The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-06-26

save on the gold range. Morgan was ueep-
ly prieyed. For Karrs sake he befriended
Brandon, who now bore the assumed name
Of Starbright-n
wThis is falsep
HSit down., commanded Lura, as the
villain attempted to rise. II won't speak
again, either. A bullet will be the next
compliment you'll getW
White now, with cold sweat standing out
in great drops, the pseudo Captain was
obliged to listen to the remainder OF the
narrative.
Ul,awrence Brandon murdered his trust
ing friend and came East for tine purpose OF
stealing fortune. Had his murderous
blow succeeded, all might even now be wen
with this villain. Karl Vandible was not
killed, however He lived and came East
hut the blow had affected his brain and he
as demented
"Instead of coming to Lone Hollow he
hid in a cave, once counterfelter's resort,
in Hangman's Gulch. Sometimes ne nau
moments Of sanity, but they were OF shorS
duration. He led a hermit life, and Watcheo
to meet Lawrence Brandon. He did meet
him finally, and recognized him. dc nreu
with the intention of taking life. Somehow,
IL seems that Brandon, alias StarDrlght,
lived TO concoctf urther schemes OF villalny,
among them the poisoning Of Grace Penroy,
that he might, through forged Will, seize
upon the million left by Morgan Vandible"
'That will is not a forgery"
sKeep quiet" ordered Lura.
~ have come near to the end OF my
story,n proceeded DIR. Cotton, with the Ut
most gravity. "Before you went TO CAN
fornia you had sought to win the hand OF
Miss Joyce. She read your character and
despised YOU. Afterward, when she learned
! that YOU were at Lone Hollow, she re
solved TO thwart your designs upon the
unsuspecting old man Vandible ana upon
Grace, although at that time she knew noth
ing Of the crime you had committed among
the gold hills OF California.
y disguised as Fingal, the hunter, she ma
heen quite successful in thwarting you
0 yillainy. Your attempt upon her lie OF
two occasions failed signslly. She discov
D erred your attempt to poison her cousin
UBy heayenl this is too much," grate
the Captain, white and trembling, at Tn
same time coming to his feet, rms plo
. arranged between you and TINS shaheies
girl will not succeed. In good faith cam
, here. | ,pds the friend OF Karl Vandlol'
NV name is Starbright, and"
"Do you deny that you attempted hi
lifeln interrupted the doctor.
"I do, most emphatically."
y "You did not strike him down in Cai
forniap
"No"
"You did not set hired assassins on h
Js track but few weeks since, and sink
body in dark pool in the woods"
White, stern, grim as fate was the Ia
of DIR. Arthur Cotton as he put the'
=. questions swiftly TO the trembling man o
fore him.
"N-n-op' faltered Captain Starbrigh
reeling and cringlpg.
"Then, perhaps, you will dare deny the
- things TO another witness"
~ DIR. Cotton turned swiftly and flung wiz
:, the door. Two men crossed the threshol
Captain Starbright glared wildly into q
face OF the foremost man, then he uttered
,o great cry Of agony and terror. The de'
d had indeed come back TO earth to stand as
ID witness against HIM.
ar "Karl Vandible aliver' =,
Then the shattered spirit sank weak
"a and Captain Starbright fell heavily into
a chair, covering his face TO shut out the we
IA Before them stood the man we IA
known as Don Benito, the maniac Nt
a there was the light Of reason glowing IN
:, ayes, vet he was thin and pale, and lean
10 On the arm Of his companion, an officer, !
Of support a.u
- said the wronged Californian In q soler
=, voice. "a blow from your hand cloud
- INV brain and sent me forth dement,
- wanderer upon the earth. A weight
.o years has whelmed me, yet did not fort
10 nor forgive the man who struck that bio
S Is the man l trusted and conhded In only 10
ha murdered, almost, by his treachery'
an aYour last attempt upon my life prov
aa futile as the fret, thanks 10 this brs
ne doctor and his equally brave helper, u
In Joyce. Both we're on hand 70 rescue
nj from the watery grave into whicn y
na. minious had cast me- The stone Or
ssst loose at the outset. was unconscious
NO. some time, and these friends conveyed
II 10 Stonefeld in light vehicle. The sh
10 nv system was terrible, bat 1t served
good turn to restore my reason.
h,s HFrom the hour Of my regaining conscit
r.n @ ness / knew every thing. Ny head is
sore, and am very weak, yet mana
last night 10 astound you on the brink
nm the forest pool, where you had gone TO
;an template your latest villainy. 1had bee
a. the cave after something left there by
Goa and spying you moving toward the pt
- logged your steps and executed
tabIeau that frightened you so that
'ap swooned. From your pocket abstrai
this,n holding up delicate vial, (which
good doctor informs me Is subtle
sne deadly poison. You have used IT.
out brother Morgan died from its effects be
he signed the will, TO which you afterv
eo' afaxed his name. Your race is run, i
70 renee Brandon. You have many muir
'Ono ono to answer for, all to gain million that
.oi, Iii, not for you"
ven AS the man paused Luraheld alofta
IL cd document
y "The last will and testament OF Mo
W Vandible, which leaves all his propert
how Karl, his beloved brother. This viii
an been concealed, and is the only gen
sne document in existence from the han
Morgan Vandible. congratulate you,
80, Vandiblen
., sn starbright dropped his hands and g
s S NJ the paper in hopeless, despairing
O ~, His face was like death itself.
very "And now," said Karl Vaudible, II
nv q the satisfaction OF turning you over V
1ore. custody Of an officer, Lawrence Bran'
not "wait,n cried the culprit, husltil!
n of vandible's companion advanced, displI
a pair OF handsuffs. Then he came :
read feet and shrank back across the
ble.n toward the window.
,ba, "selze himr' cried Lura. "Ther
,wfpl ladder at the window. He will escape
"Halt, STRIP