The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-10
"Gone,n answered FingaL "Who was

words" declared Fingal, grimly. ITO me
he seemed like mailman"
"He is madam escaped lunatic,
breathed the Captain, gladly catching al
o loophole of escape. He ought to be
secured at once"
"You will offer reward for his capt
ure-"
Captain Starbrigbt, however, now that nc
was out from under the magnetism OF
Louis Fingars presence, fastened tC
separate himself from that individual, In
wardly vowing, however, to learn more OF
the hunter in the future, and if need be tG
crush him.
Before Fngal could finish his sentence
the Captain had passed swiftly from the
room, and was around the corner like
flash.
"You can't escape me that way, you VII
lain," muttered the youth, who seem cd
deeply interested in the movements OF
Captain Starbright.
Quickly Fingal passed out to watch the
movements of the Captain. He glanced
keerly up and down the cross street down
which Starbright had turned, but that In
diyidual was nowhere to be seen.
"Confound it'll" muttered the young
hunter, '.he seems to have given me the slip.
Clinton Starbright is like an eel, when you
put your finger on him he isn't there L
imagine had him completely under the in
tluence of the drug, but it seems that the
cigar was not as heavily charged as l
imagined. l was foolish to permit HIM to
escape I should, in justice to all con-
cerned, have placed him under arrest.
And vet such move might block the
game entirely, and prevent the ends OF
justice.
"No, must permit the Captain full swing
for little longer. The face of Don Benito
has startled the Captain, and that certainly
means something. might be able to guess
the truth had the queer old fellow COM
pleted the story he was once telling. He
seemed sane enough then; he is at times,
and but for an interruption should have
known all. However, danger menaces Don
Benito and l must avert it if possible"
In the meantime the Captain turned
down the nearest alley, crossed block, and
thence passed down a narrow street to the
stable where he had sheltered horses.
He seemed to think that it would be time
lost in searching for Don Benito in the city,
since he ordered his animals at once and
was soon riding swiftly out of the city.
He was not long in crossing the ten mile
stretch to Lone Hollow. He passed into
the house, to his own rom, without disturb
ing the inmates, seeming regardless OF the
fact that Mrs. Penroy had once ordered him
to depart from Lone Hollow and never to
return. AS he paced the floor he muttered :
"The elements of danger thiclzen The
man left for dead in California still lives,
although believe him to be insane. What
of thata He saved Lura Joyce from my
hand last night. There's method in his
madness. He seems to recognize me, and
while he lives the danger "a doubleu. He
must not live. Ihave gone too far to turn
back now.
Il have entered the race and must con-
tinue to the end. The endl What is it
destined to be? Success or failures A bold
heart and strong hand will make it the
former. Ipossess both, if do not permit
my nerves to be unstrung at the outset.
Mrs. Penroy threatens, too. Confound
the sex. l Twill mover trust woman again,
never They are all treacherous. That will.
The loss of that precious paper has doomed
me to much trouble''
He turned to small cupboard and drew
forth flask. He placed this to his lips
twice ere he spoke again. ''Ah! that is the
pure stuff he finally calculated. "That
gives me strength, and nerves me to the
work in hand"
Thrusting the flask in an inner pocket he
passed from the room and the house. He
did not go toward the road, but walked
around the mansion and disappeared in the
woods at the foot of the hollow.
An old man stood on the verge of Hang
mans Gulch in the twilight, tall and
slender, with long beard and hair of silver.
He presented patriarchal appearance as
he stood leaning lightly on staff of native
wood, and gazed with eagle eye over the
scene.
"The Doge has sent for me- There is to
be some reconciliation" muttered the old
man. 81 am glad of that Isaw him at
the tavern and he seemed gentle as lamb
it is well. If the gentle maid was only
here I might send message by herr
He paused. The sound Of step attracted
his notice. He turned, lifted his staff. but
was too late to avoid the blow that fell with
the sWlftneSS or nSlJnng. In a silent
heap the old man of the gulch lay at the
roots of tree. A stout club in the hands
of one of the twins had done the work.
Strong arms lifted the silent form and
bore it into the thick woods.
A third person followed the twins as they
entered the shadows of the wood. 81 can not
trust the rascals,' muttered Captain Star
bright, as he glided swiftly after the twin
assassins
The two men, with their helpless burden,
paused at last beside q small pool some
rods in extent, the waters of which were
Swallowed by thick growth of cedars. The
ground was swampy about the little lake,
and solemn stiffness seemed part of the
situation.
As the twins deposited their burden on
the ground near the edge of the water, the
third person passed quickly forward and
stood before them
Eth, Cap'n, you here?"
81 am" answered Captain Starbright,
grimly. 81 want no deception this time.''
deception. Maybe you think"
ut doesn't matter Let the past go,n in
terrupted the Captain.
Then he bent and examined the clothing
Of the murdered old man.
An ejaculation of disappointment fell
from his lips. He thought perhaps to find
valuable papers, and in this he was sorelv
disappointed. 1t might be that he thought
the missing will was on the person of the
dead. 1t was not, however, and hence the
discontinue of the wicked schemer.
One OF the twins was working at some
thing near while the Captain was making
this examination. He now came toward,
revealing in his hands heavy stone about
which he had attached stout buckskln
cord.
"This will forever hide the work." NUT
tered the brute, as he proceeded to attach
the weight to the body of his victim.
"You are very thoughtful, HANK" said
the Captain, at the same time moving into
the dense shadow where he could watch the
movements of the twins without being him
self seen.
Presently splash and gurgling sound
announced the work complete. The man ir
the shadows breathed easier as he saw tho
form of Don Benito sink beneath the watcrs