Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-30
ats with MORE" she said, harshly.

'Give me hundred dollars. don't sur
render valyble papers like this fur nothin'
short of that figure.'
"See here, madam, if did the proper
thing it would be to put you under arrest
for stealing this paper. l don't propose to
compound a felony by rewarding you for it. ~
''But didn't steal it,
''Not a word. Go, or I'll put you under ar
rest" retorted Seekmore Gripes, sternly.
Mother CABRERA realized that she had sold
out dirt cheap" She had permitted the
paper to go out of her hands, and now i,
was too late to make demands. Accepting
the paltry reward, she turned and shuffied
from the room, dropping her vail as she
did so.
So" muttered Seekmore Gripes, as he
went to the window and examined the pre-
cious document. ''This was stolen by that
old woman for the purpose Of extorting
| money. She didn't make fortune out OF
me, the poor fool. 1t takes somebody
mighty sharp to get the start of Seekmore
Gripes.n
He chuckled at the last. and then made
preparations to go out, secreting the will
On his person.
4 little later he might have been seen
driving out of the city on the road leading
past Lone Hollow.
In the meantime Captain Starbright
drove swiftly from the city, and q little past
noon halted at the gate next the stables at
Lone Hollow. Soon the stable-boy grinned
at him from the open door of the stable.
Here you, SAM called the Captain in
peremptory voice, put out my horses,
rub 'em down and feed well as soon as they
are ccol.'
The darl1ey only grinned without NOV.
ing.
Aren't you coming, you black rascal.''
demanded Captain Starbright, angrily
g Deed, Cap'n, mistis said / wasn't to
permit your bosses in de stables again, -
finally articulated the black boy, the grin
fading from his face when he saw the
wrath gathering in the countenance of the
Captain.
Not to permit my horses in these stables
Your mistress said that"
Deed she did, Cap'n."
miss Grace!"
'No, Capn: Mistis Penroy.'
"We'l see about that" muttered the
angry Captain under his breath. Mrs.
PenrOy shows her hand early"
He sprang to the ground and went about
caring for his animals with his own hands.
Sam said nothing, although he realized that
he was just now between two fires, a po-
sition not enviable by any means.
''Now, you black rascal, you can go!''
Numbered Captain Starbright, turning
fercely upon the stable boy. Il am master
here, and, since you refuse to obey me, I'll
employ you no longer.'
AS the speaker reached out to seize the
black boy by the collar that individual dart
ed away and scampcred to the rear of the
house, thus eluding for the time the hand of
punishment
With frowning brow Captain Starbright
strobe toward the house, only to meet
Louis Fingal on the veranda. The young
hunter was smiling and apparently i'll Il
pleasant mood, which fact annoyed the Cap
tain more than a frown would have done.
'That boy seems to cross my path every
whereof was the mental ejaculation of the
Captain.
what are you doing here?" demanded
Starbright, in a curt tone.
II am privileged character" answered
Fingal. II might with more propriety put
the same query to you"
Captain Starbright was boiling beneath
the surface. He had been crossed so many
times that now he was fast losing his tenn
per.
"Confound you!" he said, hoarsely. q"
believe you are leagued against me with
that woman, but
"Just :vord,'' interrupted the imper-
turbable young hunter. 'How about the
strange gentleman who frightened You SO
in Stonefield few days sinces You re-
member him."
mo"
1.-THE fellow that stared at US through
the window. Surely you haven't forgotten
that"
"No. He had escaped from an insane
asylum. His look was enough to frighten
anybody" and the Captain forced laugh
You met him agains'
eyes. A dangerous lunatic whom
turned over to the proper authorities. He
is now in an asylum from which he is not
likely to escape sOon."
"Now, Captain Starbright, do you expect
me to believe that!"
Fngal bent forward and pierced the
guilty Captain with eyes of steel. A throb
of alarm swept to the villains heart.
81 do not care-'
"Eut do" interrupted the youth, stern
ly. 1.-THE blood of Karl Vandblc cries out
err'
"Ha, do you accuse me"
81 accuse you of MURDER" Kissed Fingal.
The next instant q set of dlgits closed
about the young hunters throat, and he
was forced backward, gasping for breath.
CHAPTER XIII
THE WIDOWS DEFIANCE.
All the evil passions of Captain Star
bright's nature mastered him at that mo-
ment. Both men had made 4 mistake Fin
gal in accusing the Captain of murder, and
the latter in resentinS the accusation as he
did. Conscious guilt, however, made the
Captain a coward.
In vain Fingal struggled under the ter
rible grip of Starbright. He was as babe
in the hands Of q giant. He could not even
cry out for help, and had not a third person
appeared on tho scene at that moment the
angry Captain might have perpetrated MUIR
der then and there.
As Fingal was sinking down helplessly
door opened aud some one appeared on