Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-04-25

Herbert Lathrop-can I get behind
Bruce without his seeing me? Yes,
yesl softly but quick, here 1 am-now
under Bruce's arm-clutch the handle
tight-drive hard-home! home to tho
hilt; now fly!
"That cry! that cry!
Il have you, Mag! have you."
Herbert sprang from the bed, the cry
still on his lips; the big beads of per-
SEPARATION pouring from his body-shak-
ing and quivering in every limb.
MY God! My God! how horriblel
Why, it's but dream-this bottle will
liven me up bit; that came of Mays
talk last night. Perhaps will sleep
| now"
He closed his eyes. but uninterrupted
ly the dream kept on.
Mag, you're niger; you can't tes-
tify-a word and I'll kill you. Silence,
and I'm your friend-I'll buy your. chill.
dren. 1t was Bruce, Mag; remember
1T was Bruce. Now I'm back in nv
room. All! drink, quick! uuicki
That was Fannie's door; I'll Join her
on the stairs, and we will view the scene
together. What's that? Murderl muir.
der!
I'VE enter the door; there's Bruce
turning from the bedside, with the
bloody knife in his hand. 1t couldn't
DC better-what a look Of horror on his
face. I'll call 1t a fiendish look; there's
Uncle John leaning back on the bed.
ana blood, blood! everywhere. Look
again; Fannie screams and faints.
Angus Bruce. you have murdered my
uncle!
Liar! This is your scheme. It is
you that murdered him,
Call the officers! Call the officersl
"Scoundrel!
"Ahl you are after me! Slam the
door! Slam the door! Now watch
there he goes, now for the sheriff.
What. Bruce! a pirate-Black Beard
and 100000 for his headl Better;
better yet. hope he'll soon be killed,
killed dead-dead men can't talk.
Il am planter. own Kendall, You
say, squire, that Clara will be my wife?
Why, that's what I've worked for, To
obtain her hand was one of the objects
/
but no, Bruce did thatl
Clarence and Fannie marry the same
day, October 10.
Whats that, Mag? Me marry tho
sister Of Agnes BruceY You're crazyl
Why, he killed my uncle!
mo. you, you! Herbert Lathrop!
mag, Mag, never say that again;
some one might hear you. It's said
that walls have ears. I'll buy your
children and your husband, and any.
thing you want. but don't say that
again.
go to Smithville and see what the
mother and sister Of Bruce say? Well,
Mag, We'll see about that-I have faith
In you. for you expect me to restore
your children, and I'll do 1t, Mag, I'll do
it. wonder If Tom Hill is all right.
"Ah, the 10th of October Is here.
Now, it is night, and we will walk in
at the chapel door; there is the priest
In his white robes, and there is Clara
leaning on her fathers arm. How
beautiful she is-here is Fannie on my
arm. What! Clarence and my cousin
first? That's well. Why, now they
are man and wife, and Clara and I
stand before the altar.
"Who is that! Who is that! What!
Black Beard? Seize the murderer Of
John Lloyd! What, mel Help! helpl"
And from the bed leaped Herbert again,
his eyes staring and his whole frame
qualing.
''Thanle Godl Thank God! It's day
light. Not for the world would close
my eyes again. 1 must send Mag to
Smithville; 1 can't stand this. Ye
gods, am winter than these walls.
What! eight o'clock? Had walked at
the usual time, I would have been spared
half of that horrid dream. Why, I con
hardly stand, and am wringing wet.
Aunt Magl Aunt Magl keep your idle
thoughts at homo"
When Herbert entered the dining
room Fannie was seated at the table.
Good morning, Fannie"
Good morning, cousin; why, how like
q ghost you look. Are you ill3"
II am not well, Fannie, and rested
poorly. am going to Wilmington to-
day to see DIR. Davis; do you wish to
go?"
mo, Herbert, I don't wish to see the
place soon, and yet have spent many
happy hours there, when my dear
father was alive. What very lend
one must be to murder defenseless
old man. Why, father never would
have dreamed that he stood In danger
from Angus Bruce"
Ellis infatuation for Miss Hill made
him Desperate" said Herbert. "He
could not bear that other than him
self should possess her hand"
AT one o'clock Herbert was In WI.
mington. The principal theme of con-
yersation there seemed to be Black
Beard and his exploits, among the
latest being the Beaufort and Balti-
more episodes.
The Mary Lockett, an incoming ves-
sci with funds to buy cotton, had been
overhauled Is miles from the inlet, and
after seven of her crew had been slain.
the pirates plundered her, securing q
large amount of money, and although
no man answering the description Of
Black Beard was seen among those
who boarded and plundered her, The
pirates vessel was two-mast schooner,
and 1t was generally conceded that
Black Beard was her master.
The Sydney X. Jones, another cotton.
carrying craft, three weeks overdue, IL
was claimed had been plundered by the
pirates, and with her entire crew sent
to the bottom Of the ocean.
1t WAC argued that the days Of Black
Beard must be drawing to q close, un-
less he at once abandon the Carolina
coast.
His crew, 1t was estimated, numbered
100 men, and was said to be composed Of
fugitives from justice. ex-eonvicts and
runaway slaves.
Asteamer was fitted out In the harbor,
which would soon leave in quest of the
pirates.
Herbert visited the old home Of his
uncle, which had not been entered since
he had taken Fannie to Kendall; the