Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-06-20
CHAPTER Xxx.


Captain Starbright started back with 4
wild thrill of alarm at his neart. The voice
| seemed at his very elbow, and in his nerv-
Gus excitement he dropped the glass to the
floor.
1t was shattered, and the poison dissipatcd
over the carpet. Grace lay breathing hotly,
quite as startled as the Captain. Lura had
not as yet dared whisper her suspicious to
the sick girl, and so the accusing voice
frightened Grace almost to fainting.
"What was it?' questioned Grace, after
an instant of terror.
Captain Starbright turned swiftly to tie
door without reply. He realized now that
the warning must have been sent through
the keyhole. He crossed the carpet. turned
the key in the lock and opening the deer
sprang quickly into the upper hall. Not ten
feet distant he saw the form Of q man NOV
ing swiftly away.
He recognized the intruder as Louis
Fngal.
Halt there, you scoundrelr'
But the young hunter evidently wished
to avoid the Captain, and began moving at
swlfter gait. Then the Captain started in
pursuit, resolved on bringing tho fellow to
account for his interference
Down the hall, up flight of narrow
stairs to the garnet the young hunter fed,
and here in the shadows the Captain lost his
enemy. He CROPPED about for fully half an
hour ere he gave up the search.
As he descended tho garnet stairs he
came full upon Lura joyce.
What in the name of all that is lovely
were you doing up yonder, Captain?" the girl
demanded, with a piercing look.
''Did you see him.
''Sec whom:''
''That Internal hunter, Fingalr
'Of course not. Tho young fellow is a
gentleman. VIVA: an idea, TO think of look
ing in 4 garnet for q gentleman friend of
Captain Starbright" and Lura at tho last
INDUCED in an amused and tantalizing
laugh,
Il begin to think so myself" he
answered, striding tiercely away.
Lura hurried swiftly to the sick chamber.
She found Grace alone, tho broken tumbler
on the carpet. Gathering the ragged frag-
ments the girl placed them on the stand,
then resumed her seat beside Grace, who
seemed deeply excited, as her pale cheeks
were flushed, and there was an unusual
glitter of the gray eyes.
''Did you hear itl Do you know?" ques-
toned the sick girl in tremulous accents.
81 know all about it. You had narrow
escape, Grace, but don't worry over 1t now;
the danger is past''
''Dangerl Was it really true
"Ycs, dear. Fingal told me. He is my
friend and yours
''Fingal! Was it he who spoke of-of the
water being poisoned?"
ayes, dear. He has consented to remain
on the premises for q time. The Captain is
bad man, but DO not worry over that
now.'
She sick girl closed her eyes and tried to
collect her scattered thoughts. Il was a
task, however, that she was not likely to
accomplish. When Lucy returned from
Mrs. Penroy, who was still too Ill to leave
her room, Lura repriC2anded her for leaving
Grace alone.
"But Missus Pen sent for me''
'It doesn't matter. want you to remem-
Der and obey n,e,' said Lura Joyce, sharply.
'Deed / win, missus."
''See that YOU do When / am absent
you must go from this room on no erraud
whatever. Will you remember"
"Yes, missus."
Soon after I.ura Joyce was pacing the
upper hall with nervous steps and
thoughtful expression of countenance.
"Why doesn't DR. Cotton comeE' muir
INJURED the girl, impatlently. The time is
ripe for the work, and he assured me that
he would be here before this. l dare not
trust myself away from here now. The
Captain is becoming desperate. He hopes
word would suffer either imprisonment or
death for the CRIME of murder that I
actually believe Starbright himself, or an
accomplice, committed
Uneasy was the heart of Lura.
The day waned and night fell with no
doctor.
In the afternoon Captain Starbright left
the vicinity of Lone Hollow on foot. He,
too, was gloomy and dissatisfied. The i'm
mense fortune lay almost within his grasp,
yet not near enough to seize.
''Lura Joyce has thus far proved my evil
genius" muttered the Captain. Il would
certainly have long since been in undisputed
possession of the Vandible fortune but for
her. Fool that l was to ever pay court to |
such stron minded woman. She follows |
me like a cat, watches and suspects some |
thing wrong always. believe she knows |
that Grace was dying from a subtle poison, |
and has determined to thwart, perhaps to |
crush me. But am too clever to permit a |
girl to corner me. ! will crush her and that |
young hunter, Fingal. He, too, seems to be |
in the league against me. Conf found Gripes |
He ought to have put that will through the
court before this"
The Captain followed the path that led to
the CABRERA cabin. When he reached the |
place he tried the door. It opened to his
touch and he entered. He found the place |
deserted. The Caberas had gone, he knew
not whittier, and he hoped that he might not
see them again. If one of them lived, how
ever, he knew that he might expect q visit
1t the end of six months.
fro BIB CONTINUED