The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1896-12-26
CHAPTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
HUGH GORDON VISITS KENDALL.
On the evening Of October Herbert
and Fanniewere over at Orton. and Aunt
Mag was seated on the floor before the
library fire "a favorite position of hers
when left alone) awaiting the return or
her master. Suddenly she exclaimed:
II can't z'actly see the way clar, but
if the worst do come, narster, this yere
knife is just as sharp as the one what
Neber mind, Mag won't fail, honey.
Clara Hill shall neber be his wife,
Mag done swore it, but wonder what
is become of that man what prom
ised to tend to the balance; pears ho
desert, and there amt no one der Mag
to suit about it, }s"s4s>''
While Aunt Mag was thus commun.
ing with herself, there came knock
at the door.
81 wonder now who is that; it must
be Reynolds and Aunt Mag arose to her
feet, and went to the door; she opened
it. The man who entered was Hugh
Gorden, the man whom Margaret
Bruce had said would tend to the bal
ance.
II know you're alone, Aunt Mag,
he said, "for I saw your master and
mistress ride away. Poor girl, it was
terrible to see her riding by with her
fathers murderer--but can [ come in?
Will we be uninterrupted for q half
hour?"
'Bress de Lawd you's come, marster.
I was getting skeered you had left Mag
to do her work alone, but nlarster, IL
would be done in time" and Mag drew
from the folds Of her dress a knife.
mot that Aunt Mag, not that; why,
woman, they would hang you for MUIR
der: let the law deal with Herbert
Lathrop; in that way alone can the foul
stain BE- lifted from the name of Angus
Bruce"
"It's ole marster's murderer tina: I
wants brought to jestes; as fGEsAn 1s 2. !,
Bruce, if he's cleared of that, he's still
Black Beard, and pirate--it can't help
him"
"One thing at time, Mag, one thing
at time. Let Black Beard look o,ltfor
himself" VT
'sWhy, that's what Angus mother
says. but come this way. narst"r. ana
when they were seated in the library,
with locked doors, she added. mo QUO
won't 'sturb us here"
'sNow, Aunt Mag, how can it be ar
ranged, that and some one else-who
do not yet lmow--can be within hear
ing distance of the conversation be-
tween you and your master in which you
will try and cause him to make admis-
sions of his guilt?" @
II won't only try, but Ill make him
do it,
''But where will the conversation take
place, and where will we be secreted =
"Tll make marster TESS right in this
very room. How many Of you will be 4
here to hear hi1n?"
"But two, think; that will be quite
sufficient" 1s ~
= "Why one of you might lay under
that lounge, and t'other one &.
"What's in that bookcase, Mag? There
where the glass is broken out, the cur,
tain pulled aside?" I. .: & ,{sS
"Why, books
"Couid not the books be removed "a
man might then stand there and hear
and see all. That would la, k Tie ' yery,
place." sas:s $yse.
eyes, marster, I can fix IT," 5s..
'Now, Mag, for the time"
"When marster's been up tow
ton, and comes back at nightist
time. You see, when he goesu1
it makes him drink moro thanl
here ct Kendall, then when he
home, be drinks more yet. and a
after Miss Fannie has gone to-
brings him his hot Scotch, and "
I spec he sleeps sounder arter IL,
then's the time" IT.
"But are you sure your nasster Will Is
to Wilmington before the marriage
takes placer" s II i: 4.
eyes, hear him say he bleeged to 50 i
next Monday" .5s
Lets see; tomorrow will be Friday,
the 9Th; Monday will be the 9th. short
time, just q night before the ceremonies 4
are to take place, but yet there III time
enough. Well, Aunt Mag, shall prob
ably not leave this neighborh and
will try to see you again on Monday.
will watch the river, and know when i
he leaves the landing; meanwhile - ii
cautious-should he suspect, all will
pc lost, for there is positively no evidence 1
on which to convict him, nor will there 4
be. if our plans fail. 'as ssss
Long after Hugh Gordon had passed Il
out into the night did Aunt Mag keep
her station before the library fire, pom.
dering as to what would be the outcome
Of the conversation she would hold n