Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-10-06

On the morning of September 5, when
the Sunshine passed down the river
from Kendall, seated in the cabin, q
position she was allowed to occupy as
an old family servant, was Aunt Mag,
and it 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?''
ut just is, honey; it's ole Aunt Mag.
suah enough"
"Come right in, Aunt Mag. But what
could have brought you to Smithville >"
Use 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? l ken We did not come
here for naught. Mayhap We came to
tell Margot Bruce that her son murdet
your old marster?''
shut the door, mistress, and shut
down the windows. Can anyone hear
me but you two?"
why, no, Aunt Mag; there's no one
else here. lobe is away somewhere.
Speak out. you dear old soul; know
il is something important"
! s0Thof &c Misc Tanyio fhot &c
loot with it, woman, DOT with it,
I'm that skeered, missis, that I can't
DOT with it. My very life is at stake
"Wait, Mag; thou shalt have summit
to warm thee up a bit. Lass, bring
Aunt Mag a glass of wine. Now can'st
thee speak?"
"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 rum
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?"
"No, 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-
at was thou that screamed, Mag. at
the bathroom door? Did'st see the blow
struck?"
81 saw the sharp blade glide under the
arm of Angus and sink into my mar
ster's breast. 1t was Herbert Lathrop
who guided it. 1 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! l know! you could 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? pwant 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"
Zone thing at time, Mag. Never
thee mind about Black Beard and the
bloody pirate, and the money on the
head of me ain boy. The murderer 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 Marse Herbert. He done sent her
over to spend the day with Miss Clara"
when does the wedding take place.
Aunt Mag?"
THE 10th of October, honey, at eight
o'clock at night, in the chapel at orion;
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
Lathrop; impossible!"
II tipk 1t Will be impossible; but
that's the 'rangements, but specs she
just goin' to marry him to suit her pa
"She must be saved from that fate"
| Salu Margaret Bruce.
| AN she shall, missisi she shall! but
how? You see, they all think Marse
| Angus kilt ole marster. an l 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 got Mag
fast; he promised to send south and buy
my chillen; like L want my chillen TO
| b'long to murderer. There amt but
one way missis; there amt but one
way"
What way is that. Mage"
You see, Miss Jennie. | must have
some one hid in the house: in the Ii
brary, whar they can hear every word;
an at night. when / bring in Marse
| Herbert his hot Scotch, I'll talk to him
bout the murder in such a way that
| he'll confess his crime, and then they'll
be witnesses to what he says"
Can you do that, Mag? Can you do
| that? Thank God; there is daylight
ahead if you can"
II can do it. missis; if we can get
some one smart enough to manage the
balance"
I'VE mum do that. Mag; we mum do
that; but What's that. lass. wha's that ~
And looking out of the window Jennie
saw an apparently Iniddle-aged man.
| dressed in n Dlaid Suit enterinp the