Sharp County record., 1896-10-30

~ NtN NAsa' VI lAAN hNtt tAA vi MI ~ "a sN+-'a
Well, now that he is a murderer, she
viii soon get over that infhtuatou."
At the time the viii was being read,
there was standing Just without the
open pGrlor door a negress. She stood
a little back from the door facing. but
was eagerly bent forward, her cars tax
ing in every word Of the instrument
read by the lawyer, and when the clause
was read leaving Herbert Islthrop $5o,-
0OO, she clasped her hands together and
muttered to herself.
That's why you killed old marster,
Herbert Lathrop. You feared that
after he was married he would make
new will"
And further on, when the clause was
read making Herbert the administrator
OF the estate, she said;
81 know enough. A nigger can't tes-
tify, but a niger can watch ard wait
and pray. Herbert Lathrop, can do
all of that, and may do more"
The day after the will was read Fam
nie returned with the squire and Mrs.
Hill to Orton. Of course, her marriage
with Clarence would now be deferred
One night ten days after Fannies
departure Herbert Lathrop was seated
in the late bankers library at a desk
examining his private papers and maxi,
/ ing plans for the future.
"Everything works smoothly" he
said, as he brought his hand down ON
his knee. Fifty thousand dollars in
my own right, and the handling of an
estate of half a million for at least five
months. Not till October will Fannie
/ be Of age, and in five months a LIBERAL
percentage of that half million should
Eecome the property of the adminis-
traitor. All funds are now in accord
ance with the provisions of the will
withdrawn from the bank. \
There is good round sum to be in
vested in real estate and bonds-bank..
ing business is too confning for my
temperament. l must have a more ac-'
tive life. Now planters life would
uit me; fine plantation, lots of n;g-'
9ers, a good oyerseer, fine horses, a pack,
of hounds, Gnd-well, either Clara Hill,
or Fannie for a wife. Now Clara Hill
has got the most style, Fannie the most
money. Clara would be the hardest
to manage; then why not marry my lit
tie cousin?
"Why not! that is simple enough,
Herbert; she won't have you, and then,
she is engaged to Clarence Hill. Clear
ly will have to be satisfied with Clara,
/ can't antagonize the squire and Fam
ME and Clarence, fer they will have
to aid me in capturing Clara. A Aplant-
ers life requires, first Of ALA planta-
ton; have it! The squire before lcav-
ing for home informed me that Kendall
was for sale, and imagine he would be
pleased if l would buy it; it joins OTton,
and would be the very place. IsupPose
it would take a hundred thousand dol
lars to buy the place with the slaves
upon it-clearly my $4,000 would not
avail. I'll buy it, though, from funds
of the estate, and if the purchase proves
a good one, and everything turns hap
PLY for me-
why, then, bought the property for
Herbert Lathrop; otherwise l but fol-
low the provisions of the will-theres
lots of picllings in this administration
business.
"By the way, ,Imust offer that reward,
Isuppose,for theapprehension ofBrucc.
1t is rumored on the street that I'm to
do so, but everything moves off so well
that l hope he will not be captured It
would be disagreeable to have to con-
front him-there was danger in his eye
that night as he stood there with the
sheath knife in his hand, when he real
lied tho trap had set for him. i'm
agine he would not be very safe man
for me to encounter.
Strange that the Clara Belle has not
been located yet. Bruce evidently Is
aboard her, or she would have been. If
he stay aboard her. and on this coast,
it is only a question of time until he be
captured. Now, IL he would only resist
arrest and get shot without my having
to confront him it would be well; as
1t is, all can do is to hope for a con-
tinuancc Of my former luck. I'll 20
down tomorrow and consult Squire
Hill. 1t would be well to show conf
dence in his Judgment, and il it coin
cides with mine I'll purchase Kendall.
OF course, he'll think that was ruled by
him alone; now, that would be a stroke
Of policy"
Here there was tap on the library
door, and Herbert started suddenly to
his feet
"Why, how the least sound startlcs
me. | must get out Of here; this house
can't hold me another night Pshaw!
It's but Aunt Mag" and he sank into
his seat again, "Come ip."
1t was Aunt Mag that entered. In one
hand she held II tray, and on It was
pitcher filled with something evidently
hot, as the steam was rising from It's
surface.
"Norsc Herbert, | brings your hot
Scotch"
"llow is It, Aunt Mag, that you have
taken to bringing me hot Scotch every
night since my uncles de0th?"