The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-01-24
LONE H0LL0 W;
Or, the Peril of the Penroys.

mailman myself. He Carried unn a'vt " ono
IaTterward feared that he had murdered
you"
Captain Starbright had resumed his seal
during THIS narration, while Lura Joyce
leaned one hand on the table and coutenteC
herself with listening in meek way that
was surprising considering her fiery nature.
"Do you expect me to believe all this
Captain StarbrightF' she said, without
lifting her eyes.
- have spoken the truth. or course,
have no means of compelling belief" he
said, in asubdued tone. - l tell you honest
ly, l am glad that you escaped from the
clutches Of the mailman"
"He seemed gentle enough with me-" re-
sumed the girl "What became of the pool
fellow at last! l haven't seen ham of late.
81 influenced the authorittip to send the
poor fellow to d mad house"
'Did you know him!"
"No, only that he made aH absurd claim
to be brother of the late Mr. Vandible."
"About the shooting o-night," SAID Lura
suddenly dropping the subject of the mad
man. Can you throw any light on that?"
at IS a sad affair."" sighed the Captain
81 would rather not talk Of that now"
"Why has Austin Wentword been ar
rested."
alt was necessary. In case Grace dies
the fellow might leave the country"
"Then you suspect him oE being the
assassin of the girl he loved, who was his be
trotned, in facts"
Her eyes were regarding him now with
their steely glitter, that rendered him nerv-
Gus always.
"My suspicion amounts to Conviction
he said, coolly
You saw him commit the act!"
liam not prepared to say that. At the
proper time my evidence shall be forth
coming"
"Indeed Is this part OF your plot to
win the Vandible fortune!'
He beoame uneasy under her gaze. He
realized that she was reading him like an
open book He might deceive some women
but not this grand, sef-reliant girl, whose
strong mind and quick wit were more than
match for him.
1t is useless to prolong this interview"
he said, coming TO his feet 'You would
distrust one even if he were to swear on a
mountain of Bibles. | am sorry, but in
time shall be able to prove to you that lam
a much abused man.
Then he strobe from tho room and sought
the outer air.
SO!' murmured Lura. 81 am once more
on deck to watch and counterfeit your evil
influence, Clinton Starbright. If Grace
dies you are a doubly doomed man. The
idea that Austin Wentword fired that shot!
That yarn might fool the marines, but it will
not pass current with me. All! f you only
knew what | know, Captain, you would
tremble III your boots. 1t is just as well
you do not know. [ will now have an op
portunity to search this house for the will
old Mr.. Nandiole made long ago. That,
believe to be. the only lawful document OF
the kind in existence.
He tod me that it was somewhere with
in the walls of Lone Hollow, and I mean to
find it and confound them all"
Then Lura went to the room where her
wounded cousin lay When Mrs. Penroy
saw the girl she uttered scream and fell
faintipg to the floor.
1t will be remembered that the widow did
not know of the continued existence of Lura
Joyce. She had looked upon the girl as
dead, Grace having kept her secret accord
ing TO promise, and her sudden appearance
was as startling as the appearance of a
ghost.
Lura saw her mistake the moment she
crossed the threshold. She rang for
Lucy, the colored maid, who, assisted
by Miss Joyce, succeeded in conveying the
falnting woman to a bed in another part of
the great house
Lucy was pretty thoroughly frightened,
too, when she saw Miss Joyce, but Lura
soon satisfied the maid that all was as It
should be by assuring her that she had only
been away on business, and that now she
was back to care for Grace, and make her
home hereafter at Lone Hollow.
Mrs. Penroy did not recover from her sec.
ond fainting fit as from the first, and she
was unable to leave her bed for several
days.
In the meantime Grace regained con-
seriousness, but remained very weak and
required constant attention Lura gave
this, and eXerted herself to aid the wound
ed girl in every possible way. Mrs. Pen
roy was too weak and i'll herself to assist in
taking care of her daughter, and so for the
time Lura Joyce was complete mistress of
the house.
''The will has been found"
This, then, was the good news that brought
Mr. Gripes so swiftly to Lone Hollow
The two men consulted for short time on
the veranda.
carry out her threat" proceeded the Cap
tain, after short consultation "Would it
not be best for you to show her the will and
explain the situatoni lt.u,av save cnnsid-
eraple trouble IN the Iuuure."
You are right, Captain" agreed the
lawyer. 81 will see Mrs. Penroy. Let us
hope that she may be sensible In any
event she can only cause delay and trouble,
without affecting the result am satisfied
now that she had nothing to do with stealing
the will. 1t was simply the act of a common
thief for the hope of reward"
This was keen relief to Captain Star
bright, who had no idea that the woman
who had returned the will to Lawyer Gripes
was Mother CABRERA, who he supposed MANY
miles away by this time
Mrs. Penroy had just taken a sniff from
her gold snuff-box. when Seekmore Gripes
was announced
II am come, madam" he said, in his
keen, buslness-hke voice, "to seek an ad-
justment of the affairs of your late Ia
mented father The will that l had the
honor Of drawing before Mr. Vandible died,
and which was left in my care, has not
been yet read to the heirs at law. The delay
has been unavoidable, but I am sure you
will overlook it, since l find the business
affairs Of the deceased in somewhat mixed
condition"
He caressed his knee with the back of his
hand, and regarded distant object
flxedly, his bald head moving up and down
as he talked. When he paused she made
no reply, and then he drew forth large
envelope and proceeded to unfold it's con-
tents.
"This is the last will and testament of
your lamented father
81 thought he left no WILL" Mrs. Penroy
interrupted at this point. sit seems little
strange that so many weeks have passed
withoutits being produced"
can explain that satisfactorily" pro-
ceeued Mr GrlpeS. You Will please
listen to the reading of the will
She made no objection, and so he read the