Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-06

to manage; then why not marry my III.
tie cousin?
"Why not! that is simple enough,
Herbert; she won't have you, and then
she is engaged to Clarence Hill. Clear
ly l will have to be satisfied with Clara.
can't antagonize the squire and Fan.
ME and Clarence, for they will have
to aid me in capturing Clara. A plant.
er's life requires, first of ALA planta-
ton; have it! The squire before leav-
ing for home informed me that Kendall
was for sale, and imagine he would be
pleased If would buy it; it joins Orion,
and would be the very place. Isuppose
it would take 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 1 but fol-
low the provisions of the will-there's
lots of pickings in this administration
business.
"By the way, Unjust offer that reward,
Isuppose, for. theapprehension ofBruce,
1t is rumored on the street that I'm to
do so, but everything moves off SO we'll
that hope he will not be captured. 1t
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 the trap had set for him. i'm
agine he would not be a 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 question Of time until he be
captured. Now, if he would only resist
arrest and get shot without my having
to confront him it would be we'll: as
it is, all can do is to hope for con-
tinuance of my former luck. I'll go
down tomorrow and consult Squire
Hill. 1t would be well to show conf
dence in his Judgment, and if it coin
cdes with mine I'll purchase Kendall.
Of course, he'll think that 1 was ruled by
him alone; now, that would be a stroke
of policy"
Here there was a tap on the library
door, and Herbert started suddenly to
his feet.
"Why, how the least sound startles
me. l 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 in"
1t was Aunt Mag that entered. In one
hand she held tray, and on it was !,
pitcher filled with something evidently
hot, as the steam was rising from its
surface.
''Marse Herbert, I brings your hot
Scotch"
How is it, Aunt Mag, that you have
taken to bringing me hot Scotch every
night since my uncle's death?"
'Well, yer see, NIarse Herbert, al
ways brought it to Marse John every
night before he went to bed, and now
since you have taken his place brings
it to you"
"Taken his place."
why. yes, TO his very chair. There's
where he set, night after night, slipping
his hot Scotch down: you've taken his
place in everything, perhaps you will
take ii with Miss Clara Hill"
DO you think so. Mag?"
"Why should you not? it was wealth
she was after, you have got it now; but
l thought I gota of those blood spots
off the carpet, they're as plain as ever
| LOT ,,,o rro{ ,,,,or o,fl ooro,, +l,,,,,
"Yes, cover them, Aunt Mag! cover
thpln!"
Here Mag opened the bedroom door
and instantly gave fearful scream
that brought Herbert trembling to his
feet.
"What is it, Mag? Why did you open
| that door? Let it be closed forever!
Lock it! Lose the key! Why do you
stand there, woman, staring at the bed {
| What do you see? Speak,"
"Do you see nothing, Marse Herbert
Didn't you sec nothing?"
| Nothing but the bed and the furni.
ture in the room, and those dark spots
of blood-what did you see, Aunt Mag?'
Lying across the bed in his night
robe, the body of your uncle; the shirt
and the bed were covered with blood;
the bloody sheath knife was sticking ir
his breast, and he looked at me Will
such sad eyes, and raised his RICH
hand and pointed to the picture and the
picture instantly swung its face to the
wall"
'.Turn it back, Mag! turn it back
Great God! it's mine; Mag, do you lie tt
NEE"
why should 1, 1nerster? doubt moi
you will see il turn again"
"Not l. Lock the door, Mag! Loci
the door! Ill take the hot Scotch t.
my ROOM"
II thought" said Mag, chat YOU
would now occupy old marster's ROOM
"What, me! Woman, you are crazy!'
"They sometimes call me so, Mars'
Herbert, but am harmless"
"Thanls God for that. Well, Mag
good night, and don't see any more vi
sions-Ha! Hal A good joke; Aun
Mag, a good joke! Wen leave here, Mag
] intend to buy farm, and there you'll
see no visions" E.
Herbert, with the tray in his hand
passed from the room, and up the stairs
while Aunt Mag threw open the bed
room door, and sank into chair.
go, murderer, go!" she muttered
''but there will be visions wherever yo,
are, SO long as Mag follows you, ant
there will be hands to turn your picture
to the wall. Yes, there will be one t.
fill you with fear, thwart you, and drag
you down, until Angus Bruce shall b
proved clear of Marse Johns murder
and YOU, Marse Herbert he BROUGHT +,