Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-10-13
CHAPTER XXI


Mag was seated on the floor before the
library fire "a favorite position of hers
when left alone) awaiting the return of
her master. Suddenly she exclaimed:
Il can't z'actly see the way clar, but
If the worst do come, marster, this we're
knife is just as sharp as the one what
Neber mind, Mag won't fail, honey.
Clara Hill shall neber be his wife,
Mag done swore it, but wonder what
is become of that man what prom
Used to tend to the balance; pears he
desert, and there amt no one for Mag
to suit about it."
a. While Aunt Mag was thus commun-
ing with herself, there came knock
at the door.
Il wonder now who is that; it must
Ike Reynolds" and Aunt Mag arose to her
feet, and went to the door; she opened
it. The man who entered was Hugh
Gorden, the man whom Margaret
Bruce had said would tend to the bal
ance.
II know you're alone, Aunt Mag"
he said, "for l saw your master and
mistress ride away. Poor girl, it was
terrible to see her riding by with her
fathers murderer-but can come in?
VIII we be uninterrupted for a half
hour?'
Dress de Lawd you's come, marster.
I was, getting skeered you had left Mag
to do her work alone, but marster, it
would be done in time" and Mag drew
from the folds of her dress a knife.
Not that, Aunt Mag, not that; why.
woman, they would hang you for MUIR
der; let the law deal with Herbert
Lathrop; in that way alone can the foul
stain be lifted from the name of Angus
Bruce"
Its ole marster's murderer tina: |
wants brought to jestes; as for Angus
Bruce, il he's cleared of that, he's still
Black Beard, and a pirate-it can't help
him"
Zone thing at time, Mag, one thing
at time. Let Black Beard look out for
himself"
why, that's what Angus mother
says, but come this way, marst"r," and
when they were seated in the library,
with locked doors, she added, mo one
won't 'sturb us here
Now, Aunt Mag, how can it be ar
ranged, that l ana some one else-who
/ do not yet know-can be within hear
ing distance of the conversation he
tween you and your master in which you
will try and cause him to make admis-
sions of his guilt?"
Il won't only try, but I'll make him
DO it,
but where will the conversation take
md xubo7.o will xUa lNo coorofo6
iii make marster 'fess right in this
very room. How many of you will be
here to hear hiln?'
but two, think; that will be quite
sufficient"
why one of you might lay under
that lounge, and t'other one"
Whats in that bookcase, Mag? There
where the glass is broken out, the cur
tain pulled aside?'
why, books"
Gould not the books be removed? A
man might then stand there and hear
and see all. That would be the very
place.
Yes. marster, l can fix it,
Nov, Mag, for the time"
when marster's been up TO Wilmiag-
ton, and comes back at night is the best
time. You see, when he goes up there,
it makes him drink more than he does
here at Kendall, then when he comes
home, ne drinks more yet, and at night
after Miss Fannie has gone to bed,
brings him his hot Scotch, and you see
L spec he sleeps sounder arter it; so
then's the time"
but are You sure your master will so
to Wilmington before the marriage
takes place."
Yes, 1 hear him say he bleeged to go
! next Monday"
Lets see; tomorrow will be Friday,
the 9th; Monday will be the 9th. Short
time, just a night before the ceremonies
are to take place, but yet there is time
enough. Well, Aunt Mag, shall prob
ably not leave this neighborhood, and
will try to see you again on Monday.
| l will watch the river, and know when
he leaves the landing; meanwhile be
cautious-should he suspect, all will
be lost, for there is positively no evidence
on which to convict him, nor will there
be, if our plans fall
Long after Hugh Gordon had passed
out into the night did Aunt Mag keep
her station before the library fire, pom
dering as to what would be the outcome
of the conversation she would hold
with her master, and to which there
would be at least two witnesses. eff
1 could get Marse Herbert to visit the
old home, when he goes to town Mon
day." she thought, ''it would be best.
for then he would be more skeered and
narvous. I'll jes' member Miss Fannie
bout something She needs from there.
and he'll sure go and get it. amt for
get old marster''
When Herbert and Fannie came homo
Mag was lying in front of the fire, ap-
parently asleep.
Sound asleep" said Fannie. Faith
full old soul-a clear conscience causes
sound slumbers.''
Herbert started as though he had
been stung by a scorpion.
why, what's the matter, cousin
One to see you start at those words
would think your conscience was not
clear"
''No, no! I was thinking how near
the 10th is, Fannie
lN ssTs there auvfhiuu in that A. alarm,