Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-23

''hNes IA oSS' Pm dtS-1SIdSN DSdTu
and 100000 for his head! Better;
better yet hope he'll soon be killed,
killed dead-dead men can't talk.
II am planter. ] own Kendall. You
say, squire, that Clara will be my wife ?
Why, that's what I've worked for. TIC
obtain her hand was one of the objects
that caused me to stain my hands with
but no, Bruce did that!
"Clarence and Fannie marry the same
day, October 10.
whats that, Mag? Me marry the
sister of Agnes Bruce? You're crazy
Why, he killed my uncle!
mo, you, you! Herbert Lathrop!
"Mag, Mag. never say that again;
some one might hear you. It's saii
that walls have ears. I'll buy your
children and your husband, and any
thing you want. but don't say that
again.
"Go to Smithville and see what the
mother and sister of Bruce say? Well
Mag, We'll see about that-I have faith
in you, for you expect me to restore
your children, and I'll do it, Mag, I'll dc
it. I wonder if Tom Hill is all right.
'Ah, the 10th of October is here
Now, it is night. and we will walk in
at the chapel door; there is the priest
in his white robes, and there is Clara
leaning on her fathers arm. How
beautiful she is here is Fannie on my
arm. What! Clarence and my cousi,
first? That's well. Why, now they
are man and wife, and Clara and !
stand before the altar.
"Who is that! Who is that! What!
Black Beard? Seize the murderer OF
John Lloyd! What, me! Help! help!'
And from the bed leaped Herbert again
his eyes staring and his whole frame
qualsing.
''Thank God! Thank God! it's day.
light. Not for the world would close
my eyes again. must send Mag tc
Smithville; can't stand this. "
gods, 1 am winter than these walls
What! eight o'clock? Had l walked al
the usual time, would have been spared
half of that horrid dream. Why, I car
hardly stand, and / am wringing wet
Aunt Mag! Aunt Mag! keep your idle
thoughts at home"
When Herbert entered the dining
room Fannie was seated at the table.
Good morning, Fannie"
Good morning, cousin; why, how like
ghost you look. Are you ill?"
II am not we'll, Fannie, and rested
poorly. ! am going to Wilmington to.
day to see DR.. Davis; do you wish tc
go?" :.
"No, Herbert, don't wish to see the
place soon, and yet have spent many
happy hours there, when my dea,
father was alive. What a very fiend
one must be to murder defenseless
old man. Why, father never would
have dreamed that he stood in DANCE,
from Angus Bruce"
Ellis infatuation for Miss Hill made
him desperate" said Herbert. "He
could not bear that other than him.
self should possess her hand"
AT one o'clock Herbert was in Will
mington. The principal theme of con
versation there seemed to be Black
Beard and his exploits, among the
latest being the Beaufort and Balti
more episodes.
The Mary Locl1ett, an incoming yes.
sci with funds to buy cotton, had been
overhauled Is miles from the inlet, and
the pirates plundered her, securing a
large amount of money, and although
| no man answering the description of
Black Beard was seen among those
who boarded and plundered her, the
pirates vessel was two-mast schooner
and it was generally conceded that
Black Beard was her master.
The Sydney X. Jones, another cotton
carrying craft, three weeks overdue, ii
was claimed had been plundered by the
pirates, and with her entire crew sent
to the bottom of the ocean.
1t wac argued that the days of Black
Beard must be drawing to close, un-
less he at once abandon the Carolina
coast.
His crew, 1t was estimated, numbered
100 men. and was said to be composed of
fugitives from justice, ex-convicts and
runaway slaves.
A steamer was fitted outin the harbor
which would soon leave in quest of the
pirates.
Herbert visited the old home of his
uncle, which had not been entered since
he had taken Fannie to Kendall; the
furniture and the belongings of the
house had not been removed, and every
thing seemed familiar.
He went up to his old room, there
stood the half-empty bottle of brandy,
from (which lie had drank that night.
He turned glass, and drank it down,
then he passed into his cousins room;
there suspended from the wall hung a
painting of his uncle; he glanced at it
but once, and left the room; next he
passed down the stairway, and at the
bottom hesitated-
why should l go there? Pshaw!
I'm nervous. Why should not? am 1 a
coward2"
He walked to the library door and en-
tered-the door of his uncle's room
stood open.
There stands the bedstead as itstood
that night when-when l killed nv
uncle. The bloody sheet, blankets and
mattress have been removed. There's
where Angus stood, right opposite my
uncle; there l stole in behind ant!
struck the blow. All! what's that?
blood! blood on the carpet yet? Hark!
that scream! it was in the bathroom
there is nothing there; am avery fool.
I must leave the house before / lose
my head. What's that?-a portrait,
and with its face reversed. Mine! mine
sgain! There's something wrong
everything is wrong. Could he, a muir
larn1 IL -.