Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-05-02
NUMBER 10.

was too late 10 uvO,d the blow that fell with
the swifness Of lightning Ia silent
heap the old man of the gulch lay at the
roots Of tree. A stout CLUB ia the hands
Of one Of the twins had doue the work.
Strong arms lifted the silent form and
bore it into the thick woods
third person followed the twins as they
entered the shadows Of the wood. II can not
trust the rascals, I muttercd Captain Star
bright, as he glided swiftly after the twin
assassns
The two men, with their helpless burden.
paused at last beside small pool some
rods in extent the waters OF which were
Swallowed by a thick growth OF cedars. The
ground was swampy about the little lake,
and solemn stiffness seemed part Of the
situation
As the twins deposited their burden ON
the ground near the edge of The water, the
third person passed quickly forward and
stood before them
En-, Cap'n, you here!"
~ am answered Captain Starbright,
grimly. want no deception this time >
Deception. Maybe YOU think"
=" II doesn matter. Let the past 60 " in
terrupted the Captain.
Then he bent and examined the clothing
of the murdered old man
An ejaculation OF disappointment fell
from his lips. He thought perhaps to find
valuable papers, and i'll this he was sorely
disappointed Ii might be that he thought
the missing will was on tne person of the
dead. II was not, however. and hence the
discontinue of the wicked schemer.
One OF the twins was working at some
thing near while the Captain was making
this examination He now came toward,
revealing in his hands heavy stone about
which he had attached stout bucksllin
cord.
This Will forever hide the work, " NUT
tered the brute, as he proceeded TO attach
the weight to the body of his victim.
you are very thoughtful, Hank" said
the Captain, at the same time moving into
the dense shadow where he could watch the
movements Of the twins without being him
self seen
Presently splash and gurgling sound
announced the work complete. The man in
the shadows breathed easier as he saw the
fern of Don Benito sink beneath the waters
of the forest pool. He had nothing to fear
from the mailman CT the gulch. Neverthe-
less he realized that he had placed himself
in dangerous position by employing the
twins to commit murder
He was now IN the power or these two
low villains. His only safety lay in placing
wide distance between the Caberas' and him
self. The Captain would never have vent
ured upon this last tragic work but for the
exigencies Of the case The sudden APP
pearance of one he had supposed long since
dead quite unnerved him He had shown
his hand in the attempt to remove LARA
Joyce from his path, and every step in
crime seemed by fate TO necessitate an
other, 50 that to night he stood a branded
murderer in ths eyes of at least three per-
sons.
1t was highly necessary that he should
speedily get his hand into the rich Golfers
of thesate Morgan Vandible; once thus,
and he felt that he could bid defiance 10 all
danger.
Hurriedly he walked from the spot, ac-
companied by the twins. Once more con-
sultation was held in the front room of the
cabin with Mother CABRERA as one Of the
auditors
1T is for the benehtof all concerned that
you go from this place concluded Captain
after a long and earnest talk.
60 west, anywhere 10 be out OF this
neighborhood.
"A nice plan" caekled Mother Cabrera
"I'm onto your tricks, Cap'n"
"Then you refuse to go.@
no we DON'T put in Hank CABRERA
"Ef you make it pay for us 10 go. we'll an
scond"
"You know will do that"
After little further parley the Captain
placed roll Of bills in the hand OF the WON
an, considerable sum of money, which
at-same future time Starbright promised tn
duplicate many times
'One Of YOU come 10 me again at Lone
Hollow SIX months from this date and you
shall have money enough to make YOU all
answered Captain star
bright.
This seemed to be satisfactory, and the
unsavorv two promised TO depart and re
main away during the time specified, when
one Of them woud return for the promised
money
Thus did Captain Starbright shake the
tools Of his villainy FOR the time He was
ready 10 repent using them but it was too
late to rccede One false step led to an.
other, and now the Captain was on the
highway to what to him seemed grand
Of all his hopes. or 10 utter
ruin.
Nov, then, TO find the will aud make my
self master OF the Vandible Million" NUT
tered Captain Starlight as he walked
hurrindlV on his return 10 Lone Hollow