Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1897-07-22
CHAPTER VIII.
"MY GOD. IT'S MURpER,"

''MY GOD. IT'S MURDER"
Herbert took Angus Bruce by the
arm and conducted him to the library,
where he lighted lamp. He then
knocked on his uncle's door.
Uncle John! Captain Bruce is here,
and desires to Sc you.''
why, it was hardly necessary to
arouse him tonight; tomorrow would
have answered." said Angus.
well, nephew. I have retired, but
let Angus enter the room, if he would
see me-
"Now walk in and see my uncle, cap
tain, and in the meantime I will notify
my cousin that you are below, and wish
to see her."
"She probably has RETIRED" said An
gus, who could not understand how
It was that Herbert Lathrop was so
ready to arouse both his uncle and
cousin at that time of night, to see him
on matters that he had no reason to
think important. eff she has, he con-
tinued, "do not awake her, you can de-
liver this letter."
"Oh, no danger of her having retired"
said Herbert, land this the last night of
her single life,'' and he fastened out of
the library, closed the door, and hastily
assembled the stairs.
He entered his room, lighted a lamp,
then pulled off his CATERS and put on
pair of light slippers, next took off his
coat, and unbuttoned his shirt sleeves
at the cuffs, rolled them well up, then
put on light dressing-gown, hastily
proceeded to the upper end of the hall,
and tapped on Fannie's door,
"Eanniei EaOnief have uo,, y-a{;ror3 81,
eyes, Herbert, but am wanted ?''
"Angus Bruce is in the library and
wishes to see you. He has message
from Clara Hil1.''
Tell Angus I will hasten down." was
Fannie's reply.
Herbert fastened to his room, IN
drew therefrom the sheath-knife. He
looked in the glass.
81 am very pale" he said. "but do
not tremble; there is no time to falter
now; too much is at stake-a swig of
this brandy will help me-there, now,
feel man.
He walked out of his room, but left
the door ajar.
Stealthily down the stairway he stole,
and to the outer door of his uncle's bath
room.
He did not see the figure of Aunt
Mag hugging the side of the entry as he
brushed by her, yet he had not more
than entered the bathroom door than
she was right behind him.
The door he opened noiselessly and
left open, so that nothing should i'm
~pede his egress.
The door from the bathroom into his
uncle's room was open. There was no
light in the room, but the oil lamp
standing on the table in the library
lighted it dimly.
Herbert could see his uncle sitting
on the side of the bed in his long night
robe and Angus Bruce standing with
his back to the bathroom door and al
most in front of him. His uncle. were
it not for the darkness of the bathroom
and the fact that the position of Bruce
would have obstruoted bis vision, must
surely have discerned him.
$50 you tell me, Angus were the first
words that struck Herbert's ear, "that
Clara Hill would but wed me because 1t
is her fathers desire, and that she has
told you that you have her heart? /
would not have believed that of clara,
and if she tells me so tomorrow will
return from Orion a single man."
1T is well you are here, Angus Bruce"
thought Herbert, and in a moment
more he was standing right behind him.
with the handle of the sheath-knife
firmly clutched in his right hand.
"You see, Angus-but!" as his eye
caught sight of Herbert's pale face, and
the wild look of his eye startled him.
He got no further than the word
''but!" in what he was about to ex-
claim, for underneath the very arm of
Bruce leaped forth the sheath knife,
and the hand of Herbert guided it
home-straight homs-to the shaft of
bone. It sank. piercing the bank
er's heart, and ere the startled Angus
realized what had been done, John Lloyd
had fallen backwards on the bed, the
knife blade still in his bosom and the
handle standing erect.
At this instant a piercing scream
emanated from the bathroom door, and
Angus whirled in time to catch sight
of figure passing through the door.
He sprang towards it, but the door
closed to with snap. It opened into
the bedroom, and could not be forced
from that side.
He heard rapid words on the other
size, and the voice of Herbert.
He rr1Sbed hacl< fo the l,odS;5a