Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-05-16

he given at stated interya1s, for the purpose
Of counteracting the poison that Grace
had been swallowing during the past three
weeks, and had promised to come over him
self within q short time and personally take
charge of the case.
Of course It was impossible for Lura
Joyce to be always with her patient, but
usually she contrived to leave the black
maid in the room when she was absent, If
only for q few minutes.
Grace feltdecidedly better in twenty-four
hours after beginning the new treatment
tain Starbright realized that Lura had as
sumed to doctor Grace, but he did not
know OF the discoveries she had made. He
had become impatient and uneasy, howev-
er, and was anxious to have the tragedy
come to speedy termination.
A drop of Mother Cabera's cough drops
will do it. I will risk it, and put this I'M
certainty at rest forever" reasoned the
scheming Captain.
alone with Grace, Captain Starbright put
hls head into the room, and said:
Lucy, your mistress is feeling bad and
wants you to come to her at once.''
'Missus Lura!''
ssMrs. Penroy''
"Deed, NASSAU
500 at once" ordered the Captain, and
as the maid stood in deadly terror of him
when he was angry, she forgot her promise
to Lura Joyce and left the room.
Captain Starbright stood alone.
He hurriedly closed and locked the door,
then walked over and glanced at Grace,
who, he was glad to note, lay in a semi-un.
conscious doze..
cat last!" he muttered-
Then he turned hurriedly to the little
stand which contained glass half filed
with water and some walls.
He lifted the glass, glanced at it an in.
slant, then drew from his pocket a small
glass-stoppered vial and poured a few drops
into the glass Of water.
''That will do the work at once and leave
no trace. was fool not to have resorted
to the swift method before'
Secreting the vial, he bent over the bed
''Grace, just sip of this, please"
With one hand he lifted the girls head.
other.
"What is it," questioned the sick girl,
YEARLY, not fully comprehending.
"a little cordial that Lura prepared
Grace opened her lips to partake.
"Stop, Grace, for your ifel There's death
IN the 0Ldss!' uttered voice, husky with
intense excitement.
CHAPTER Xxx.
AN APPARIrION.
Captain Starbright started back with a
wild thrill Of alarm at his heart. The voice
seemed at his very elbow, and in his nerv
GUS excitement he dropped the glass to the
floor.
It was shattered. and the poison dissipated
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 the
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 door
sprang quickly into the upper hall. Not ten
feet distant he saw the form of a man NOV
ing swiftly away.
He recognized the intruder as Louis
Fingal.
''Halt there, you scoundrelr'
But the young hunter evidently wished
to avoid the Captain, and began moving at
a sw1fter gait. Then the Captain started in
pursuit, resolved on bringing the fellow to
account for his interference
Down the hall, up fight of narrow
stairs to the garnet the young hunter fed,
and here in the shadows the Captain lost his
enemy. He groped about for fully half an
hour ere he gave up the search.
AS he descended the garnet stairs he
came full upon Lura Joyce.
what in the name OF all that is lovely
were you doing up yonder, CaptainP' the girl
demanded, with piercing look.
s'Did you see him."
''See whoma''
ssThat Internal hunter, Fingal."
s'Of course not. The young fellow Is q
gentleman. What an idea, to think Of look
ing in garnet for a gentleman friend OF
the family. believe you are going crazy.
Captain Starbright," and Lura at the last
INDUCED in an amused and tantalizing
laugh.
answered, striding fercely away.
Lura hurried swiftly to the sick chamber.
She found Grace alone, the 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.
ibid you hear it'll Do you know?" ques-
toned the sick girl in tremulous accents.
81 know all about it. You had a narrow
escape, Grace. but don't worry over 1t now:
the danger is past"
eyes, dear. Fingal told me. He is my
friend and yours"
'Fingal2 Was it he who spoke of-of the
water being poisoned?"
eyes, dear. He has consented to remain
on the premises for a time. The Captain is
bad man, but do not worry over that
now"
She sick girl closed her eyes and tried ia
collect her scattered thoughts. It 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 reprimanded her for leaving
Grace alone.
'sBut Missus Pen sent for me-"
cit doesn't matter. / want You to remem,
Der and obey nse," said Lura Joyce, sharply.
''Deed I will, missus."
- t'See that you do. When am absent
you must go from this room on no erraud
whatever. Win you remember9"