Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1903-09-10
CHAPTER xxlx-contInued.

CHAF EN-
"Ah. monsieur, money is the lever
on which men hang their souls! But
money does not always buy women's
hearts or unseal women's tongues.
have warned you not for gain, but to
show you the only way pc sible for
you tt achieve your end. If you really
loved this girl, o would not hest
tate.
II love her so well that ! would hes
tate 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"
ABut you, who are In her employ
II money is not your object, why do
you turn traitor to your mistress"
The French woman laughed.
II turn traitor? Monsieur, when the
rattlesnake is bitten by one of its kind
the poison, deadly to others, is in itself
harmless. Can n play traitor to a
traitor? ! do not love madame, my
mistress. 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 1t
was at least worthy of the effort, dis
tasteful, almost impossible, as It was
to his open, honest nature to carry out
her designs.
"You have shown me the way" he
safd at last" Now show me the means.
How shall approach madame?"
Let her approach you. Call upon
her on some obvious errand, and II.
~ heretofore, she tries her wiies 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
chat is consuming mel"
@Ah, Monsieur, consult the doctor
ms to the welfare of madame, hia
wife!" retorted Marie. with a little
knocking laugh, gliding away as she
spoke, and hastily traversing the
street with a swift. graceful tread.
He made a movement to follow her.
hut checked himself.
BAH How could he know she was
not In nadame's employ? What more
likely? But one thing barred this be-
lief-the tome In which she had said.
@How Is 1T. then, think you. with wom-
en- who hate?'
M -
But he had other business on hand
5ust now. He must seek q second for
to-morrow's duel. Travis Meredith
would be most fitting, since he fought
Il for Avice's sake; and should he fall,
Travis could ayenge her still.
Milton had not seen Travis for forty.
eight hours. and now fastened to his
house and found him sitting, detected
w, In his library, his head upon his
folded arms; but he spang up with a
faint smile OF welcome at his friends
entrance.
ANY news?' he asked eagerly.
None, my boy, except / have goad-
ed that villain to a challenge, n you
must be my second
with all my heart. When and
where did you see him? Does be re-
fuse to speak? Milton, let me take
your place-Iet me avenge her frst!'
mo, no! am the cne. But who
knows, Travis. We may be robbing
her Of the only comfort life now has In
store for her"
"Truei Oh. how intricate Is this
probleml But yet, Milton, we cannot
both live and let him walk the earth
without wringing this secret from him.
II all were well he would not refuse to
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 .he
last lingering doubt remaining in my
mind"
Then, as concisely as possible, Mil
ton ~recounted the interview with Ma
RE, and the singular plan she had pro
posed to him.
barbara loves you?" Travis said.
amazedIy
She once loved me, l believe, but
that she still loved me ! never dream
ed. AS 1t is, I believe It to be more
hate than love. more bafaed vanity
than affection"
But II she In reality knows OF Av-
ices disappearance. can we reach her
in no other way? Can we not force
her to divulge what she knoys?"
II fear not. But wait until to-mor-
row; much win depend upon its Sc
Queli"
II was daybreak ere the two men
separated, first Milton having sent to
his rooms and the messenger return
ing with the expected challenge in due
form, naming the time and place. The
duel was to take place at sunset, just
out Of Paris, at a quiet spot. where
they might be secure from the mgr
midons OF the law.
Both Milton and Travis had ar
ranged their worldly affairs, for both
had Spfornfuad that Dtnl.-1 rr...~.