Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-23


modify, as if displeased.
Before he could go to the door it was
pushed open and Lura Joyce stood before
him, with tangled locks, glowing checks aud
eyes that seemed ready to spring from their
sockets. The sight was unexpected, and
caused the good doctor to utter surprised
ejaculation.
she cried, quickly. 81 am glad arrived be-
fore you left the Office, and doubly glad to
fiud you alone"
"What in the name of wonder brings you
here at this time of night, Lura! All the
way from Lone hollow, presumed"
'All the way from Lone Hollow, sir, and
on business of the utmost Importance. Lock
the door and go into the back Office so that
no one can interrupt us. I've got to get
back to the Hollow on the fly just as soon as
have your opinion"
"You have it now, then," he returned
with a good-natured laugh. II consider
you the widest, maddest girl in ten coun-
ties"
''Comc."
She drew him quickly into the next room,
where he soon had the gas lit, and then she
drew forth u small bit of folded paper and
laid it in the DOCTORS hand.
''Tell me what that contains, please"
ga small white POWDER" he said, after
opening the paper.
eyes, but what is it?''
''Pcrhaps 1 may not be able to tell to-
night" he returned, tasting it.
'But you must tell just as soon as you
can possibly do so," urged the girl, throw
ing herself into a chair, and removing her
jaunty hat.
With a good -humored smile the doctor lit
q lamp and retired into a small apartment
that he was pleased to term his labora-
tory. The time passed slowly to Lura after
the departure of the doctor. She was
consumed with eagerness and Impotence
and was soon up pacing the floor.
Slowly the minutes waned.
Lura thought of Grace and Lucy, and
wondered if Captain Starbright would en-,
deavor to effect an entrance during her
absence. She was in ferment until DR..
Cotton returned after an absence of half an
hour.
"Wellr questioned the girl, as she
gazed INTO the grave face of the doctor. He
folded the paper and pnched it tightly be
tween his fingers and regarded the girl be-
Sore him fiXcdly.
"Where did you get this, Lura JoyceF
cat Lone Hollow"
"Do you suspect what it ise
"Mcdicine."
"No-pO'SOm!'
~ thought sou exclaimed Lura. Then
she stood for some minutes regarding the
doctor with clasped hands, paling checks and
labored breathing.
where did you get it'll" again demanded
DR.. Cotton.
'Arthur, took that powder from n 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
sit is true, and Grace still lives, al
though she has been sinking day by day
under this drug that you say is poison"
But no physician would be guilty of
such indiscrction, such criminality," cried
the doctor.
''No, perhaps not; but Captain Star
brights hand is in this, and Grace would
have been dead in forty-cight 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.
sit 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 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-
! manned waiting patiently for the return of
his mistress, and gallopcd swiftly on her re-
turn to Lone Hollow.
| The girl had made q horrible discovery,
! and she realized that it had come none too
| soon-it might be even now too late to save
! poor Grace Pcnroy.
| 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 at
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 Joyce!'
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 rubbed his eyes.
"It's pretty note for you to be galloping
over the country at such uncanny hours
Miss Joyce. think I 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 bt
profoundly happy"
GU COuIluuS W l1TSulS VI me-
dear girl.''
"You are deserving of it,
81 protest that you wrong me-"
''How is Grace9'
81 can not tell you. 1 haven't been per
mitted to visit the sick-room. 1t is con
trary to your orders, am told. How humble
we poor male bipeds have to be when there
q woman running affairs"
There was tinge of sarcasm in his deep
Iy-modulated voice that did not escap
the notice of Lura. She realized that TIT
man she had to deal with was not al
ordinary one; that he was cunning ant
slippery as an eel, and tonight she hat
learned that he was consclcuceless.
81 will go up at once" returned Lura.
He detained her with a touch.
"Lura, how long is this to continued"
HIS question sounded like a demand.
"How long is what to continuer'
"This impudent interference on you
part. Certainly you must be aware how dis
E..ns a 80 a.