Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-02-24
LONE HOLLOW;
Or, The Peril Of the PenFOyS.
A Thrilling and Romantic stc--

upper hall with nervous steps and a
thoughtful expression Of countenance.
"Why doesn't DIR. Cotton Gomez muir
INJURED the girl, impatIently. THE time is
ripe for the work, and no assured me that
he would be here before this. l dare not
trust myself away from here now. The
Captain is becoming desperate. He ESpes
10 see Grace die, and then Austin Went
word would suffer either Imprisonment or
death for the CRIME of murder that
actually believe Starbright himself, or an
accompNcc, committed"
Uneasy was the heart of Lura.
The day waned and night fell with no
doctor.
In the afternoon Captain Starbright left
the vicinity of Lone Hollow on foot. He,
too, was gloomy and dissatisfied. The i'm.
mense fortune lay almost within his grasp,
yet not near enough to seize.
"Lura Joyce has thus far proved my evil
genius" muttered the Captain. 81 would
certainly have long since been in undisputcd
possession of the Vaudible fortune but for
her. Fool that l was to ever pay court to
such strong minded woman. She follows
me like cat, watches and suspects some
thing wrong always. believe she knows
that Grace was dying from q subtle poison
and has determined to thwart, perhaps to
crush me. But am too clever to permit q
girl to corner me. will crush her and that
young hunter, Fngal. He. too. seems to be
in the league against me. Confound GripesI
He ought to have put that will through the
court before this
The Captain followed the path that led to
the CABRERA cabin. When he reached the
place he tried the door, It opened to his
touch and he entered. He found the place
deserted. The Caberas had gone, he knew
not whittier, and he hoped that he might not
see them again. If one of them lived, how
ever, he knew that he might expect a visit
at tho end OF six months.
The house was gloomy and the sound of
his feet sent a cold chill over him.
He passed out and walked to the edge of
the gulch, a little way off. The depths
were Swallowed and gloomy. Autumnal
frosts had changed the leaves to brown and
yellow in places, and the air that sighed
through the trees was chill and uncomfort.
able. There seemed premonition of an early
winter in its breath.
While he stood there with the grim shad-
ows of the short afternoon lengthenmg into
the gloom Of night, Captain Starbright
thought of the past, of the year gone in
which his brain had schemed and plotted
for self-aggrandizement
ut is more than two years now since ]
struck the first blow for the Vandible mill.
ion amid the hills of California" he NUT
tered, inaudibly, while his thoughts ran on.
other, and my coming to Lone Hollow to
win the friendship of an easily -duped old
man. l pretended to be the friend of his
idolized though erratic brother and brought
him memento from the far-off land of
gold. told how l had ministered to the
dying, and complet ely won old Morgan Van.
dible's heart. Karl, his youngest brother.
he idolized He would have made him his
heir had he lived. This the old millionaire
a in s1nV HI . ~,
blow that sent Karl over the precipce IN
the gold range did not kill
My tr, 1chery might have been discov.
cred, for Karl Fandible lived, but he came
back from that fall crazed being. l sup
posed had nothing to fear, and yet he
recognized me that night in front of Lone
Hollow, Wh"n he fired with murderous in
tention. It is well that made sure work
of the old man at last. The pool will never
yield up its secret TO mortal man"
Tho mention of the pool seemed to affect
tho Captain strongly.
He strengthened suddenly and began
walking away from the edge of the gulch
Soon his form was lost to view In the gath
ering gloom.
He gained position near the bank of the
cedar friugCd pool
How cold and fovbilding looked the black
water. There WAS not ripple on its sur
ldSGs anu luS SlISuCC IuuG TGSIou over eVs !
cry thing was oppressive.
An unCanny place" muttered the Cap
tain. Much like u tomb, indeed. No Sc
cret can come forth from thy depths, old
pool. How much safer than the Califor-
MIA gulch. You reveal no secrets, that gulch
did"
Then he walked completely around the
pool, scanning the water from every point |
1t was solemn place, and the time one to !
bring gloomy thoughts to the brain of the !
lone man who stood thoughtfully regarding !
the calm water.
Swiftly the minutes passed.
Nights curtain dropped from the skies !!
and wrapped its folds softly over bush, and !
tree, and water.
Not sound but the faint murmur Of the !
evening breeze through gold-brown tree
tops. And Captain Starbright allowed his !
thoughts full sway. |
He had once been the pride of a kind
mothers heart-his father he never knew, !
and he recalled the time now when his
hands were free from stain, his soul unfair
nished by blood outlines.
Il have gone too far to retrace my steps
now," he cried aloud, as though holding !
argumentwith his inner self.
"Too fdrn'
What was that An echo of his own |
thoughtsf His words had been lightly ut.
teFeu' ne troubled ana gaZeu ABOUT him !
in the shadows. The words were Eot re- |
peated, but his eyes became riveted on one |
spot on the further shore of the pool Slow
ly human figure rose and stood facing |
him. A glimmer OF starlight touched the |
face. 1t was CHASTITY white. There was a !
rope about the neck, a clinging stone, drip
ping wetl Starbright gazed in silent hor-
ror ut his murdered victim. 1t was the face |
OF the dead man of the pooli The blood re.
~ 40 E,s.
seized him, and, tossing up his arms, Clinton
Starbright fell fainting to the ground.
CHAPTER XXI.