Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-04-04

| Is at the bottom Of the theft and I'll turn
my attention to him Immediately. Poo
fool! He viii ind that he can not tampel
with my plans with impunity.n
| In tho meantime tho person who hai
brushed against the Captain and pressed thu
note into his hand hurried down the street
without once looking behind him. At thu
| intersection of another street he turned
| down and moved with rapid strides toward
| that part Of tho little city bordering ON {
river. He entered an alley-way, passed
through side door and up fight Of
| stairs, opening another door, admitting hin
into a small, dimly lighted apartment, occu
pied by two persons
"Ah, the gondolier has returnedrs
/ A slender figure advanced, and, as thu
| light from above falls On his face, we rec
ognize the well-known features Of Loui.
Fingal.
"Ayer' exclaimed tho last conner. In 6
shrill. unpleasant voice. 1.-THE henchman Of
the Doge comes. Benito has not been K
the palace in vain," ut tho same time way
ing folded paper over his head.
''Sit down, Benito," ordered Eingal, in 6
gentle, yet authoritative tone. s1 have talked
the matter over with our friend Austin, an6
he seems to agree with US that the Doge
must be ovcrthrown."
"Goodl Come forward, Austin, and let III
The third man stepped forward.
It was Austin Wentword, the young me
chanic. He was well clad, and there was 6
look of interest manifest on his frank, hand
some face. He had been in deep trouble
during the past few weeks on account Of
his quarrel with Grace. To-day, however,
change had come over the cnirit Of his
dreams.
Louis Fingal was the magician who had
1~~x1 4 ~ &c. u
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,'' assorted the young
hunter. and then he entered into an ex.
PLANTATION that confirmed all that he assert
ed. So we find the young mechanic ready
to enter into plans for the defeat of the
scher1ing Captain.
The third member Of the trio was a curl.
osity. Ho 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 deep-set, dark
eyes. His beard. almost white, reached be
low his waist, and tho thin hair was also
long, though nicely combed and oiled. The
cheeks were thin and hollow, and every
movement of the man indicated unsteadi.
daze. His dress was of the coarsest ma
terial, yet well fitting and remarkable for
it's neatness.
"Is the council ready to hear the report
Of the grand chamberlaln?'' questioned
this strange man, gazing about the room as
though it were filed with people.
eve are ready answered Fingal. Then
he turned to Wentword and whispered:
"There is method in his madness, I am
n
and"
"Listen to Don Benito's report" cried
the strange old man, moving his hand sew
eral times over the heads of his compan-
ions.
1--WE listen, Don Benito.'' uttered Fingal,
with the most wonderful gravity.
81 here produce wonderful document
that came into my possession this night
through strange combin alton of circum-
folded legal-lookng document and un-
rolling it. 1.-THE last will and testament OF
Morgan Vandible."
"Whati Is it possible?"
Fingal started and bent quickly over the
document in the hand of the demented old
man. It was indeed what Don Benito had
read.
Scarcely had an exclamation Of astonish-
ment fallen from Fingaps lipsj when loud
rap Tell ON Cn0 door, ana q VOICE cr1eC
sternly:
"Open in the name of the lawi"
CHAPTER XVI
THE STARTLED HEIRESS.
As may be supposed, the inmates OF the
room were not a little startled at this unex-
pected summons from without.
"What shall we dog" whispered Went
word.
IS vel fbere,a +ho rr1h ,1tteref7 Fin cal
in dramatic voice.
"Wll you open or must force the doora'
demanded the voice from without.
"Neither one, hope,'' returned Fingal
spray, who are you, and what do you want
with peaceable citizensa'
81 have warrant for every one of you, ,
"There must be some mistake" ASSERTED
Wentword. So 8
"Hist!" exclaimed Don Benito, his deep