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

BLACK BEARD VISITS THE WIDOW BRUCE.
At midnight on the Goth a boat in
which was seated seven men, six ut the
oars and one astern, was fast approach
ing Smithville from the direction of
the island. Were it not so dark the
figures might have been discerned by
the lookout or crew of any vessel thai
might be passing in or out of the inlet.
The man in the stern who had hold
of the tiller ropes was the one who
bore the title of Black Bearl-the man
who in four months had terroriZed the
entire Atlantic coast and performed
deeds of daring far surprising those OF
any bold buccaneer that ever trod the
quarter deck of privateer on the At
lantic coast or stretched hemp at Il
beard now nor was he dressed in sea-
mans garb, but attired very much as
were the planters of the period.
Bill Gibbs, Sandy and four other
strong men held the oars, and as the
six blades dropped into the seething
brine, and they swayed back with their
long, regular strokes, the boat shot for
ward as though propelled by more than
bone and sinew, her sharp prov cutting
the water and causing the spray to fall
back into the faces of the buccaneers.
On the salt marsh but few hun
dred yards from the court house, they
pulled the boat ashore.
Nov, men," said the captain, -four
of you will come with me-Gibbs,
Sandy, Watson and Bullion-Staggs
and the Croaker will remain with the
boat-if anyone approaches, pull off,
but if not, lie low; there's no one STIR
ring now. We will do one good deed
and after that amend the laws delay,
and mete out justice to a wretch who
else may battle it for all time to come.
and then, my lads, we turn our back
upon this coast forever. True, men on
whose lives the law has heavy claims
should not be the ones to pirate of the
miSdeeds of others, or amending the
laws delay in melting out justice, while
in our own cases we are in no great
haste for it. But there are crimes for
which 1 would hang member of my
crew at the yard arm, and for such a
crime one man dies ere Black Beard
leaves this coast. Come!"
The five men proceeded through the
town, while the sleeping townsmen
little dreamed that Black Beard was
walking past their doors. AT the gate
of the cottage of Margaret Bruce they
halted. A moment more and the cap
tain had adjusted long black beard.
"Now, Bill, the box
A small box was handed him, and from
the way he handled it, it must have
been quite heavy.
81 won't keep you long, men," and
IN moment more he had knocked on the
door.
Presently a voice asked: "Who wakes
Margot Bruce at this hoor of the
nicht?"
"One, dame, that you must see, now
or never, on matters of Importance to
all who are of the family of Angus
Duce."
Angus Bruce! my ain August"
The door opened, and Black Beard
passed within. 1t closed, and for good
long hour did he remain there, and when
at length the door opened, and he
walked out, there We're tears in his eyes
and his voice quavered as he said:
"Good-by, now, and good-by forever;
don't forget"
Black Beard joined his men, and they
FASTENED away. The little wooden boS
had been left in the cottage.
When the gate had been closed, Their
it was that the widow sank upon hel
knees.
Angus! Angus! my ain, ain son!'
Then she started to her feet. graspeC
a shawl, threw it over her head ant
started to the door. but suddenly halt
ed, pressed both hands to her head ant
exclaimed:
Il can ma doot! My God, can ni
doot," and fell to the floor unconscious