The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-31

wondered if Captain Starbright would en-
deavOr to effect an entrance during her
absence She was in a ferment until DR..
Cotton returned after an absence OF half an
hour.
"Welll" questioned the girl, as she
gazed into the grave face of the doctor. de
folded the paper and pinched 1T tightly be-
tween his fingers and regarded the girl be-
fore him fixedly.
"Where did you get this, Lura JoyceF
''At Lone Hollow"
do you suspect what it is"
"Medicine.
No-pO sOn!''
81 thought sO!'' exclaimed Lura. Then
she stood for some minutes regarding the
doctor with clasped hands, paling cheeks and
labored breathing.
''Where did you get itN' again demanded
DR.. Cotton.
"Arthur, took that powder from stand
In the room occupied by Grace Penroy at
Lone Hollow; it is one of many similar that
she has been swallowing during the past
three weeks
Good heavens! This can not be true"
1T is true, and Grace still lives, al
though she has been sinking day by day
''pr,t no nhvsician would be guilty CT
such indiscretlon, sucS c.rmlnaIIty," cr'=u
the doctor.
mo, perhaps not; but Captain Star
brights hard is IN this, and Grace would
have been dead in forty-eight hours had ]
not made this discovery
Then Lura proceeded to give all the par
ticulars in the case to one who proved to be
a most interested listener.
1T is time to check that villain in his
career of crime" said the doctor, when he
had heard and digested the story of Lura
Joyce.
Eyes. You will assist me to that end
Dr.. Colton!"
"You know I will"
For fully an hour the girl and the doctor
talked. at the end Of which time Miss Joyce
left the Office, mounted Romeo, who re
NAMED waiting patiently for the return oil
his mistress, and ga,loped swiftly on her re-
turn to Lone Hollow.
The girl had made a horrible discovery,
and she realized that it had come none toe
soon it might be even now too late to save
poor Grace PenrOy.
No one was about the premises when Lura
Joyce rode into the yard. She hastily dis
mounted, led Romeo into his stall and then
sped to the house.
She found the outer door locked. She al
once passed to the kitchen to find this Sc
cured against her. Then back to the great
front door she sped and rang the bell
Twice she sounded the bell ere the door was
opened.
$50 you are back again, Miss Joycea"
1t was Captain Starbright. His voice was
pleasant enough, however, and he seemed
to have been reused from a sound sleep,
since he yawned and rub bed his eyes.
cts pretty note for you to be galloping
over the country at such uncanny hours,
Miss Joyce. think [ shall forbid it in the
future. Mrs. Penroy has been terribly
worried about you"
How cool he was after what had happened
earlier in the evening.
Indeed" retOrted Lura. "And you have
worried, too, no doubt, betwixt hope and
fear. If I'd broken my neck you would be
profoundly happy
you continue to think harshly of me, my
dear girl"
you are deserving of it,
IL protest that you wrong me-"
"How is Graces''
mitted to visit the sick-room.. 1t is con
we poor male bipeds have to be when there s
a woman running affairs"
There was a tinge of sarcasm in his deep
ly-n:odulated voice that did not escape
the notice of Lura. She realized that the
lnan she had to deal with was not an
ordinary one; that he was cunning and
slippery as an eel, and tonight she hal
learned that he was consclenceless.
II will go up at once" returned Lura
He detained her with touch.
Lura, how long is this to continued"
His question sounded like demand.
How long is what to continue?'
"This impudept interference ON your
part. Certainly you must be aware how dis
tasteful it is to me. I am virtually master
here and may not choose to tolerate youl
insolent interference"
1t was dark in the hall and she could moi
see his face. but she guessed readily the
ugly look that rested there. Although his
voice did not tremble, she realized that
he was terribly angry.
She was angry as well and her face
showed it, but the darkness was as kind to
ner as to him.
+" This is my house, SIR" she retorted with
all the calmness she could assume, with the
hot blood of Indignation beating fiercel,
against cheek and brow. Morgan VandIblt
invited me here, and until his granddaughter
orders me hence. propose to make it my
home. No one has better right to care fol
Grace than /, and you will oblige me much
by keeping your fingers entirely out of thu
pie.''
She eluded his hand then, and swept u,
the stairs to the door of the sick room. She
quickly fitted the key and unlocked the door
Lucy was snoring in her chair, and Grace,
with wide open, restless eyes, lay Quietly in
her place.
"Oh, Lura, cousin, I am so glad you have
come. Somebody has twice tried the door
during the night, and-and haven't been
able to sleep. You won't leave me again,
dear, will yous"
''No, Oracle. You can count on me from
his time on. Iwent to town to consult a
.octor with regard to your case"
You arevery kind, and am so selfish
murmured the sick girl, and then she began
10 cry
Nonsense, Oracle, I am the one that is
selfish" sOothed Lura, kissing her cousin
tenderly.
And then came light rap on the door,
1t proved to be Captain Starbright to in
quire after the sick girl.
"The miserable hypocrite," thought Lura
sfter he had gone. She remembered the
discovery she had made that night, and she
ould only regard the Captain with feelin gs
If the utmost loathing.
DR.. Cotton had sent medicine by Lura to
re given at stated intervals, for the purpose
OF counteractlng the poison JnaJ trace
had been swallowing during the past three
weeks, and had promised to come ovoS- him
self within a 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 blacl,
maid in the room when she was absent. if
only for a Jew minutes
Grace felt decidedly better in twenty-four