Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-07-29
CHAPTER x.
ANGUS! August"

L
"ANGUs! August"
The following day an inquest was
held over the remains of the banker,
and as the evidence before the jury
holding it accorded in all particulars
with the statements made to the sher-
if on the night before by Herbert
Lathrop, it is useless to repeat it.
Fannie's testimony corroborated that
of Herbert's in so far as his calling
her after she had retired and notifying
her that Angus Bruce was awaiting her
with letter from Miss Hill, and join
ing her on the stairs when she de-
| scended. And she stated:
'When we entered the library my
| eyes fell on the form of Angus Bruce
| turning from my fathers bedside with
| that bloody knife clutched in his hand
| and look OF horror on his face. faint
ed, nor did I subsequently see Angus
Bruce again."
"You say, Miss Lloyd" said the coro-
ner, that on his features was look
of horror? Did you, or do you think,
that the expression indicated one who
who was gloating over deed of blood?
| You remember your cousin said the
look was fiendish, which would imply
| as much?"
81 thought the look one of amaze
| ment and horror; the knife he held
at arms length and there was blood
| upon his hand and clothing; yes, even
on the bosom of his shirt-it was the
blood of my dear father. I saw it all
| and then-and then tainted
Here Fannie burst into a flood of
| tears.
| he
| Angus Bruce leave behind letter from
Miss Hip"
Not to my knowledge; when I re-
were bloody finger marks upon my
dress. Aunt Mag said that before fly
ing from the house Angus raised me
to the sofa.''
Perhaps" sad the sheriff, 'he had
no letter from Miss Hin, and merely
| made the assertion as a preteXt to gea.
into the house"
THAT question Miss Hill could doubt
less SETTLE" said Herbert; "but one
thing to my mind is cleara-his eNpecta-
| tions were to have the deed over and
10 traces on his person, eand to have
entered the library and closed the bed
| room door before my cousin descended
| the stairs. Of course he did not expect
| to see me again, and when we both
confronted him so suddenly, with all
| the evidences of his guilt before us,
, the reeking knife in his hand, he was
| struck dumb. He knew that he must
fly for his life and thus lose all that
he had hoped to gain, as the result of
bis crime; if indeed he hoped9for gain
| at all. He doubtless thought the muir
der would not be discovered till morn
ing, and that it would be believed the
work of burglars who had entered the
house after he had left
Everything would indicate as
much." said the coroner.
The jury speedily found a verdict
that John Lloyd had been murdered by
Angus Bruce, and officers were dis
patched in all directions for his appre-
hension. Two were instructed to pro-
coed to Smithville on the Sunshine,
which departed at once, bearing let
ter from Herbert to Abner Hill, inform
ing him of his uncle's murder, and re-
questing the presence of himself and
family at once.
Many people were on the wharf
when the Sunshine departed on her
| downward trip.
Should you encounter the Clara
lseiie on your trip down, board her and
make thorough search, said the sher-
if to his officers.
II had expected the Clara Belle up,
on last nights tide" said gentleman
standing on the dock. ct had char
tered Angus for trip to Charleston;
he should have taken in his cargo to-
day"
THE. schooner may have been here,
Mr.. Murchison.''
IF it was,'' said Murchison, land
Angus fed on her, and at IL o'clock,
you will not encounter the Clara Belle.
Why, the tide began to ebb at IL
/ last night, there was good stiff
breeze down the river, and the Clara
Belle, without cargo, would skim the
water like a thing of life, and by five
O'Clock this morning would have
passed out the inlet"
There was a young man standing on
the deck of the Sunshine in the uni
form of a lieutenant of the regular
army. Few recognized in him youth
they had seen many times in his boy
hood days on the streets of Whining
ton, with Abner Hill, and yet this
youth was she squire's, youngest son.
Tom, who now for the first time in
eight years, with two or three exceP-
tons, when he had been home ON short
vacations, was returning to orion.
For four years he had been at school at
Hillsboro, n. c., and for the last four
at West Point military academy He