The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-02-07

Starbright coolly assumed a chair. The
doctor and Lura renamed standing, how,
ever
CHAPTER XXXIL
RETRIBUTION.
Don't put yourself out, DOCTOR" said the
Captain, with an assumption of GOODNESS he
cid not feel. Il care nothing for this yarn
Of yours, and can not wait to hear it."
He came to his feet.
'Sit down." ordered Lura, emphasizing
the order by covering him with her cooked
revolver. He sank back into his chair with
a muttered imprecation against the ''tiger
cat"
1T was in California about two years
ago that my first scene opens," proceeded
the doctor. 1.-Two me-. among the gold
hills of that State became bosom friends
Lawrence Brandon and Karl Vandible.
They first met III San Francisco and went
to the mountains together. Karl Vandible
was an eccentric man past the meridian of
life, one who had seen better days, he as
serted, and Brandon believed him. In time
Vandibe made confidant of his young
friend, Brandon, and told him strange
story of the past.
Karl had been the black sheep in the
family of four boys. Two were dead, and
Karl, the youngest, had drlfted to Cali
fornia in search of adventure even at the
age of fifty six. He assured Brandon
that it was not really necessary for him to
fight hand to hand with the world, since
he had brother who was millionaire in
one of the States beyond the Mississippi
That brother SAID Karl, always sympa-
thized with me, and defended me against
the assaults of others. was proud, how
ever, and wouldn't accept his bounty. /
haven t seen Morgan for ten years, but I
know he must be a very old man now
"Then Karl Vandible took from his
pocket letter which had lately come from
his aged brother beyond the mountains.
will read part of it."
The noncha,ant expression On the Cap
tain's face changed to nervous agitation
as DR.. Cotton drew forth wrinkled en-
velope, stained and frayed at the edges
from apparent rough usage.
"This is nothing to me-" growled the Cap
tain, again attempting to rise.
''Sit down."
Again Starbright looked into the muzzle
of Lura's revolver and subsidized without
more words.
Opening the letter, Dr. Cotton proceeded:
"'Come home, Karl. l am intending tc
pass the remainder of my days at Lone
Hollow. the old stone house where you once
staid for day and liked the hunting so WELL
You shall one day own the place and every
thing that have. In fact, l have made a
VIII in your favor, leaving everything to
you with the one condition that you allow
my granddaughter, Grace Penroy, an an
nuity of twenty thousand year after she
comes of age. / make the stipulation be-
cause love the GIRL and she has been most
dutlful and kind to me. You are twenty
years my junior, and will have ample time
to enjoy my wealth after am gone Come,
Karl, l am becoming feeble; feeling my
years and infirmities more and more every
day, and L wish to ENJOY your company a
little while before pass to the other shore
If on receive this am sure you will not
refuse to grant the prayer of your last of
kim
''That is the substance of the letter read
to Lawrence Brandon by Karl Vandible,"
said DR.. Cotton, ''and it was that letter that
nfue .ced Brandon to commit an awful
crime"
"What is this to me!" demanded CAPTAIN
Starbright, CURLY. 81 can not remain -
''But you must remain" declared Lura,
with seeming malicious satisfaction. And
he did
THE reading of that letter set evil
thoughts at work in the brain of Lawrence
Brandon" proceeded the doctor. 'He
suddenly conceived the idea of winning the
Vandible million for himself. Karl ex-
pressed a determination to return to the
States, and Brand N expressed a desire to
accompany him The two set out from the
mining camp together; but one of them
reached ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Brandon.
In the night time he stole up behind his
companion, dealt him a murderous blow
from behind, and then, after making sure
of his death, he hurled the body into a
gulch and FASTENED on his way. Twill be
brief for time is speeding. Brandon came
to the States and finally ensconced himself
at Lone Hollow. He told of his friendship
for Karl, Morgan's brother, and of how he
had been with him when he died in q lonely
cave on the gold range. Morgan was deep
" g",eved For Karrs sake he befriended
Brandon, who now oote the assumed name
of Starbright-''
'This is falser'
asst DOWN. commanded Lura, as the
villain attempted to rise. 81 won't speak
again, either. A bullet will be the next
compliment you'll getr'
White now, with cold sweat standing out
in great drops, the pseudo Captain was
obliged to listen to the remainder of the
narrative.
Lawrence Brandon murdered his trust
ing friend and came East for the purpose of
stealing a fortune. Had his murderous
blow succeeded, all might even now be well
with this villain. Karl Vandible was not
killed. however. He lived and came East.
but the blow had affected his brain and he
was demented.
"Instead Of coming to Lone Hollow he
hid in cave, once counterfelter's resort.
in Hangman's Gulch. Sometimes he had
OF sanity, but they were of short
duration. He led hermit life, and watched
to meet Lawrence Brandon. He did meet
him finally, and recognized him. He fired
with the intention of taking life. Somehow,
it seems that Brandon, alias Starbright.
lived to concoct further schemes of villainy.
among them the poisoning of Grace Penrov.
that he might, through n forged will. seize
upon the million left by Morgan Vandible.',
THAT will is not forgery"
Keep quiet" ordered Lura.
II nave come near to the end of nv
story" proceeded DR.. Cotton, with the ut
most gravity. Before you went to Cali
fornia you had sought to win the hand of
Miss Joyce. She read your character and
despised you. Afterward, when she learned
that you were at Lone Hollow, she re-
solved to thwart your designs upon the
unsuspecting old man Vandible and upon
Grace. although at that time she knew moth
ing OF the crime you had committed among
the gold hills Of California.
Disguised as Fingal. the hunter, she has
been quite successful in thwartino ro,r