The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-07
LONE HOLLO ";
Or, the Peril of the Penroys.

listening intently.
hear no sound of Wheels" he NUT
tered Il hope DR.. Cotton and his patient
will not disappoint me tonight. To watch
that villain, and guard a precious life
without making a balk, is tiresome ant
dangerous. 1t must be time too, for thai
infamous Captain to come nosing about.
heard him tell Lucy that she need not lool
for him in several days, but Judge that Il
be blind. Possibly, however, he may
have taken the alarm. He was out unit
late last night, and seemed pale and agi
tated when he returned"
The reader can readily guess why the
Captain was agltated on the previous night
The apparition at the pool had completely
unnerved him for time. On the morning
following he had driven away toward
Stonefeld, assuring both Lura and Lucy
that he intended to be absent several days
Flngal had been where he overheard this
but he had not believed it.
After listening minute Fingal closed
the window and turned his steps toward
Grace's room. He found the door closed,
and at once applied his hand to the knob. 1t
refused to yield.
Dropping to the floor Fingal attempted to
peer into the room through the keyhole. No
hunter seemed to realize for the first time
that something was wrong inside the sick
chamber. He thrust small reed that he
picked from the floor into the keyhole.
He then made discovery.
The hole had been stoutly plugged
Something surely was wrong. He grasped
the knob and shook the door,
No answer from within.
A chill shot to the heart of Fingal He
called the name OF Lucy and of Grace, but
received no answer. A terrible fear OPP
pressed the young hunters heart as he
turned from the door and hurried to the
stairs. He sped down these, three steps at
time, and came near landing in the arms
of the colored maid.
"Lucy, you heres' demanded Fingal,
hoarsely "Who is witsreTace?"
"Miss Lura, l 'spect.s
II do not belieYotx.
'But left heD ~
"Something iYWfSag," interrupted Fin
gal, selling and shaking the maid furiously.
"You haven't been faithful, girl. The door
: to Graces room is locked. Have you the
keya"
Deed, marse, l hasn't"
Fingal stood irresolute for one moment,
then sprang to tbs outer door, opened 1T
and passed out into the night. He hast
.ned to the side of the building, to a spot
where light glimmered from an upper
window, the window of Grace Penroy's
room.
For an instant the young man stood
tresolute; then, seeming to remember
something, he sped to the rear of the old
house and in less than minute returned
bearing in his hands a ladder 1t was but
abort work IN placa this I'M onoipct +bo
side of the house
1t just reached the window-sill.
A moment later the young hunter was
mounting swiftly upward. He soon gained
the top and although the curtains were
drawn he found a crevice through which
he could peer into the room.
What he saw caused him to start and
nearly fall from the ladder. His hands
cllnched the stone sill until the blood
seemed ready to burst from beneath the
nails.
In the center of the room stood Captain
Starbright, with a look on his face that
was actually terrifying. 1t was only with
the utmost effort that Fingal held himself
from falling.
The Captains hat lay on the floor His
coat was off, his arms bare to the elbows,
and he was evidently meditating some
terrible deed. Fingal saw him move toward
the bed, gaze for one moment at the placid
face of tiso apparently sleeping girl, then
bepd forward with the look of fiend, and
Irvine his fingers about the throat of his
unsuspecting victim.
"Great heaven! he would strangle her"
gasped Fingal, hoarsely, almost losing his
hold in the intensity of his horror With a
mighty effort he steadied himself, seized
the sash, lifted it swiftly and plunged head
long into the room.
The noise and the unexpected appearance
Of the hunter startled the would-be assas
ain from his work, and he at once turned
his attention to the newcomer. He glared
an instant in evident alarm, then, with an
tmprecation, sprang at the youth as he came
to his feet.
"Murderer!'' cried Fingal
"Ha! the Internal hunter sneak Til
throttle you for this ~ and Captain Star
bright, evidently completely mastered by
rage and fear, sprang with the fury of a
mailman at the throat of his unWelcome
visitor.
Together the two went to the floor in a
struggle for the mastery. At the same
time wild scream filed the room. Grace.
Weakened by5the combat, was terribly
frightened, and it was her voice that filled
the old house with its piercing notes of
alarm.
Fngal struggled desperately, but seemed
to be no match for the Infatuated Captain.
cpl throttle your Kissed Starbr1ght
"You have meddled with me and my affairs
for the last time
At this moment the long black hair on
Fingals head came into the clutches of
Starbright, another moment and his locks
were free from the head of his antagonist
With great cry Captain Starbright came
to his feet, quickly followed by the hunter.
band tried the door. and voice without
demanded aumltta1cs. Onneeulng THIS the
Captain stood staring at Fngal. His
astoundment seemed too full for words
And no wonder.
another person entirely. There was no mis-
taking that face, the pug nose, with mus
tache brushed aside, that dancing, red
foretop.
''Lura Joyce, as / livei' exclaimed the
astounded Captain.
The girl regarded him with folded arms,
breathing short, her eyes flashing, her
white teeth cleaning. She felt herself
mistress of the situation. Her hand shot
forward suddenly, bright object CLEAN.
ing at the end.
"Your race is run, Captain Starbright,n
she uttered lowly yet fiercely. "Stand
aside, wish to open the door,"
He seemed to have no desire to thwart
her wishes while cooked revolver was
pointed toward his breast, and so he obeyed
without word. He glanced at the bed to
note the fact that Grace had tainted.
With some difficulty Lura turned the KEY
and admitted DIR. Arthur Cotton
'Alonea" uttered Lura
"Wait.n
This was all. The doctor glanced at Cap
tain Starbright, then at the girl He
seemed astonished to find her in male attire,
and Lura fancied she saw q look of semi
dlScncf oy, hsc fooo