The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-04-24
ecretly resolved on revenge at some future


At the same moment the Captain felta
hand touch his. As the stranger swept on
Captain Starbright felt a bit Of folded pa
pc in his palm. tH tt-ll
Quickly he turned about and called after
the pedestrian. No answer was vouchsafed
Then the Captain FASTENED on until tho
rays Of street lamp greeted his vision.
Under this he paused, and consulted the
paper so strangely thrust into hls possession.
"CLINToN SrARBRIGnT: The storm you
have invoked will soon burst. / give you
fair warning that you may be on the defen-
sive Nothing You can now do will save
you from the gallows you have dared to
win the Vandible millions The old million
aire left a will, mt the one to which his
name was forged-you are left out in the
cold. A FORMER FRIEND"
The,note puzzled and enraged the Captain.
HIS thoughts reverted at once TO the person
who had once before thrust note Of warn
ing into his handouts Fingal Doubtless
his hand was in this although the penman-
ship was not similar.
"By my soulrn CALCULATED Captain Star
bright, US he continued on his way, ''this
note inspires me with new hope, can see
the hound that is working against me. l
am not the only one who seeks 10 win the
| Vandible millions. Who Is that otherl Not
Mrs Penroy; no no; but that greasy me-
chanic. Wentword, and this young LOUIS
Fingal is in league with him.. 1t is plain
enough now. Tho boorish mechanic has
more wit than gave him credit for. This
note was written TO frighten me and leave
every thing to him. II won't work. l will
not be frightened from the track. / have
| gone too far for that-too many lives lie
under my feet
Then the Captain thought Of the mention
| of the forged will In the note he had just
received.
81 can only account for that on the sup
position that 1t was done out of mere bra
vado. No one saw the forgery. Wentword
is at the bottom of the theft, and Ill turn
my attention TO him Immediately. Poor
fool! He will find that he can not tamper
with my plans with impunity."
In the meantime the person who had
brushed against the Captain and pressed the
note into his hand buried down the street
without once looking behind him. At the
intersection OF another street he turned
down and moved with rapid strides toward
that part OF the little city bordering on q
river. He entered an alley-way, passed
through a side door and up flight Of
stairs, opening another door, admitting him
into u small, dimly-lightcd apartment, occu-
pied by two persons
"Ah, the gondolier has returnedw
A slender figure advanced, and, as the
light from above falls on his face, we rec
og ize the wcll-l5uown features OF Louis
Fingal.
"Ayew exclaimed the last conner, In q
shrill unpleasant voice "The hcnchman Of
tho Doge comes. BeniiO has not been TO
the palace in vain," at the same time wav-
ing folded paper over his head.
''Sit down, Benitor ordered Fingal, in q
| gentle, yet authoritative tone. ~ have talked
| the matter over with our friend Austin, and
| he seems TO agree with us that the Doge
must be overthrown."
"Goodi Come forward, Austin, and let US
| view your kindly countebance.p
The third man stepped forward.
II was Austin Wentword, the young me-
chanic. He was well clad, and there was o
look OF interest manifest on his frank, hand
some face. He had been In deep trouble
during the past few weeks on account Of
|
a change had come over the spirit Of his
J dreams.
Louis Fingal was the magician who had
worked tho transformation, and made the
warm blood TO flow with its wonted fervor
through the veins OF young Wentword.
"Grace still loves you, but Captain Star.
bright has planned your ruin and the pos
session OF the heiress," asserted the young
hunter, and then he entered into an ex-
| PLANTATION that confirmed all that he assert
ed. 80 we find the young mechanic ready
| TO enter into plans for the defeat Of the
scheming Captain.
The third member Of the trio was a curl.
osity. He had removed his hat and stood
plainly revealed.
Above the medium height, with high,
noble brow, he would have been handsome
but for the wild look in the deepset, dark
eyes. His beard, almost white, reached be.
low his waist, and the thin hair was also
long, though nicely combed and oiled. The
cheeks were thin and hollow, and every
movement OF the man indicated unsteadl-
ness Of thought; that his mind was in o
daze. His dress was OF the coarsest ma
terial, yet well fitting and remarkable for
It's neatness.
as the council ready 10 hear the report
OF the grand chamberlain questioned
this strange man, gazing about the room as
though II were filled with people.
ave are ready answered Fingal. Then
he turned TO Wentword and whispered:
"Therc is method In his madness, am
sure, He has suffered some great wrong,
and" -
"Llsten 10 Don Benito's report" cried
the strange old man, moving his hand sew
eral times over the heads OF his compan.
ions.
ave listen, Don Benito," uttered Fingal,
with the most wonderful gravity.
III here produce wonderful document
that came into my possession this night
through q strange combination Of circum-
Stances" said the old man, drawing forth
folded legal-loolhng document and un-
rolling IT, ''The last will and testament Of
Morgan Vandible."
"Whati Is IL possible,"
Fingal started and bent quickly over the
document In the hand Of tho demented old
man. II was indeed what Don Benito had
read.
Scarcely had an exclamation OF astonish.
ment fallen from Fingal's lips when loud
rap fell on the door, and voice cried
sternly:
"open in the name Of the lawp
CHAPTER XVI
THE STARTLED HETREsS
AS may be supposed, the inmates OF the