Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-03-28
So Angus accompanied Herbert to
the house; he unlocked the front door,
and they entered the hall.
The house was in darkness.
CHAPTER VIII.
N,fx. ron ,,pse ,-rrrnys

MY GOD, IT'S MURDER"
Herbert took Angus Bruce by the
arm and conducted him to the library
where he lighted a lamp. He then
knocked on his upcle's door.
Uncle John! Captain Bruce is here
and desires to Sc you"
why. it wns hardly necessary to
arouse him tonight; tomorrow would
have answered." said Angus.
"Well, nephew, have retired, but
let Angus enter the room, If he would
see me-"
"Now walk in and sec my uncle, cap.
tain, and i'll the meantime will notify
my cousin that you nre below, and wish
to see her."
"she probably has RETIRED" said An.
gus, who could not understand how
it was that Herbert Lathrop was SC
ready to arouse both his uncle and
cousin at that time of night, to see him
on matters that he had 10 reason tic
think important. eff she has," he con.
tinued, do not awake her, you can de-
liver this letter."
ooh, no danger Of her having RETIRED
said Herbert, "and this tho last night OF
her single lifc," and he hastened out OF
the library, closed the door, and hastily
assembled the stairs.
He entered his room, lighted lamp,
then pulled off his CATERS and put on
a pair OF light slippers, next took off his
coat, and unbuttonetl his shirt sleeves
at the cuffs, rolled them we'll up, then
put on light dressing-gown, hastily
proceeded TO the upper end of the hall,
and tapped on Fannie's door.
"Fannie! Fannie! haveyou retired ?''
"Yes, Herbert. but am 1wanted?"
angus Bruce is in the library and
wishes to see you. He has message
from Clara Hill"
"Tell Angus will hasten down." was
Fannie's reply.
Herbert FASTENED to his room, UNI
locked and opened his trunk and with
drew therefrom the shclth-krrife. ns
looked in the glass.
II am very pale" he said, "but do
not trcmble; There is no timo to falter
now; too much Is at stnke-a swis OF
this brandy will help me-there, now, I
feel man."
He walked out of hts room, but left
the door ajar.
Stealthi1y down tina stairway he stole,
and to the outer door Of his uncie'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 tho bathroom door than
she WINS right behind him.
The door he opened noiselessly and
left open, so that nothing should i'm
rede 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 tho table in the library
lighted it dimly.
Herbert could geo his uncle sitting
on the side Of tho 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 obstructed his vision, must
surely have discerned him.
"Soyou tell me, Angus" were the first
words that struck Herbert's ear, shat
Clara Hill would but wed me because it
is her fathers desire, and that she has
told you TINT you have her heart? 1
would not have believed that of Clara,
and If she tells me SO tomorrow I will
return from Orion single man."
ut is well you nre here, Angus Bruce y
thought Herbert, and in moment
more he was standing right behind him.
with the handle of the sheath-knifs
firmly clutched in his right hand.
"You see, Angus-but!" as his eye
caught sight of Herbert's pale face, and
tho wild look of his eye startled him.s
He got no further than the word
"butl" in what he was about to ec-
claim, for underneath the very arm OF
Bruce leaped forth tho sheath knife,
and the hand Of Herbert guided it.
homc-ssraight home-to the shaft Of
bone. 1t sank, piercing the ban1s-
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.
~ this insta1h5 a piercing scream
emanated from the bathroom door, and
Angus whirled In time to catch sight
OF figure pdssing through tho door.
He sprang towards 1t, but the door
closed to will, snap. II opened into
the bedroom, and could not be forced
from that side.
He heard rapid words on the other
side, and tho voice of Herbert.
He rushed back to the bedside
grasped the kpife's handle and drew it
forth. The life blood Of the banker
followed it, squirting up and dyeing the
hand of Angus, coat and sleeve, yes
even to the bosom of his shirt.
The scream that emanated from the
bathroom door was uttered by Aunt
Mag when Size saw Herbert Lathror
strike the fatal blow. She stood there
J