Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-03-07
HOLLOW;
Or, The Peril Of the PenrOys.
A Thrilling and Romantic Story
of Love and Adventure.
By JAMES NJ. MERRILL AUTHOR OF "BoGUs
BILL" FISHER JOE" AND
OTHER STORIES.
Copyright, 1859, By he A. NJ Kellogg NsOs'
paper Compaay.l


"Nobody but fool would do that, Clint
| Starbright,r the woman interrupted. III
would take heap o. sand an soap to wash
your character clean, more'n can afford to
| perduce."
Il suppose you consider yourself immacu-
late''
sOf course do; don't you.'
| There seemed no good TO argue the point:
so Captain Starbrigl made no further re
mark, but walked pack and resumed his
seat. A covert smile about the thin lips OF
the bag proved that he had done nothing
more than she expected. The greater part
of his indignation was simulated, evidently.
'Now, then, will you listen to me in
silence for minute, Mother Caberal''
"I'll make try ont, Cap'n."
"What wish to say is this. If at any
time during the next fortnight an accident
should happen to Miss Lura Joyce no one
would be found 70 mourn, and somebody
would find herself considerably richer in
this worlds goods. You underst andf'
"I've got pretty good perceptive faculties,
Cap'n''
az believe you. am not to be known in
this affair at all; remember that, Mother
Caberan
"Certainlyn
sAnd it must be on accident eptirely,'i
whats the price fur such delightful
workl A girls life ought to be worth a
good deal these times" chuckled the bag,
nnpeasantly.
"A hundred"
"Tushp' she interrupted, angrily. "Do
you take me for common garroter! Not
cent less IN a thousand would tempt me.
Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Cap'n,
dearn
Every well, we will notdispute over the
price,
Again he came to his feet, walked to the
door, hesitated moment, then returned 10
the side of Mother CABRERA.
"Walan
She regarded him with a queer glitter Of
the sunkcn, beady eyes.
"Some of your cough drops, madam.
Could you accommodate me with q small
vial of the stuff"
81 might"
"Then do so and be g7ick about 1t, for ]
must get back to Lone Hollow immediately
The bag held out her withered hand.
"Cross my palm with gold and the elixlr's
yours
He drew from his pocket a gold eagle and
dropped it into her hand. Then she rose,
emitting chuckle, and glided swiftly
to cupboard near and opened il. After
short time spent in fumbling about among
various articles she returned and placed a
small vial filed with colorless liquid in his
hand.
~ had it all ready" she said. 81 reck-
oned you'd be wanting some before long.
The old gent at the Hollers gettin' old,
sand he needs somethin' stimulatini to keep
his gray head above ground. 'Twould be q
pity eff he'd drop of with heart disease
some day. an awful shock to the community
like; eh, Cap'na"
- None of that, you bag of darkness" re-
he, with nervous grip on the deli
cate substance in his hand. 81 will call
again in a short time, Mother CABRERA"
She went with him to the door, and open
ing it saw him pass out into the night. As
he walked silently and swiftly away he
muttered to himself:
"There were no witnesses to our meeting,
and that was as / wished Should any
thing happen, any trouble come of this tina.
hays word would count as nothing against
me. ] am sharp enough not to be caught
in a trap, / flatter myself. Had the ugly
twins been present | should never have
made mention of the object of my visit
never. / am not sure that / shall need the
contents of this vial, but it is well enough
to be prepared. The poison is so subtle as
to defy detection, am told, and il Mother
CABRERA could not concoct such potion no
one in the wide world need attempt it,"
And so the scheming Captain was emf.
nently satisfied. Perhaps he would not
have felt such elation had he looked into
Mother Cabera's cabin ten minutes after
his departure.
The old woman waited a sufficient time
for the Captain to get well on his way, then
she went to one corner Of the room, moved a
large rush mat aside, and STOPPING lifted a
trap-door.
''Come up, children; the coast is clear"
Then head peered above the floor, shay
gy and unkempt, a pair of glittering eyes
peering from under beetling brows, fit mates
to Mother Cabera's.