Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-03-30

Invested himself of his dressing gown
and gulped down n horn of brandy.
so far, so good" he exclaimed.
He heard his cousins room door open
and at the same time cry from Angus.
Murder! My God! it's murder!"
He rushed as in alarm, and Joined
Fannie on the stairs. Together they
entered the library and saw Angus
Bruce turning from the bedside toward
them. The sheath knife was still
clasped in his hand, its blade dripping
with blood and the hand that held it
dyed.
Fannie tainted and fell to the floor.
"Murderer!" said Herbert, as his eyes
looked in at the bedroom door; you
have slain my uncle because he would
have wed Miss Hill. Assassin!"
You are the assassin here ex-
claimed Angus; "foul murderer of your
uncle! 1t is we'll planned, but there
was witness; heard scream"
Angus Bruce, you have lived long
enough to know that a nigger's oath
don't go in southern courts against a
white mans; now will go for the Off
GERS to arrest you, for / am afraid of
you with that knife i'm your hand. If
| you escape ere return can't avoid
| It,"
Murderer! liar! hound!" exclaimed
Angus, as he rushed towards him, but
it was too late; Herbert was out of the
room, and he heard the front door slam,
as he rushed bare-headed and in his
shirt sleeves from the house.
Angus raised Fannie and laid her on
n sofa. AS lie did so, Aunt Mag stag
gered into the room.
Ely! fly! Angus Bruce, not minute
to spare! You'll hang, you'll hang, sure,
and for murder you didn't commit.
saw the blow struck; it was Herbert's
hand that grasped the handle of the
knife. Drop it. drop it there! and t!.y.
a niggcr's oath won't save you; nothing
will help you; Herbert Lathrop has you
in his power"
Great Cod" said Angus, 81 must fly,
at least for time. Promise will you tell
Miss Lloyd and Miss Bill the truth?"
my life is now at stake, Angus Bruce,
or If I'm sold, it will he worse for YOU:
/ IL
Lathrop through thick and thin, and
your name shall be cleared. Now go,
and stop not. till you're a thousand
miles away"
Angus without word followed her
to rear door and left the house.
Once i'll the street, he FASTENED to the
Clara belle.
He had arrived in port at so late an
hour that the streets were almost de-
serted, and entirely SO along the river
front.
He had met no one (aside from Her
BERT in going to the bankers residence,
nor had he seen anyone save the in
mates vt the Lloyd mansion.
Arrived at the schooner, he hurriedly
called up Calvin Stewart. the mate, and
together they entered the cabin, where
we will leave them and return to the
scene of the murder.
CHAPTER TX.
"HER TESTIMONY WOULD NOT HOLD
GOOD IN Law"
When Herbert Lathrop had said that
he was afraid of Angus, as he stood
there with the bloody knife in his hand,
he had not lied, for now that the cap
tain was beginning to realize the sit.
uation q wicked CLEAN had come into
his eyes, and Herbert escaped from his
presence none too soon. But he made
no immediate cutlery; nor did he hasten
with the speed with which he flew
through the hall, to arouse either
| off >f ha
anticipating that Angus would either
attempt to follow him or perhaps realize
that everything was against him, and
fly (Which he, Herbert, desired, when he
said: "lf you escape ere return, can.
not help it, he had walked toward the
rear of the house. thinking that if he did
seek escape, it would be in that direc,
ton, and lie soon had the satisfaction oil
seeing the door open, and Angus and
Aunt Mag appear in the doorway.
ely, Angus Bruce!" said Aunt Mag
nothing but your speed will save you
| Then he had seen Angus dash down
the steps and disappear in the darkness
Even then Herbert stood there, lean
ing against the side of the house fol
some moments collecting his thoughts
"Now," he thought, ''if Bruce have
sense enough and good fortune enough
to get beyond the reach of apprehen
sion, so much the better for him, fol
he will save his life, and far better fol
me, for there will be no one to dispute
my evidence-ycs, and his fight will
make it appear doubly certain that hi
murdered my uncle; the case will adj
NIT of not a single doubt.
"Why, Fannie saw him turning from
the. bedside with the bloody sheatl
knife in his hand; her evidence aat
mine will forever place q bar against the
return of Angus Bruce to the coast O
Carolina.
; aunt Mag, unfortunately, saw me
strike the blow, but terror will holt
her tongue fast; if not, her evidence
will not be taken. She might talk, bu
if she does there is sure way to silence
her.
II might sell her; but no, I will kee!
Mag always near me, where can watcf
her.
Sod or the devil speed you, Angus
Bruce, say I; l y go not near the Clar'
Belle, for that will be the first poin
the officers will search for you. Now
if you"
At this instant a piercing scream wa
heard from within the house; Fan
ME had revived.
|! Herbert ran out the front gate, ant
A down Market street, and on the air a
he ran resounded the startling cry o