Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-05-02
LONE HOLLOW:
Of, The Peril Of the PenroyS.
a Thrilling and Romantic Story
OF Love and Adventure.
o1 JAMES NJ. MERRILL, AUTHOR OF "DoGUS
BILL" FISHER JOE" AND
OTHER STORIES
1Copyri1A, 1889, 6y the A. " EelloJg Neacs-
paper Con,pdny.1
CHAPTER Xu.-CoSr1S1-Ep.

CHAPTER XH-CONTINUED.
His brain was in whirl, and he was not
at case by any means. Hank CABRERA had
seen his hand and might prove dangerous
In the time 70 come.
-" 1 fear that forgot prudence when let
so much be known to that low scoundrel, ("
unused the Captain; ''but then what can it
matter! do not believe that the body of
the dead girl will ever be found. She was
only a poor orphan any how, and the hub
bub will soon die out. Once 1 step into old
Vandible's shoes I can defy the world.
Money is the lever that moves all mankind,
and with that / am utterly SAFE have
gone too far now to recede. My hand is laid
at the root of the tree and will proceed to
the contamination. have the subtle poison
and that must do its work at once.
"1t's lucky Wentword did not get that
letter. I'll answer it myself, or send some
thing to widen the breach between Grace
and the mechanic"
1t did seem that every thing worked to
the success of the scheming Villains plans.
When Captain Starbright reached Lone
Hollow at a late hour in the evening he was
met with the announcement from Grace
that her grandfather was i'll and in bed.
81 hope he is not seriously SICK" said the
Captain.
TROUBLES do not como singly," returned
aught else, over the disappearance Of Lura,
that has Frustrated grandpa"
"Old people are apt to borrow trouble.
will go up and see the old man if you will
permit it."
"Certainly. You may be able to cheer
him up bit Amy news from Luras"
None. You have heard monet"
''Not word. / am looking for the worst
now" declared Grace, in q tremuIous voice
Ra E,-ro Ioo- !, l..
tender, hopeful voice. II am not yet will
ing to give up hope.'
Grace turned away, ready to cry, and the
Captain hurried at once to the spacious bed
room on the first floor allotted to old Morgan
Vandible. It was the largest room of the
kind in the house. The furniture was
massive, and of ancient pattern, the huge,
high-posted bedstead reminding one of Noah
and his ark.
The curtains about the bed were pushed
back, and a gray, sunken face lay among
the pillows. The old man was breathing
heavily and grooming.
''Do be quiet, father, you aren't half as
bad off as you pretend"
1t was Mrs. Penroy who uttered the
words. She sat some distance from the
bed, rocking gently, and ,agitating the air
about her thin face with huge feather
fan, seemingly utterly Indifferent to the suf-
ferings of the sick old man.
"Tm going to die, 1 tell you," groaned
Mr.. Fandible. 81 guess know how I feel.
You haven't any heart, Martha, and never
her cent. She's Penroy, every inch of
her, Heaven bless the grill My children
were all bad, the last one of 'em-''
"Just like their father, anyhow" inter
rupted the widow, spitefully.
A groan alone answered the heartless
words of heartless daughter.
1t was true, as the old man had asserted,
Grace Penroy was like her father, gentle,
kind and true, and it was these qualities
that had endeared the golden-haired girl to
the old millionaire. 1t was undoubtedly
true, also, that had his grandchild been
like her mother she would never have been
mentioned in connection with an inherit
ance.
Captain Starbright advanced and stood
by the bed. The moment the old man saw
hirp his countenance frightened.
Il am glad you have come, Captain.
amgoing to die, and need your advice"
81 hope it is not so bad as that" said the
Captain, as he drcw a chair beside the
couch and sat down.
SIT is just that bad, }" declared Mr.. Vandi-
BILE. ''Send her out, will you'"
OF course, this last referred to Mrs. PEN
With a toss of her head the woman rose
to go.
Don't let him make fool of you, Captain
,Starbright, as he has done of every body
else about this house."
With this parting shot the woman was
gone:
declared Mr.. Vandible. the moment Mrs.
Penroy was gone, ''and want your advice"
"About what!"
"About making will"
tsIrdeedp
The Captain was interested at once.
81 want to ask you whom / had best en-
ploy about drawing it up. l want it good
and solid, to hold water, for don't want
any body picking flaws with it after am
dead"
mo, of course not. Haven't you good
lawyers"
"No Ineyer patronized them. I man
aged to get on well enough, and lay up
money, without consulting a crafty lawyer
at every turn. My motto always was, the
less you have to do with such chaps the bet
ter"
"a very good motto"
eyes, with low laugh I" In the pres
emit case, however, suppose lawyer must
come in"
81 suppose So"
w NOM WOulU yOu TtCOmiASbu!
"You trust to my Judgment on this sub
5ectr' queried the Captain, elated in spite
of himself at the turn affairs were taking.
Implicitly"
"Then would name Seekmore Gripes, Of
Stonefield. 1 have always found him relia-
ble"
Every well-send for him"
sin the mornings"
2 "Now"
Captain Starbrlght came to his feet, then
seemed to hesitate.
SIS it necessary for such great haste?"
ssDo as bid" ordered the old man. ''If
die without making my will the migrate
full Martha will get my property, and
don't mean that she shall have a penny"
II will send for the lawyer at once, and
for pbysiciaps'
"No, no. Send Grace here. 1 will see
none of the leeches, confound 'em," growlcd
the old man, in such fierce way as to
rrove conclusively to the Captain that
Vandible was not in such desperate straits
as he imagined.
He left the room, found Grace and sent
her in to her grandfather, and then went
forth to the stables.
"Tu 90 myself" he muttered. 81 don't
believe the old man will die tonight, but
ITS well enough to have every thing pre-
pared lean sec that every thing will go
to Grace. If can make it contingent on
her MARRYING me, q master-strolze will be
in. know can trust Seekmore Gripes.
He'd sell his soul for pelf." Soon after the
Captain was OF the road to Stoneheid.
CHAPTER XIII.
ONE MINUTE TOO LATE.
It was two hours after midnight when
Fantain Starhripht and a cOmDaulOu were