Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-09-02
CHAPTER XVI.-CoNTINUED.

CHAPTER XVI.-CONTINUED.
''Angus Bruce's sister!'- exclaimed
Herbert, with start. what, woman,
me marry the sister of a-of Black
Beard, the pirate! What put that in
your head? What ails you, Mag? What
do you mean? How knew you that
Angus had sister,"
.l"Oh, I've seen her often. She used
10 go to school in Wilmington, ard has
often been in your uncle's house. Hiss
Fannie knows her well. She is young
lady now; older than she is, and is said
to be the handsomest girl in Smith
vile, and now that her brother had
to leave home for the murder of your
uncle, a murder which you and know
he didn't commit"
Mag! Mag! what do you mean?'
said Herbert, springing to his feet and
glapcing hurriedly around the room.
Nothing, honey, nothing; why,
there amt no one here-no one knows
but you and I that it was you that
killed ole marster."
that again
I jes' thought t'would be good plan
IL JOu ~ hSi. AOo oSSs liz OIO
would ever suspicion you them
"How should anyone ever have sus-
picion of me?"
"Why, you know how wimmen folks
are. They never believe that their own
brothers or husbands could commit a
crime, and they are always looking for
some one else to saddle it on, and as
you was the only man in the house at
ho% A.x Sh RI
be the one that they would suspicion
did it,
Everyone else does, Mag"
Eyes, all but us two"
Don't say that again, Mag! They
surely can't doubt that Angus is a
pirate, with 100000 offered for his
head
eff Icould go down there once ,marster,
I'd soon find out what they thought.
I only want the man that is goin' to
bring some of my children to me be-
fore I die, to protect himself"
Thanks, Mag; I know you're all
right, and I will think of that scheme,
but it's not the pirates sister that will
wed"
N'Who then, marster?''
"You said, Mag, that there were but
two young ladies here"
Eyes, marster, but you couldn't-no
you wouldn't-marry ole marster's
daughter?"
Couldn't! Why couldn't -"
Because - because, marster - how
could your"
'But you forget the other lady. Mag.
1.-The other lady? What? That would
have been ole marster's bride, Miss
Clara Hill? No, no, marster; not
that. Ole marster'd haunt you
why, Mag! Mag! what ais you p
I'm skeered for you, marster, that's
ALL" i.
Eyes, Mag, it's Clara Hill that viii
be your mistress; just the same a:
though your old master had lived
Surely you don't object to her?"
mo, marster. It's for you to say, il
her bein' about don't mind you too
much of ole marster. that's all"
Herbert had drunk his hot Scotch. Z
Goodnight, Aunt Mag!" and he aros'
from his chair, and went upstairs, will
a mind anything but undisturbed, and
little sleep visited his eyes that night.
What could Mas have meant" hs
thought, ''by that expression about my
marrying Jennie Bruce? Did she
could she. imagine that sought th'
sister of Black Beard for wife? Or ii
she mcditating treachery against me
Scarcely that; she relies on my hunt
ing up some of her children. So I will
So I will! Mag must be kept satisfied
She says that the women think tina
their brothers and husbands can com
NIT no crimes-why, then. Clara hop
will think so of me. Should Mag go t,
Smithville, she might ascertain tina
the family of Bruce are thinking o
this matter. but what matters it to In
what they think? If Bruce stopped Their
going out, which evidently he did. an,
left the cook. he certainly told hi
mother and sister that he was not guilt
of the murder, and that was-if sc
why have they not been heard from be
fore?
4 ssHe doubtless tod them that all @
tae circumstances pointed to him. an
that to remain would be to hang 70
the murder-still. { can't understan
their silence-ir is unnatural.
aTher if Bruce heard Mag scream, b
must have told them that. but be ais