Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-02-28
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.
lCopyrighf 1889, By TIE A. NJ Kellogg Nelgs
paper Comp0y.l
CHAPTER v.
Nstcs ravcp,o rrx.nrr

Noihhk aS though ne Hdu stepped on no
iron.
She twisted his silk tile on her hand, re
marking;
Your hat, please. did not mean t,
steal it,
! He seized it and drew it low over hi,
brows. As she stood in the doorway, tn,
light from q window near revealed hei
face and form quite distinctly One glance
into the short, round face was sufficient L
proclaim her not beauty
There was a square set to the lower Jaw
not compatible with feminine beauty. He
complexion would have been exquisite bu
for freckles. The square nose, rather after
the style denomlnated pug, showed agrees
iveness, as did the jaw and mouth. Tht
forehead, low and broad was surmountet
by short, crisp, defiant red curls tina
danced and flutsered with every turn of hel
head. Her form was slender to attenua
ton, and withal Lura Joyce was not calcu
lated at first sight to win the admirnp gaze
Of the human male biped
There was something in her face anC
movements, however, that demanded a sec
| ond look, and when this was given. a thirc
would follow, and then more pleasing as
pect appeared, ending at last in fascination
Captain Starbright had felt this last sen
sationmore than once, and it was stealing
over him now IN spite of the fact that he
knew that Lura Joyce was TO be his most
bitter enemy in the contest that was tc
come. He threw OFF the magnetism with
an effort and said:
$50 1t was you, mischief, who stole my
hat. might have known it,
'Of course
when did you arrivel"
Just here. / saw and recognized your
hat as | passed down the hall looking for
Grace, and so thought I'd bother you a
little" she said, solemnly.
do you mean to say that you haven't
seen Grace yot!n
stage, and SO had to come on horseback. [
didn't mind that, however, since | am a
regular Comanche, and can ride like IA
what is it you call 'ems / have il, a
Centaur.n Then she laughed merrlly. 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
/ strangle the girl. He seemed to realize that.
this was not the time or place for such work
aud restrained himself, and muttered some
thing commonplace.
Then he opened the outer door and passed
out.
" SO you are here at Lone Hollow. SER
pent.' soliloquized the girl, in low, mean
ing tone "Well, | reckon il means war he
tween us, Captain Starbrignt, aud the
sooner il comes to a focus the better for all
concerned
1t was almost night when Captain Star
bright stepped upon tho long porch. He
glanced up and down keenly, but saw no
one. Old Mr. Vandible had retired 10 his
roessa, tsat l.s tsaat 4s;,ai.. st,.,l tIrslts
4 reminder Of the old gentleman himself
Captain Starbright flung himself into the
capacious chair md 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 day s
vigils Mr.. Starbright. ] am requested by
Grace to ask you TO come in out of the
damp. She is indeed most solicitous after
your health"
He realized that a hidden sarcasm lurl1ed
beneath her words, and he felt angry.
you have met Grace, them" he ques-
toned indifferently.
ayes. We are already friends Feeling
somewhat indisposed 5Ee requested me to
call you and ~"
''Sit down there, Lura Joyce" he inter-
rupted, shortly. II wish word with YOU
He pointed to the vacant chair near. She
accepted it without word, and cast de-
mure glance at him from under her sandy
brows
''Why have you come to Lone HolIowl''
he demanded, bluntly.
''This is to be my home hereafter was
her reply.
'Your homer
He seemed angered at the announcement
"Yes, Captain Starbright, my home,p she
repeated, grimly. II am Grace's cousin,
and she has kindly invited me to live under
the same roof with her. With a million
more or less at her command can see no
harm in this"
ono, with frown.
Now permit me to ask you onen
She lifted her head, and her short red
curls danced defantly. He made no re.
mark and she proceeded.
Now, sir, why is it that you are herel
Answer me that, please"
81 am simply guest.n
Simply guest Do you expect me TO be.
lieve that, Clinton Starbrights"
~ care not what you believe"
II suppose not. You may, however, be-
fore this war dance ends, fired the girl,
with an emphasis quito unnecessary, he
thought. He remained cool under her
whitening gaze This was not the first
time the TWO had crossed swords. Once,
not year before, he had actually paid
court TO the fiery Miss Joyce.
~. 1. a.
she was to inherit 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 had
had the i'll grace to make sport of her at his
club. Lura Joyce had come into possession
of the facts, and from being friendly she
came to be the Captains most relentless
enemy. He had more than once felt what
it was to have this girls hate, and he real
lied that it was no small affair.
Now she had followed him to Lone Hol-
low, aad of course would use her influence
TO cheat him out of the million that would
fall to the fortunate one who married
Grace Penroy. 1t was this fact that gave
the scheming man such uneasiness and vex-
alton.
'Miss Joyce, of what use is it to put your
self forever in my path ~ he finally de-
manded IF you would only show proper
regard for my feelings, would be willing
to cry quits and use sou well in the future
There isn't the least sense in our being
enemies
9 / am your enemy because know you,
Clinton Starbright," she said, grimly ~
know more than you imagine Of the part
you had in tragedy Of year ago. | am
here, for one thing, TO watch you and see that
you take no unfair advantage Of innocence
l suppose you can comprehend that"
Il think / OUGHT
" You haven't spark of honor in yo,Ir
composition" she went on. II can read
you like book. To me your nature is as
transparent as glass. | understand your
motive for coming here; realize the peril
in which the Penroys exist, and let me
tell you at the outset that if you win in
thc,game you are playing you win have to
earn your success
You speak in riddles. Miss Joyce, he
returned, affecting not TO understand her
meaning.
II shall not 1cort that way. at all events,
she retorted.
Again say your language is all rid
die 70 me. would like you TO explain your
self, Miss Joyce
u do not think it is necessary
" You doubt my sincerityan
a 49,