Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-03-21
CHAPTER XII.
A THANKLEss CHILD.

looking for the body Of that spitfrre gal"
Mother CABRERA gave vent to peculiar
grating laugh that sounded harsh.y in the
ears of Captain Starbright.
'sThat is the truth, Mrs. Cabrera" as
sured the Captain. ''Your son Hank tells
me that terrible accident happened, re-
sulting in the death of my esteemed friend,
Miss Joyce. The whole country is aroused,
and it is highly necessary that the truth be
known. Miss Penroy and her grandfather
are nearly distracted with grief. Since we
did not find the body / am not sure tnas
Lura Joyce is dead" =
"You would like to know that she isl"
Captain Starbright cast quick glance at
the second twin, who lounged on she floor
near, with pipe between bis red jaws, and
said
"On the contrary, 1 should be GLAD TO
know that she is alive. 1t grieves me sorelg
to think harm has come to one vino was my
friend"
"The spitire gal was your friend? "
The beady eyes of the bag pierced him
like twin dirks.
"The best friend had in the world" as
serted Captain Starbright, with apparent
feeling.
| He had confided only in the bag, and was
not yet ready to place himself at the mercy
of the two ruffians who we-.e supposed to
| be the sons of Mother CABRERA. He had
evinced too much feeling in the presence OF
Hank, he feared, and resolved to be more
| careful in the future.
After moment Of silence Mother CABRERA
| stepped to the Captains side and touched
his arm.
J "Ccme with me, Captain" she whispered
| in his ear. Then she crossed to one corner
| of the room and slipped aside a mat re
vealing a trap-door.
/ Seizing candle that stood near she lifted
the trap and stepped through the aperture
thus exposed.
Was there danger in followings
Captain Starbright was not ready to trust
these people fully. He knew that his life
! would not be worth picay1ne should the
inmates of the gulch cabin deem it money
in pocket TO take it. He had gone too far
4 now to recede, however, and so, making
4 sure of his weapon, he followed the bag Il
n the cellar below.
\ AS the trap closed above them Mother
CABRERA said:
" 81 knew you was embarrassed up there
afore the boys, so thought / would brint
you here where you could speak freely"
She flashed the blaze of her candle aoou
the room, a small, square apartment, VIII
but the damp earth for floor. Some boxes
and barrels stood about, and on one OF thu
former Mother CABRERA seated her gaun
form.
81 s'pose you was expectin' this acciden
little sooner2"
mo. / had nearly forgotten about it. 1
was an accident, thenW
ut looks that way"
ut is very sad am sorry that the bod!
was taken away. There seems to be SOM
mystery about it,"
A low chucl1le answered. him
otis plains the nose on yer face, Captain
Starbright."
sWhat do you meant"
Il attended to the body. l was dow
while the boys was away and fetched u
poor gal up an planted her here"
The Lideous nag indicated with tap OF he
foot the center of the room, which SCENE
a little higher than the surrounding ground
"Good heavensi Do you mean that Lur
Joyce's dead body lies here under our YER
feeti' cried the Captain, his face white an
CHASTITY in the dim light
THAT'S it exactly. Hold the candle
mlnnit and I'll show ye proof
Mother CABRERA thrust the candle into III
hand and going to the side Of the room III
; "a a spade that leaned against the stones
and began digging in the center Of the &c
| lar. .
1 sNo, no; that will do" cried the Captain
q a clammy sweat oozing out on his face
: the spade struck something oeneatn %
I surface with a thud that was sickening.
slBe you satisfied It won't take u
: NOR a minnit-"
} sNo, want no further proof" groane
, the wicked Captain 4 am assured I'M
,,,or Iura Joyce is dead. Let US 20 up."
FRO BE CoNTINUE