Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-06-06
NUMBER IS.

| YOU with Tue one COuQlllOn llaL YOU allON
my granddaughter, Grace Penroy, an an
nuity of twenty thousand year after she
comes Of age. | make the stipulation be
cause love the girl, and she has been most
1ldiful and kind to me. You are twenty
gears my junior, and will have ample time
10 enjoy my wealth after am gone. Come
Karl, l am becoming feeble; feeling my
years and infrmities more and more every
day, and wish TO ENJOY your company 9
little while before pass to the other shore.
If you receive this am sure you will not
refuse 10 grant the prayer of your last Of
kim
THAT is the substance Of the letter read
10 Lawrence Brandon by Karl Vandible, y
said DR.. Cotton. land it was that letter that
influenced Brandon to commit an awful
crime"
"What is this to meln demanded Captain
Starbright, CURLY. II can not remain ~
"But you must remain" declared Lura,
with seeming malicious satisfaction. And
he did
"The reading of that letter set evil
thoughts at work in the brain OF Lawrence
Brandon proceeded the doctor. "He
suddenly conceived the idea OF winning the
Vandible million for himself. Karl ex-
pressed determination to return to the
accompany him The two set out from the
mining camp together; but one OF them
reached cramento-Lawrence Brandon.
In the night time he stole up behind his
companion, dealt him murderous blow
from behind, and then, after making sure
Of his death, he hurled the body into a
gulch and fastened on his way. will be
brief for time is speeding Brandon came
TO the States and finally ensconced himself
at Lone Hollow. He told of his friendship
for Karl, Morgan's brother, and Of how he
had been with him when he died in a lonely
cave on the gold range Morgan was deep
ly grieved For Karl's sake he befrended
Brandon, who now bore the assumed name
Of Starbright-n
This is falser'
"Sit DOWN. commanded Lura, as tae
villain attempted to rise. II won't speak
again, either. A bullet will be the next
compliment 7ou'll get!"
White now, with cold sweat standing out
in great drops, the pseudo Captain was
obliged to listen TO the remainder OF the
narrative
Lawrence Brandon murdered his trust
ing friend and came East for the purpose OF
stealing fortune Had his murderous
blow succeeded, all might even now be we'll
with this villain. Karl Vandible was not
killed, however He lived and came East,
but the blow mad affected his brain and he
was demented.
Instead OF comiag to Lone Hollow he
hidSn q cave, once a counterfelter'S resort,
in. Hangman's Gnsch. Sometimes he had
moments of sanity, hut they were Of short
duration. He led hermit life, and watched
tomeet Lawrence Brandon. He did meet
hinsfnaAy,.a and recognized him. He fired
withSthe intention of taking life. Somehow,
it seems that Brandon, alias Starbright,
livedsto concoct further schemes Of villainy,
among them the poisoning Of Grace Penroy,
that'he might, through a forged will, seize
upNlsthe million left by Morgan Nandible.'
''That will is.not forgery"
"Keep quiet" ordered Lura
IL have come near to the end of my
story proceeded DR.. Cotton, with the ut
most gravity. Before you went to Cali
fornia you had sought to win the hand Of
MissJoyce. 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 and upon
Grace. although at that time she knew moth
ing of the crime you had committed among
the gold hills of California.
disguised as Fingal, the hunter, she has
been quite successful in thwarting your
villainy. Your attempt upon her life on
two occasions failed signally. She discov-
cred your attempt to poison her cousin"
"By heavenl this is too much," grated
the Captain, white and trembling, at the
same time coming to his feet. This plot
arranged between you and this shameless
girl will not succeed. In good faith / came
here. / icds the friend Of Karl Vandible
My name is Starbright, and"
"Do you deny that you attempted his
life?" interrupted the doctor
lido, most emphatically."
"You did not strike him down in Cali
fornia?n
"Non
"You did not set hired assassins on his
track but few weeks since, and sink his
body in dark pool in the woodsp'
White, stern, grim as fate was the face
of DR.. Arthur Cotton as he put these
questions swiftly TO the trembling man be-
fore him.
"N-n-or' faltered Captain Starbrght,
reeling and cringing
"Then, perhaps, you will dare deny these
things to another witness
Dr. Cotton turned swiftly and flung wide
the door. Two men crossed the threshold
Captain Starbright glared wildly into the
face Of the foremost man, then he uttered a
great cry of agony and terror The dead
had indeed come back 10 earth 70 stand as a
witness against him.
"Karl Vandible aliver'
Then the shattered spirit sank weakly
and Captain Starbright fell heavily into his
chair, covering his face to shut out the view.
Before them stood the man we have
| bn ma
there was the light-of reason glowing in his
eyes, yet he was thin and pale, and leaned
on.the arm OF his companion, an officer, for
support.
~ am not dead, Lawrence Brandon, ,
said the wronged Californian, in a solemn
voice 4" A blow from your hand clouded
my brain and sent me forth a demented
wanderer upon the earth A weight Of
years has whelmed me, yet did not forget
nor forgive the man who struck that blow
the man 1 trusted and confded in only to be
murdered, almost, by his treachery.
Your last attempt upon my life proved
as futile as the first, thanks to this brave
doctor and his equally brave helper, Lura
Joyce. Both were on hand to rescue me
from the watery grave into which your
minions had cast me. The stone broke
loose at the outset. ! was unconscious for
some time, and these friends conveyed me
to Stonefield in light vehicle. The shock
to my system was terrible, bat il served the
good turn TO restore my reason
"From the hour Of my regaining conscious.
ness knew every thing My head is yet
sore, and am very weak, yet managed
last night 70 astound you on the brink Of
the forest pool, where you had gone 70 con-
template yourlatest villainy. had been to
the.cave after something left there by me-
and spying you moving toward the pool
| logged your steps and executed a little
tableau that frightened you so that you
swooned. From your pocket distracted
this, holding up delicate vial, (which the
good doctor informs me is subtle and
deadly poison You have used it,. MY
| brother Morgan died from its effects before
he signed the will TO which you afterward
affixed his name. Your race is run, Law
| renee Brandon. You have many murders
to answer for, all 10 gain million that was
not for you"
As the man paused Lura held alofta fold
ed document
1.-THE last Will and testament Of Morgan
Vandible, which leaves all his property TO
| Karl, his beloved brother This will has
been concealed, and is the only genuine
document in existence from the hand Of
| Morgan Vandible. congratulate you, Mr.
| VaDdible."
Starbright dropped his hands and glared
at the paper in hopeless, despairing way