Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-04-30
CHAPTER XXI.

BRUCE QaQ SalQ WOulQ CenQ TO the Dali
ance.
II know you're alone, Aunt Mag"
he said, "for I 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?
Will we be uninterrupted for half
hour?"
"Bress 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 knife.
mot 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"
"It's ole marster's murderer tina: I
wants brought to jestes; as for Angus
Bruce, if he's cleared of that, he's still
Black Beard, andsa pirate-it can't help
him"
s"One 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, marstcr," and
when they were seated in the library,
with locked doors, she added, mo one
won't 'sturb us here"
Nov, Aunt Mag, how can it be ar
ranged, that and some one else-who
do not yet know-can be within hear
ing distance of the conversation be-
tween you and your master in which you
will try and cause him to make admis-
sions of his guilt?"
II won't only try, but I'll make him
do it,"
"But where will the conversation take
place, and where will we be secreted?"
''I'll make narster 'fess right in this
very room. How many of you will be
here to hear bim?"
"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."
Eyes, marster, can fixit."
Now, Mag, for the time"
"When mnrster's been up to Whining
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. he drinks more yet, and at night
after Miss Fannie has gone to bed, l
brings him his hot Scotch, and you see
I spec he sleeps sounder arter it; so
then's the time"
"But are you sure your master will go
to Wilmington before the marriage
takes place."
YES, hear him say he bleeged to go
next Monday"
Let's see: tomorrow will be Friday,
the 6tn; Monday will be the 9th. Short
time, just 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.
will watch the river, and know when
he leaves the landing; meanwhile be
cautious-should he suspect, all will
,e lost, for there is positively no evidence
on which to convict him, nor will there
be, If our plans fail"
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 Their,
would be at least two witnesses. 81
could get Marse Herbert to visit tn,
old home, when he goes to town Mon
day." she thought, sit would be best
for then he would be more sl>eered ant
narvous. I'll jes' member Miss Fannie
bout something she needs from there
and he'll sure go and get it. 1 amt for
get old marster."
When Herbert and Fannie came home
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 us though he hat
been stung by scorpion.
why, what's the matter, cousin
One to see you start at those word
would think your conscience was no
clear"
mo, no! was thinking how nea
the 10th is, Fannie"
SIS there anything in that to alarm
you, pray?"
"No. Fannie, not to alarm me, bu
Clara. Do you think she will be happy
] know that you will be, for you low
Clarence, and he loves you, and it i
your disposition to be happy.
II trust, cousin, that you can max
Clara happy, and that ere long she vii
forget the troubles of the past. AS TO
me. l am quite happy; would be en-
tirely SO. but my coming marriage seem
almost too soon after my fathers death
| In that have been rtiided by Vol, an,