Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-02-19

ment. half puzzled what to do. He
was reused more fully than ever to
the nature of his feeling for the girl,
md then he was of that kind VINO,
br the very reason that he had once
decided to have her for his wife, would
not retreat. He would hang on to a
purpose as a bulldog hangs IN TO a
hold Of anything.
lie leaned forward, and put his
hand rather emphatically on PurcelPs
arm.
"Just listen to me a moment, will
you, ParceIl?'he asked.
The elder man looked up. as If Inn
patient at being disturbed, and
snaried;
We'll, what do You wanty II yon
want money. you have only to wait
until we find that treasure, you know.
It's a sure thing"
Yes: the old man was fast becoming
@ monemaniac. 1t seemed evident in
the eager glitter of his eyes when
he mentioned his one pet subject in
the nervous motion Of his hands, the
tremor of his lips.
But Burt wa not q man to waste
pity on him. He had o lost his bal.
ance of mind, and he had dug for
treasure, too;but then, he had never
expected to ind any, save In that one
exciting moment when he had seen
that chest brought to the light be-
meath their shovels. But he shud-
Aered as he recalled that time, He
had had enough of that kind Of work,
and he was not going to bother with
an imbecile like Purcell any longer.
He was about tired Of staying in
that place: he had some promising
spesllatlons on hand, and he wanted
TO be married and take his wife away
land he was a man used to doing
as he wanted to do.
That's all boshi" he excl-i.ad, in
answer to Purcell's leet words. ''and
] believe the time has come to tell
you SO. You neyer'll find any Treasure
and | can't wait for you to trV any
longer. + need my money very Eluch
that have lent you, and ! must have
It. Can you promise it to me next
week."
Purcell's face grew more helpless
looking.
4 cant-you know, / can't" he
said. Whats come over you, Dick?
] haven't got FIVE dollars, l told you
you before. All / own in the world
Is that poor little house and this boat"
Yes" said Dick, brutally, 'and I've
o mortgage on them, you know, and
its drawn SO / can sell you up at
short notice. And III do 1t, too"
PurcelFs eyes glimmered with anger
for a moment; then the spark died
away and he said:
Il cant help it. thought you were
q friend or I'd never have borrowed of
you-I'm sure of that. Sell me up,
then. and Kate and I win go forth pen
niless and | am an old man to go to
a strange place. "And the treasure,
Dick" bending nearer and speaking
with rapid emphasis-"can you give
that up?"
Easy enough" Don't talk OF that
any more"
Then you are not partner with me
any more?"
"No. / tell you. I'll have nothing
more to do with it,
Then / shall have thewholel My
child will be rich!"
PCrcell, as he spoke, half o in his
seat. while he clasped his hands In an
ecstacy ct antic: cation. truly. his
mind was fast losing it's strength.
Don't act like an IDIOT" fercely
cried Burt, feeling an impulse to strike
the man who could talk like that.
Don't you see you are ruined? How
do you think you can go digging for
treasure when your daughters starv-
ing? II you can pay attention a mo-
ment | have a proposition to make.
DO you hear me?p
"Oh, yes, / am listeningi" meekly,
Tor Purcell vas subdued and overawed
by this s~trong-willed, lawless fellow.
"Tll give 0 more time to pay me-
IN fact, I'll advance a few hundred
more to you on a condition. And then
you a stay here and go on with your
digging"
"But. Dick" interposea Purcell, az
thought you believed in the treasure
as much as l did,"
Never mind IL I did. / giveit up
now. anyway. Do you want a chance
20 go on with your searchT"
You know I dol" eagerly.
Then I'll give you two weeks In
which to help persuade Kate to be my
wife. l can't waste much more time
about here"
Purcell heard this IN silence. With
IN effort he put his mind on the sub
5ect. 1t was only by special exertion
that, now the at OF thinking OF the
treasure had come upon him with re-
newed force, he could take his mind
from broding upon that one topic.
He thought of Kate now and Of her
face as he had talked with her Of Bert
the last time, but a few days before.
you can't make up your mind to
give her up, a your" he asked.
Burt swore that he could not, and
Purcell said:
Then we must find some means to
bring her round to our ideas"
II think 1 a suggest a very power
ful means said Dick &