Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-02-21
LONE HOLLOW:
Or, The Peril Of the PenroyS.
A Thrilling and Romantic Story
OF Love and Adventure.
By JAMES NJ. MERRILL, AUTHOR OF "BoGU
BILL" FISHER JOE" AND
OTHER STORIES.
lCopyrigAt, 1889, By the A. ~ Kellogg Nes0s.
paper C0n.pGny.1
CHAPTER I.
BAFFLRD TRAMPS.

BAFFLHD TRAMPS.
"Help-helpr'
It was woman's cry, and rang out in
piteous terror through the aisles Of the dim
old woods.
A young girl stood with her back against
the trunk of tree, with extended hands, q
look Of terror on her white, beautiful face.
At her feet lay strewn a mass of forest
flowers, some Of them partially woven into
q wreath.
The object Of the girls terror was re-
vealed in the form of man. black and fierce
looking, with bushy beard, uncouth dress
and the swagger of q low-bred ruffian. He
had pushed his way suddenly into the mar
row glade occupied by the young girl, and
it was low chuckle from his lips that
caused her to start to her feet
s.(;ome here an let me kiss you, pretty, {"
uttered the man.
Then he began to move toward her. It
was at this moment that she gave utter
ance to the cry of alarm that opens our
story.
The man was stranger to Grace Penroy,
and his forbidding aspect quite frightened
her. even aside from his threatening wordA
"Don't touch me, sir" pleaded Grace. in
low voice. She was too deeply terrified
now to speak loudly or to cry out as she had
done at the outset.
"Go fur her, EGll. I'n stand foyer back.
Kiss her, and then we'llsee what's next to
pe did,
And then second man, far worse-look-
ing than the frst, pushed into view. He
was ragged, dirty and blear-eyed, his sandy
hair and beard not having made the &C
parently. They were certainly as in-look-
ing pair Of tramps as one would meet
within a Thousand miles Journey.
Grace Penroy was now too frightened to
utter q word Her blood seemed to freeze
In her veins, and chill stole over every
nerve, rendering her rigid and motionless
as statue.
A grunt of satisfaction fell from the lips
Of the man addressed as Bill, and with q
quick stride he stood at the side OF the
startled girl.
"Helpl'
A cry did come to the pallid lips, but this
only served to enrage the vicious tramp.
He grated his teeth and shook her fercely.
"pn parn ye," no Kissed, at tho same time
drawing the paralyzed girl toward him.
That moment was an awful one to poor
Grace Penroy. A fate worse than death
stared her in the face. She remembered
then the prophesy of an old gypsy that the
family OF Penroy was destined to go down
in woe to final extinction. She could see
the wrinkled, hideous face Of the bag proph-
etess, and it took on the outlines of the
tramp's wicked countenance.
"Don't yell If you don't want to dier'
Kissed the ruffian, drawing her, unresist-
ing now, toward him. His hyenical grin
was repulsive. His breath famed her
cheek. She was ready to faint with fright
when an interruption came that was both
startling and unexpected.
A sullen thud. awful in ito distinctness,
fell on the ear Of Grace Penroy. The clutch
on her arm suddenly relaxed and the giant
tramp sank, limp as dishrag. at her feet
Grace reeled and clutched q small sapling
for support. At her feet lay the rufaan,
with blood upon his black countenance. A
heavy object had shot from q tree-top upon
his head. that object now lying beside him
"a short, silver-mounted rife, the butt OF
which had done deadly work.
Tho second tramp was startled.
He glanced about in evident alarm, but.
seeing no one, made q sudden move to seize
the rifle. He not quick enough to &C
conplish his design, however. Adark form
shot through the leaves and stood beside the
prostx1te tramp-a youth of slender form,
who snatched the rife from its resting
place and presented the muzzle at the breast
Of tho discounted tramp.
slf you don't care to die, you will move
or"
There was . low sternness in the voice
that was effective. Tramps are proverbially
towards. and this one was no exception.
He retreated suddenly, and began to beg
for mercy.
~Don't stop to beg" cried the boy, sheer
lnSfy. "The country has no use for such
germin, and had as lief shoot you as not
Goi'
Tho scoundrei waited to hear no more,
but wheeled and fed at the top OF his
speed. Then the rescuer OF female limo
oenon faced Grace PouroY.
He w. handsome youth Of apparently