, and I lost reason and
GOODNESS.
"That was why I assaulted you 30
furiously. repented it afterward, and
have been longing to see you to ask your
forgiveness. I came near being killed by
madman myself. He carried you away, and
Z afterward feared that he had murdered
you."s
Captain Starbright had resumed his seat
during this narration, while Lura Joyce
leaned one hand on the table and contented
herself with listening in meek way that
was surprising considering her fiery nature.
EDo you expect me to believe all this,
Captain Starbright!" she said, without
lifting her eyes.
81 have spoken the truth. or course, ]
have no means Of compelling belief" he
said, in a subdued tone. g I tell you honest
~, / am glad that you escaped from the
clutches of the mailman"
"He seemed gentle enough with me-" re-
sumed the girl. "What became of the poor
fellow at last! haven't seen him Of late -
az Influenced the authorities to send the
poor fellow to a mad-house."
did you know him2'
"No, only that he made an absurd claim
to be a brother Of the late Mr.. Vandible."
"About the shooting tonight" SAID Lura,
suddenly dropping the subject of the mad
man. "Can you throw any light on that"
"It is a sad affair."" sighed the Captain.
81 would rather not talk of that now.''
"Why has Austin Wentword been ar
rested!''
'It was necessary. In case Grace dies
the fellow might leave the country
"Then you suspect him Of being the
assassin of the girl he loved, vino was his be-
trothed, in fact!''
Her eyes were regarding him now with
their steely glitter, that rendered him nerv-
Gus always.
"My suspicion amounts to conviction -
he said, coolly.
You saw him commit the act?'
~ am not prepared to say that. At the
proper time my evidence shall be forth
coming"
ssIndeed! Is this a part of YOUR plot to
win the Vandible fortuner'
He became uneasy under her gaze He
realized that she was reading him like an
open book. He might deceive some women
but not this grand, self-reliant girl, whose
strong mind and quick wit were more than
match for him.
1t is useless to prolong this interview"
he said, coming to his feet. 'sYou would
distrust one even if he were to swear on a
mountain of Bibles / am sorry, but in
time shall be able to prove to you that am
much-abused man."
Then he strobe from the room and sought
the outer air.
Sop murmured Lura. 81 am once more
on deck to watch and counterfeit your evil
influence, Clinton Starbright. II Grace
dies, you are doubly doomed man. The
idea that Austin Wentword fired that shot
That yarn might fool the marines, but it will
not pass current with me- Ali if you only
knew what 1 know, Captain, you would
tremble in your boots. 1t is just as well
You do not know. will now have an on
portunity to search thi. house for the will
old Mr.. VandiDle made long ago. That. I
believe to be, the only lawful document of
the kind in existence.
He told me that it was somewhere with.
in the walls Of Lone Hollow, and mean To
lind it and confound them ALL"
Then Lura went to the room where her
wounded cousin lay. When Mrs. Penroy
saw the girl she uttered q scream and fell
fainting to the floor.
It will be remembered that the widow die
not know Of the continued existence of Lur.
Joyce. She had looked upon the girl o.
dead. Grace having kept her secret accord
ing to promise, and her sudden appearance,
was as startling as the appearance of ;
ghost.
Lura saw her mistake the moment sh,
crossed the threshold. She rang fol
Lucy, the colored maid, who, assisted
by Miss Joyce, succeeded in conveying tn,
1alntlng woman to a bed in another part o.
the great house.
Lucy was pretty thoroughly frightened
too, when she saw Miss Joyce, but Lurs
soon satisfied the maid that ali was as j,
should be by assuring her that she had onl,
been away on business, and that now she
was back to care for Grace, and make he,
home hereafter at Lone Hollow.
Mrs. Penroy did not recover from her sec
ond fainting fit as from the first, and sh,
was unable to leave her bed for seyera
days.
In the meantime Grace regained con
seriousness, but remained very weak ant
roOuirQd constants offonfiOp T,,~o -.o-