Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-19
CHAPTER XIV.
THE ARREST.

CHAPTER XIV.
THE ARREST.
For one moment the two men glared
fiercely at each other.
Austin Wentword was too terribly
shocked to realize his position, or the full
meaning of the words uttered by Captain
Starbright He even allowed the Captain
to take the pistol from his hands, when he
bent and lifted poor Grace in his arms and
moved toward the house
There was CONSERVATION among the
servants when the young mechanic en-
tered the house with his bleeding burden
Mrs. Penroy met him and screamed with
fright, and tainted on seeing the blood.
To Mrs. Penroy's room the young man
made his way, and placed Grace on the
luxurious bed. Then, with pallid face and
trembling fingers, he examined the wound
in the head of his betrothed. He was I'M
able to ascertain the full extent of the
wound, but believed it fatal. Captain Star
bright at once dispatched messenger for
a physician, the nearest one being at Stone
field, ten miles away. With this messenger
he sent a note which the man promised to
deliver to the county sheriff.
Soon after the accident Il visitor was an
nounced-Louis Fingal, the young hunter.
Wentword met him with a groan as he
extended his hand. In tremulous accents
he told the youth of what had occurred.
"And you think Grace will die?
A tear stood in the young hunters eye as
he put the question.
81 fear she will"
"Then retribution must fall at once on
her assassin" cried Fingal, in a stern
voice.
"That it shall"
Both men turned to see Captain Star
bright standing near, the same spirit Of
evil that he had ever been since his appear
auce at Lone Hollow.
"You here?" exclaimed Fingal.
81 am. No one has a better right. 1
mean to see that the murderer does not es-
cape.'
You know him.
HE stands there" pointing at Austin
Wentword.
Fingal regarded the young mechanic in
silence. He saw the pallor on his face
deepen, caught q rcSentful CLEAN IN tho
eyes, and realized that the words of Cap
tain Starbright had struck deep.
''This is not the time nor place to resent
such language, Clinton Starbright," re-
turned the young mechanic, in a low voice,
almost hushed under the shadow of his
awful grief. "When am assured that she
will live, or death intervenes, then L will
settle with you, sir, in way that will provo
satisfactory
Then turning to Louis Fingal the young
man took his arm and led him away. In an
other room, with the door locked to keep out
iutruders, the two young men sat and con
versod long and earnestly.
"Just as my happiness had dawned it is
awful to have it snatchcd from me by the
bullet of cruel assassin" groaned Austin
Wentword.
ut is awful" agreed the young hunter
"Can you imagine who could be SO wicked
as to do this!"
81 can not"
sit is Captain Starbright's work. de-
clared the young hunter. HE is wicked
enough for any thing. He has plotted to
gain the Vandible fortune and nothing is
too black in the way of crime that he will
not do to gain what he seeks. That man
| must be watched. have not seen the will
left by Morgan Vandible, but know its con-
tents from one who has read it, and it is so
worded as to leave every thing to Captain
Starbrlght should Grace die or marry
! another. Depend upon it, Austin, it was a
hand hired by the Captain that fired the
bullet at Grace tonight"
at may be so. can not believe that one
! so pure and good has an enemy in the
! world.'
''She has enemies only as she is an OBJ
stacle in the way of that DEVILS greed. He
| must be watched"
! "Mr. Fingal, quite agree with you,' re-
turned the mechanic, sadly. "The Captain
must be watched, and know of but one
| person who can do it successfully
"Well2"
! 81 mean Lura Joyce. She is atStouefield,
and you know where. If you would only
go for her should feel under everlasting
obligations to you. like that girl, and be-
| lieve now that Grace isis ill, she would
! gladly come"
| "Of course she would" agreed the young
hunter, touched deeply by the emotion
1 INyvI L.
girl myself. know her like book, and
am sure she will not delay coming one
moment when she learns that her cousin is
injured"
"You are very kind"
| "Not a word of that sort, Austin. like
you and Grace, and hope that you may bott
live to be united and happy in spite of the
Vaccinations of contemplate villain.''
Then Fingal turned from the room.
Austin Wentword sat like one in a dream
until he heard the outer door clang behinC
the departing hunter, then he leaned his
head on his hands and moaned in an agony
of spirit.
A pair of gllttering black eyes looked il
upon the Borrowing young man, the malev
olence in their depths indicating how ven
omous was the heart beneath.
sit is we'll The game is now completely
in my hands, muttered Captain Star
bright, as he passed down the hall to the
front door, after glancing in upon the
bowed form of Wentword. He stood on the
steps and peered down through the tree:
to the road and the gloomy hollow beyond
Night held full sway now, and mist huns
over Lone Hollow, as if the blue firmamen
was mourning for the beautiful girl 81
cruelty stricken down this night.
Captain Starbright became nervous afte
little and began pacing the wide verand;
with solemn steps and slow, his chin bowet
upon his breast, thoughtful, troubled lool
. 10 his eyes.