Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-12-21

reputation was at stake it was my duty
to die in defense of that money-aN duty
which. l FASTENED to add. / entertained
no intention Of performing.
But" / went on. although l am
bound not to surrender the money. 1 am
not bound to anticipate a forcible seizure
Of it. In times of disturbance parties of
r~uffians often turn to Eunder. Not even
the most rigorous precautions can guard
against it. Now it would be very posi-
bic that even tonight a and of such
marauders might make an attack on the
bank, and carry of all the money in the
safe
'Oht" said the Colonel, that's the
game, is it,"
That 1 replied, sis the game and a
very neat game, too, if you play it prop
erly."
And what will they say in Europe,
when they hear the Provisional govern
ment is footing private property"
MY dear Colonel, you force me to
much explanation. You will, of course,
not appear in the natter
Il should like to be there he remark
ed. If l weren't, the men mightn't
catch the exact drift of the thing"
You will be there. of course, but in
c~ognito. Look here, Colonel, it's as plain
as two peas. Give out that you're going
to ~reconnoiter the coast and keep an eye
on The Songstress. Draw off your com
panies from the Piazza on that pretense.
Then take fifteen or twenty men you can
trust-not more, for it's no use asking
more than you can help. and resistance IS
out of the question. About two, when ev-
erything is quiet, surround the bank.
Jones will open when you knock. Don't
hurt him, but take him outside and keep
him quiet. Go in and take the money.
Here's the key to the safe. Then, if you
like, set fire to the place"
Bravo, my boy !" said the Colonel.
There's stuff in you after all And what
are you going to get out of it? / sup
pose that's coming next?'
As the reader knows, I wasn't going
to get anything out of it, except myself
and the Signorina. But it wouldn't do
to tell the Colonel that !; he would not be-
lieve in disinterested conduct. So I bar
gained with him for thirty thousand dol
lars, which he promised SO readily that 1
strongly doubted whether he ever meant
to "a it.
DO you think there's any danger of
Whittingham making an attack while
we're engaged on the job?"
The Colonel was, in common %parlance,
getting rather warmer than I liked. 1t
was necessary to mislead him.
"I don't think So" I replied. III
can't possibly have organized much of a
party here yet. There's some discon-
tent, no doubt, but not enough for him
to rely on"
There's plenty of discomfort" said the
Colonel.
~ - ,~ ~ ~ 1,,rr -
why not?"
the barracks to announce a fresh INSTALL
ment of pay to the troops tomorrow
| morning. handsome installment."
YES" said he ~thoughtfully, that ought
to keep them quiet for one night. Fact
is. they don't care twopence either for me
or Whittingham and If they think they'll
get more out of me they'll stick to me-"
"Of course" I assented. Indeed, it was
true enough as long as the President was
| not on the spot; but I thought privately,
| that the Colonel did not allow enough for
his rivals personal influence and pres
| tige. if he once got face to face with the
troops.
"Yes,' the Colonel went on, "Ill do
| that, and what's more, I'll put the people
in good humor by sending down orders
| for a free social In the Piazza tonight"
"Delightfully o~ld-fashioned and baro-
| nial.o remarked. II think it's a good
idea. Have a bonfire and make it COM
plcte. don't suppose Nottingham
| dreams of any attempt, but it will make
the riot even more plausible"
A any rate, they'll all Sc too jolly
to make trouble" said he.
"Well, that's about all, Isn't it7" said
|. 81 shall be of. I've got to write to
my directors and ask instructions for the
investment of the money"
you'll live to be hanged. Martin"
| said the Colonel, with evident admiration.
Not by you, eh, Colonel? Whatever
might have happened if I'd been obsti-
nate! Hope I shall survive to dance at
your wedding anyhow. Less than a week
now y
YES said he, next Saturdays the
day.w
He really looked quite the happy bride
groom as he said this, and I left him to
contemplate his bliss.
II would bet ten to one that day never
comes I thought, as I walked away.
Even il I don't will I'll back the Presi-
dent to be back before that"
The Colonel's greed had triumphed over
| his wits, and he had fallen into my snare
| with greater readiness than I could have
| hoped. The question remained, What
would the President do when he got the
| Signorina's letter? 1t may conduce to
q better understanding of the position If /
| tell what that letter was. She gave it
me to read over, after we had compiled
it together, and / still have my copy. It
ran as follows
II can hardly hope you will trust me
again. but if I betrayed you, you drove
me to it. 1 rave given them your money !:
1t is in the bank now. NJ. refuses to give
it up, and the c. means to take it to-
night. He will have only a few men, the
rest not near. He win be at the bank at
two. with about twenty men. Take your
own measures. All here favor you. He
threatens me with violence unless / marry
him at once. He watches The Songstress,
but if you can cave her at anchor and
land in a boat there viii be no suspicion.
Do not punish me more by disbelieving
me. CHRISTINA.
"P. S-M. and the C. are on bad
terms, and NJ. will not be active against
you.n
Upon the whole / thought this would
bring him. 1 doubted whether he would
believe very TIch in it, but it looked
| probable. Again, he was SO fond of a
bold stroke, and SO devoid Of fear. that
it was very likely he would come mi
he already had a considerable body of adj
herents on shore. he could land and re-
connoiter without very great danger of
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