Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-02-18
LONE HOLLOW;
Or, The Peril Of the PelrOyS.
A Thrilling and Romantic stc--

al have but little faith in detectives" he
finally said. II have q suspicion that
could point out the person who is at the
bottom of the theft"
"Well2"
"Mrs. Martha Penroy."
"Who inherIts in case no will is found"
"Certalnly."
"Dld not understand you to say some
time since that you had perfect confidence
in this woman and that in fact she was
anxious for you to marry her daughterW
al might have said all of that" returned
the Captain. "It was true four weeks since,
but now"
"And nowl
SNOW Il great change has come over the
woman. She insists that no will was
made"
Indeed"
"She has gone so far as to order mo out
of the house as an interloper."
"That is bad" agreed the lawyer. "She
doesn't seem to be the weak creature you
imagined
Far from It, Something must be done
at once or l am ruined"
The Captain seemed really pale and con-
| cerned. Seekmore Gripes regarded the
floor intently, and slowly polished his knee
with the back of his hand.
Its u peculiar case, as l said BEFORE"
finally proceeded the lawyer. There GER
W
annoying that it can not be produced.
Time may aid US. If this woman has
secured the will through n second party it is
evident that she has made sure Of its de-
| struction."
"True. Yet am not sure that she has
had hand in the theft"
"Do you suspect any one elscH
For q moment the Captain hesltated. He
thought of Lura Joyce and of the crazed
brother of Mr.. Vandiblc, who slept quietly
now at the bottom of the forest pool. Either
| of the two might have spfrltcd the will
away. And there was FinGal, too; he was
| certainly none too good n friend; yet what
motive he could have the Captain was un-
| able to surmise.
mo one in particular" finally answered
| Starbright. Il have enemies, however,
| and it is possible that some of them are at
| tempting to ruin me. l would give ten
| thousand dollars to get hold of that will
| once more. Mrs. Penroy knows that no
will has been probatcd. She imagines none
| was made, and unless something is done ut
once to prevent, she will institute proceed
| ings for a settlement of the estate in her
favor She has threatened it."
For some time Mr.. Gripcs remained lost
in thought.
"She will undoubtedly visit the city to
consult some legal authority" he finally
said "If you could manage to send her 10
| me every thing would be we'll"
Possibly might do that"
~ think that would be the surest way out
Of the difficulty" said Mr.. Gripes
| The Captain came to his feet.
| ~ will endeavor to send her to you,'' he
said, slowly. "First, however, 1 shall an
nounce to her that the will is In court ready
to be probated, and, if possible, prevent hel
| visiting the city ut all, that is, for the
| present"
| A clang Of the office bell cut short further
speech. Mr.. Gripcs came TO his feet.
| ~ will call again tomorrow"
| And then Captain Starbright left the
| place, unhoedlng the presence of the vailed
| woman who passed in as he went out.
Mr.. Grip"s, the great lawyer 'spose, y
said the woman, as she confronted the law
| yer.
| "My uamo Is Gripes, but can not take
| any more cases just now" returned he
noting with keen precision SHAT his visitor
was poorly clad, and evidently from the
lower walks of life. He was courteous
enough to show her chair, however.
She made no move to be seated.
| "1've got a case at you may be willing
to look at anyhow" proceeded the woman
~ reckon you're Cap'n Starbright's law
yer, hain't you!'
"He sometimes employs me-"
"Hain't you'n him got into trouble latel.
propertyl"
"Madam, please come at another time, >
grunted Mr.. Gripes, with manifest impa
tience.
"Mebbe, now, you wouldn't give some
thing for this
She drew from the folds of her dress
large legal envelope and held it toward tn
lawyer. He took it mechanically, drew
forth its contents, folded sheet of lega
cap, and then, as he glanced at the frs
page, started and stared at the woman Il
J evident perplexity and surprise.
"Wuth any thingl" questioned the woman
Something. Where did you find itl"
"In the woods, on the ground, where
crazy fellowd dropped it, furI see him loob
in at it putty close jest afore picked
up"
"Indeedr'
Mr.. Gripes thrust his hand into his poke
and drew forth several pieces of silver II
held these toward the woman.
She lifted her vail then and regarded tn
weazen-faced lawyer with a contemptuou
sneer. We have seen this woman before
Mother CABRERA, of Hangman's Gulch. Sh
had purchased o new outfit, however, an
seemed less filthy than when we last locke
upon her parchment countenance.
''It's wuth MORE" she said, harshly.
Chow muchi"
"Give me hundred dollars. don't SUI
render valyble papers like this fur nothir
short of that figure"
I "See here, madam, if did the propc
thing it would be to put you under arres
i for stealing tins paper. 1 don't propose t
4 compound felony by rewarding you for it.
''But didn't steal it."
mot a word. Go, or I'll put you under al
rest" retorted Seekmore Gripes, sternly.
Mother CABRERA realized that she had sol
out "dirt cheap" She had permitted til
paper to go out of her hands, and now
was too late to make demands. Acceptin
the paltry reward, she turned and shuttle
from the room, dropping her vail as st
= did so.
49," muttered Seekmore Gripes, as b
went to the window and examined the pr
\ cious document. This was stolen by thu
) old woman for the purpose of extortin
money. She didn't make fortune out
me, the poor fool. It takes somebod
mighty sharp to get the start of Seekmol
Gripes."