Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1897-07-28
CHAPTER IX.-.CoNrINUEp.

|
Herbert breathed easier.
This must be the weapon with which
the murder was committed" said the
sheriff, as he raised from the carpet
where Angus had dropped it, the sheath
knife.
That is the weapon he held in his
hands when my'cousin and entered the
library, and Isaw him turning from the
bedside" said Herbert. Blood covered
the knife as it does now; also his hands
and clothing, and on his face was the
look of fiend. 1 shall never forget it
till my dying day"
That blade" said the doctor, passed
entirely through the heart. Your
uncle's death must have been instant.
He could scarcely have made an out
cry"
Nor did he" said Herbert, cor we
would have heard him"
81 never would have believed that
Angus Bruce would have been guilty of
crime like that. Why, he kept his bank
account with your uncle, did he not?"
'He did, sheriff. 1t was not financial
matters that impelled him to do the
deed"
"Was there motive?'
81 can think of but one"
"And that?"
Bruce loved the lady who on to-mor-
row night would have wed my uncle,
and jealousy, judge, caused the crime
He was desperate because he could not
tx.iv hn ho,
drowning, 1 suppose he argued that
he was entitled to her hand, and I
doubt not she would have preferred to
drown to giving it to him.
did you first see him tonight when
turning from the bed with the knife in
his hand" asked the sheriff
mo, sheriff, was down at the bank,
until fully half-past ten, as often am
at night when getting behind, posting
the books. When 1 was coming home
and on the corner below, encountered
Angus Bruce. He seemed greatly ex-
cited and agitated about something,
and said that he bore letter from
Miss Hill to my cousin, and that he
had promised to deliver it tonight in
person. l told him that, as she had
undoubtedly retired, would take his
note and deliver it in the morning. He
said that would not do, as it was i'm
at once, and that he had pledged his
word to deliver it,"
Strange! Strange!" said the doc
tor.
He then said that he must see Uncle
John, and on business that would not
brook delay. 1 knew that Uncle John
had retired, but l also knew that i'm
mediately after his marriage he would
be absent on a trip for several months
So, deeming that he wished to see hin,
on business matters of Importance, I
conducted him into the house light.
ed the lamps in the library, knocked at
my uncle's door, and told him that
Angus was here, and desired to see him
particularly.
L have RETIRED he replied, but tell
Angus to enter my room
Il told Angus to do so, and that in
the meantime 1 would call Fannie. He
entered this door, as passed out into
the hall; assembled the stairs, knocked
at my cousins door, and informed her
that Angus was below, with a letter for
her from Miss Hill, and desired to de-
liver it to her in person; she replied
that she would be down at once, and
l went to my room, wondering at the
excited state of Bruce, and what could
be his urgency in wishing to see my
uncle.
81 had taken off my coat and CATERS,
| when l heard my cousins room door
open, and l thought again of the APP
pearance of Angus and hastily stepped
into my slippers and joined her on
the stairs. l have told of the horrible
sight that met our view when we en-
| tered the library-the deed had beer
| done. I cried 'Murder!' and would have
tried to apprehend him. but for the
dripping knife that he held in his hand
He advanced upon me, and, being un
armed, l could but fly and give the
alarm. Fannie had tainted, and lay or
the fioor-Aunt Mag probably heard
the commotion, as she is now with her.
And Bruce?"
HE ran after me to the very door
sheriff, and as 1 passed out / closed i,
Utmost in his face; it being dark il
the hall, he could not find the catch
so could not follow me-"
"And you know not if he has left the
house?"
How should ~"
us the Clara Belle in port?"
II know not that, but should Judge
not. He would hardly bring his schoon
er, when coming on such venture
unless he had entirely lost possession O.
his mind"
Did Bruce leave behind the letter fol-
Mis- Loyd?"
That 1 cannot tell: she may be abb
to answer the question"
But poor Fannie was in no condition
to answer anyone. All her happy ant
joyful anticipations had been turned t.
the greatest grief that her young hear
had ever known. She could only wall
My father! Oh, my father! Muir
Tered by Angus Bruce!"
Two or three of the gentlemen pres
ent went for their wives and daugh
ters, to come and try in some manner t.
comfort her, while the sheriff with TIN
coroner and the rest, with drawn weap
ons, searched the house, but they couI,
not find Angus Bruce.
-f the Clara Belle is in port" sal,
The sheriff, she must be at Worth
wharf; she always ties up there; come
men, to the what"
But did you question the negress :?