The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-09-10
cnApTeR xxlx.-contlnued.

hearts or unseal women's tongues. l
have warned you not for gain, but to
show you the only way po Sible for
you to achieve your end. If you really
loved this girl, you would not hest
tate"
81 love her SO well that would hes
itate at nothing, but Barbara surely
would discover this sham, this part.
"A woman who loves madly is blind.
She would be delirious with happiness
and doubt would have no place with
her"
;. but you, who are In her employ
II money is not your object, why do
you turn traitor to your mistress?"
The French woman laughed.
IL turn traitor? Monsieur, when the
rattlesnake is bitten by one of its kind
the poison, deadly to others, is in itself
harmless. Can one play traitor to a
traitor? do not love madame, my
mistress. I said women who loved
risked all for that love. How Is IT,
then, think you, with women who
hate?"
In tone OF deadly, concentrated
passion she asked the last question,
and Lennox realized that in all she
said, so deep was her hidden motive it
was at least worthy of the effort, dis
tasteful, almost impossible, as 1t was
10 his open. honest nature to carry out
her designs.
"You have shown me the way" he
~ ocf ell, kho
How shall approach madame?"
let her approach you. Call upon
her on some obvious errand, and II,
rs heretofore, she tries her wiles upon
you. do not grow hardened, but let
them seemingly take effect"
-And Avice-is she safe? For Gods
sake tell me, and relieve the suspense
that is consuming met"
-Ah, Monsieur, consult the doctor
ms to the welfare of madame, his
vifel" retorted Marie, with a little
hooking laugh, gliding away as she
spoke, and hastily traversing the
street with swift, graceful tread.
He made movement to follow her,
but checked himself
BAIL How could he know she was
not In rnadame's employ? What more
Mkely2 But one thing barred this be-
iief--the tone in which she had said,
@How is-it, then, think you, with wom-
en- who hate?"
But he had other business on hand
5ust now He must seek second for
to-morrow's duel. Travis Meredith
would be most fitting, since he fought
It for Avices sake; and should he fall,
Travis could avenge her STILL
Milton had not seen Travis for forty.
eight hours, and now FASTENED TO his
house and found him sitting, detected.
ly. in his library. his head upon his
folded arms; but he spang up with a
faint smile OF welcome at his friends
entrance.
Amy news? he asked eagerly.
None. my boy, except have goad.
ed that villain to challenge, and you
must be my second"
with all my heart When and
where did you see him? Does he re-
fuse to speak? Milton, let me take
your place-let me avenge her first! "
mo, no! I am the one. But who
knows, Travis. We may be robbing
her of the only comfort life now has in
store for her"
"Truel oh, how intricate is this
problem! But yet, Milton, we cannot
both live and let him walk the earth
without wringing this secret from him.
n all were well he would not refuse 10
answer us. We are not brutes that
Avice need fear us. Why does he not
say boldly, She is my wife and give
us the certificate of their marriage"
"That is true. 1t takes away the
last lingering doubt remaining in my
mind"
Then, as concisely as possible, Mil
ton recounted the interview with Ma
rie, and the singular plan she had pro
posed to him.
Barbara loves your" Travis said
amazedly
"She once loved me, believe, but
that she still loved me I never dream
ed. AS 1t is, believe 1t to be more
hate than love. more bafled vanity
than affection"
''But IL she in reality knows OF Av
fees disappearance, can we reach hel
IN no other way? Can we not fore,
her to divulge what she knows?"
Il fear not. But wait until to-mor
row; much viii depend upon its Sc
quel!'
1t was daybreak ere the two mer
separated, first Milton having sent L
his rooms and the messenger return
ing with the expected challenge in due
form, naming the time and place. The
duel was 20 take place at sunset, jus
out of Paris at quiet spot, wher,
they might be secure from the myr
midons of the law.
Both Milton and Travis had al
ranged their worldly affairs, for bot
had determined that Richard Haye
should answer to them equally 20
their mutual wrong.
Let him but tell them whers Avic
was, let her but plead for his life. an
he might go scot-free; but otherwis
they avenged her silence.
The day wore slowly on to its close
The plass chosen was thick WOOD
through which sang a little murmu,
ing stream, whispering its gladness :
/ the tiny pebbles one could count at It
bottom. Now and then a little III
carted timidly up to its surface, or