Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-23
CHAPTER XVIII.

the Sunshine passed down the river
from Kendall, seated in the cabin,
position she was allowed to occupy as
an old family servant, wns Aunt Mag,
and 1t was noticed that she was better
dressed than very many of the female
passengers who were not of the African
race.
Arrived at Smithville, Mag proceeded
to the cottage of Widow Bruce. AS she
entered the gate Jennie Bruce saw her
from the open doorway.
"What!" she exclaimed; "Aunt Mag,
is this you?"
"It just is, honey; it's ole Aunt Mag,
suah enough
"Come right in, Aunt Mag. But what
could have brought you to Smithville?"
''I'se come down, Miss Jennie, to suit
with you and the ole missus.'
Margaret Bruce here entered the
room.
Mother, this is Aunt Mag, for many
years Mr.. Loyd's housekeeper."
"Weel, an wha' do We be wantin'
here, Aunt Mag? ken We did not come
here for naught. Mayhap We came to
tell NIargot Bruce that her son, murdet
your old mnrster?"
"Shut the door, mistress, and shut
down the windows. Can anyone hear
me but you two?" l
"Why, no, Aunt Mag; there's lso one
else here. lobe is away somewhere.
Speak out, you dear old soul; llnow
il is something important"
''That it is, Miss Jennie, that it isS'
"Oot with it, woman, DOT with it,"
'I'm that skcered, missis, that can't
DOT with it. My very life is at stake"
'Wait, Mag; thou shalt have summit
to warm thee up u bit. Lass, bring
Aunt Mag glass of wine. Now can'st
thee spcak?"
"Missis, what speak you must keep
inside this house alone and say nothin',
for the time amt come yet, but-but
I came to tell you that Marse Angus
didn't kill my marster."
81 ken weel that, Mag, but thou run
nest heavy risk to tell it to Margot
| Bruce. Did'st run AVA from hame to
| do SOP"
'No; Marse Herbert sent me here"
Herbert Lathrop send thee here!
He has confessed?"
mo, no, and never will confess. He
sent me to spy and find out what you
thought of the murder, how much you
knew and what you thought of Black
Beard. I wanted to come, and said
things that caused him to send me-"
"It was thou that screamed, Mag, at
the bathroom door? Did'st see the blow
struck?"
II saw the sharp blade glide under the
arm of Angus and sink into my mar
ster's breast. 1t was Herbert Lnthrop
who guided it. screamed, and he
seized me by the throat and said: "A
nigger's oath don't go in court, but if
you speak one word, Aunt Mag, I'll have
your life"
II know! know! vomcould not save
my son. Angus heard the scream, but
| the door was closed ere.he could reach
thee; however, time will bring all to
light, Mag, and the name of Bruce be
cleared"
"But, misses, what good will it do
Marse Angus or you? Iwant to bring
Herbert Lathrop to justice, but it can't,
help Marse Angus, now that he's turned
| pirate, and heaps of money offered for
his head"
"One thing at a time, Mag. Never
thee mind about Black Beard and the
bloody pirate, and the money on the
head of me ain boy. Themurderer first,
Mag, and then let Black Beard look after
his ain head"
"Does Fannie know that you came to
Smithville?" asked Jennie.
Dress yer, no, honey; no one knows it
but NIarse Herbert. He done sent her
over to spend the day with Miss Clara"
"When does theswedding take place.
| Aunt Mag?"
1.-THE 10th Of October, honey, at eight
but derc's two weddin's at the time,
that's what hurries ME so. You see,
t'other couple is Marse Herbert and
Miss Clara Hill. and that one must not
take place"
Great heavens! Clara wed Herbert
1athrap; impossiblcs"
II tinl1 1T Will be impossible; but
that's the Engagements. but ] specs she
just goin' to marry him to suit her pa"
"S.he must be saved from that fate"
said Margaret Bruce.
"An' she shall, missis! sheAshall! but
how? You see. they all think Nlarse
Angus kilt ole marster, an 1 dasen't
speak. If did. Marse Herbert would
sell me or kill me, an it, wouldn't do
any good. Now, he thinks.he's gotMag
fast; hepromised to send south and buy
my chillen; like I want my chillen to
| b'long to a murderer. There ,ain't but
one way missis; there nin't. but one
way"
What way is that. Nraa.?"s
"4ou see, Miss Jennie. must have
some one hid in The house: in the IL
brary, whar they can hear every word;
en- at night, when 1 bring in Marse
| Herbert his hot Scotch, I'll to him
bout the murder in such a way that
he'll confess his crime, and then dhey'll
be witnesses to what he says"
Can yon do that. Mag? Can yo do
that? Thank God; there is daylig
ahead If you can"
IL can do it, missis; if we canA get
some one smart enough to managei the
balance"
"We mum do that. Mag; we mum do
! that; but wha's that. lass. What's tha ?ss