Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-09-01

! OOU, she claSped her hands together and
! muttered to herself:
That's why you killed old marster,
Herbert Lathrop. You feared that
after he was married he would make a
new will
And further on, when the clause was
read making Herbert the administrator
of the estate, she said:
Il know enough. A niger can't tes-
tify, but niger can watch and wait
and pray. Herbert Lathrop. I can do
all of that, and may do more
The day after the will was read Fan
ME returned with the squire and Mrs.
Hill to Orion. Of course, her marriage
with Clarence would now be deferred.
One night ten days after Fannies
| departure Herbert Lathrop was seated
in the late bankers library at desk
examining his private papers and maxi
ing plans for the future.
Everything works smoothly" he
said, as he brought his hand down on
his knee. Fifty thousand dollars in
my own right, and the handling of an
estate of half million for at least five
months. Not till October will Fannie
be of age, and in five months liberal
percentage of that half million should
become the property of the admins
traitor. All funds are now in accord
ance with the provisions of the will
withdrawn from the bank.
There is a good round sum to be in
vested in real estate and bonds-bank-
ing business is too combining for my
temperament. l must have a more ac-
tive life. Now planters life would
suit me; fine plantation, lots of mig
gers, good overseer, fine horses, pack
of hounds. and-well. either Clara Hill
or Fannie for a wife. Now Clara Hill
has got the most style, Fannie the most
money. Clara would be the hardest
to manage; then why not marry my lit
tie cousin?
why not! that is simple enough,
Herbert; she won't have you, and then.
she is engaged to Clarence Hill. Clear
ly I will have to be satisfied with Clara
l 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, frs 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 a hundred thousand dol
lars to buy the place with the slaves
upon it-clearIy my $4,000 would not
avail. FL 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 / but fol-
low the provisions of the will-there's
lots of pickings in this administration
business.
by the way, I must offer that reward,
Isuppose, for theapprehension of Bruce.
1t is rumored on the street that I'm to
do so, but everything moves off so we'll
that hope he viii not be captured. 1t
would be disagreeable to have to con-
front him-there was danger in his eve
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 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 a 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
cides with mine I'll purchase Kendall.
| Of course, he'll think that was ruled by
him alone; now, that would be stroke
of policy"
Here there was tap on the library
door, and Herbert started suddenly to
| his feet.
"Why, how the least sound startes
me. / 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 Il
| pitcher filled with something evidently
hot, as the steam was rising from it's
| 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, Marse Herbert, l al
ways brought it to Marse John every
right before he went to bed. and now
since you have taken his place brings
it to you"
Taken his placer
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 it 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
I thought 1 got all of those blood spots
off the carpet. they're as plain as ever
let me get rug and cover them"
Eyes. cover them. Aunt Mag. cover
them!"
Here Mag opened the bedroom door
and instantly gave a fearful scream
that brought Herbert trembling to his
feet.
ITO BE Continued
Beethoven and the Ladies'