The Iola register., 1889-05-17

picked from the moor INTO the keyhOle.
He then made a discovery.
The hole had been stoutly pluggedi
Something surely was wrong He grasped
the knob and shook the door.
No answer from within.
A chill shot to the heart Of Fingal He
called the name Of Lucy and Of Grace, but
received no answer. A terrible fear op
pressed the young hunters heart as he
turned from the door and hurried to the
stairs. He sped down these, three steps at
time, and came near landing in the arms
Of the colored maid.
hoarsely. "who is with Gracer'
"Miss Lura, l 'spect."
"I do not believe il"
"But left her dar-"
"Something is wrong" interrupted Fin
| gal, seizing and shaking the maid furiously.
"You haven't been faithful. girl. The door
to Grace's room is locked. Have you the
| key'"
"Deed, marse. l hasn't
Fingal stood irresolute for one moment
then sprang to the outer door, opened 1t
and passed out into the night. He hast
ened to the side of the building, to spot
| where light glimmered from an upper
window, the window Of Grace Penroy's
| room.
For an instant the young man stood
| irresolute; then, seeming to remember
| something, he sped TO the rear of the old
| house and in less than minute returned
bearing in his hands ladder. 1t was but
| short work to place this up against the
side Of the house.
1t Just reached the window-sill.
moment later the young hunter was
| mounting swiftly upward. He soon gained
the top and although the curtains were
drawn he found a crevice through which
he could peer into the room.
What he saw caused him to start and
nearly fall from the ladder. His hands
clinched the stone sill until the blood
| seemed ready to burst from beneath the
| nails.
In the center Of the room stood Captain
Starbright, with q look on his face that
| was actually terrifying. 1t was only with
the utmost effort that Fingal held himself
from falling.
The Captains hat lay on the floor. His
| coat was of, his arms bare to the elbows,
and he was evidently meditatinE some
, terrible deed. Fingal saw him move toward
| the bed, gaze for one moment at the placid
face of the apparently sleeping girl, then
| bend forward with the look of a fiend, and
twine his fingers about the throat Of his
| unsuspecting victim.
"Great heaven he would strangle herr
gasped Fingal hoarsely, almost losing his
hold in the intensity OF his horror. With a
mighty effort he steadied himself. seized
| the sash, lifted it swiftly and plunged head
long into the room.
The noise and the unexpected appearance
of the hunter startled the would-be assas-
sin from his work, and he at once turned
his attention to the newcomer. He glared
an instant in evident alarm, then. with an
| imprecatiou, sprang at theyouth as he came
to his feet.
"Murdererr' cried Fingal
"Ha! the internal hunter sneak. I'll
throttle you for this ~ and Captain Star
bright, evidently completely mastered by
rage and fear, sprang with the fury of a
mailman at the throat of his unwelcome
visitor.
Together the two went to the floor in
struggle for the mastery At the same
time a wild scream filed the room. Grace
Weakened by the combat, was terribly
frightened, and it was her voice that filed
the old house with its piercing notes of
alarm.
Fingal struggled desperately, but seemed
to be no match for the infuriated Captain.
"rIl throttle YOUR Kissed Starbnght
"You have meddled with me and my affairs
for the last time.''
At this. moment the long black hair or
Fingars head came into the clutches of
Starbright, another moment and his locks
were free from the head of his antagonist.
With great cry Captain Starbright came
to his feet, quickly followed by the hunter
A hand tried the door, and voice without
demanded admittance. Unheeding this the
Captain stood staring at Fingal His
astoundment seemed too full for words
And no wonder.
Before him stood, in the person Of FingA,
another person entirely. There was no mis-
taking that face, the pug nose, with mus
tache brushed aside, that dancing, red
foretop.
"Lura Joyce, as Iver' exclaimed the
astouuded Captain.
The girl regarded him with folded arms,
breathing short her eyes flashing, her
white teeth cleaning. She felt herself
mistress Of the situation. Her hand shot
forward suddenly, bright object gleam-
ing at the end.
"Your race is run, Captain Starbriehtr
she uttered lowly yet fiercely. "Stand
ostNc, WISH W Opcu snc uUOf
He seemed to have no desire to thwart
her wishes while cooked revolver was
pointed toward his breast, and so he obeyed
without word He glanced at the bed L
note the fact that Grace had tainted.
With some difficulty Lura turned the key
and admitted DR.. Arthur Cotton.
"A!oner' uttered Lura-
WATT
M oil "a oil
tain Starbright then st the girl He
seemed astonished to 6nd her in male attire,
and Lura fancied she saw look Of semi
disgust on his grave face.
81 can explain, Arthur"
1T doesn't matter" he uttered, shortly
My business is with Clinton Starbright
l suppose you recognize me. Captain"
Stsrbright had recovered his composure,
and stood with folded arms regarding the
doctor from under frowning bruws.
Il suppose do. You are the gentleman
who pretends to knowledge Of medicine
DR. Coltou''
sThe same"
''But let me tell you," grated the Captain,
with angry vehemeuce, Il have permitted
your interference here to the cost of life.
Look yonder at your work. You shall suffer
for this-thls murde-.'
He pointed to the bed.
Quickly DR.. Cotton stepped to the side Of
Grace and bent over the wasted form A
moment thus, then he faced the inmates Of
the room once more. 'She has tainted. II
is better so for the present Should she die
you will have another murder to answer
for. know that you have been systematic
ally poisoning this girl"
That is falseI'
Don't interrupt me-" said the doctor,
with strange calmness, no trace Of emotion
on his grave face. Il made a discovery not
long since that startled and shocked ne be