Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-11-16
CHAPTER xI.

L mad brought the lO,OO with me.
produced them and put them on the ia
bic, keeping n loving hand on them.
You fully understand my position
Colonel?" / said. This thing is nc use
to me unless ] receive Mt least S320,O0f
to pay back principal, to meet interest
and to replace another small debt to the
bank. II / do that, I shall be left will
a net profit of $4,000, not an extravagan,
reward. If / don't get that sum I shall
be a %defaulter, revolution or no revolu'
ton"
II can't make money IL it's not there
he said, but without his usual brusque'
ness of tone. "But to this we agree. You
are to have first turn at anything we find
up to the sum you name. It's to be hand
ed over solid to you. The Sisuor;ns and
/ take the leavings. You don't claim to
share them, too, do you?"
NO." / said, Tim content to be a
preference shareholder. If the moneys
found at the Golden House, it's mine. If
not, the new government. whatever it may
do as to the rest of the debt, will pay
me that sum-"
Wit hthat I pushed my money over to
the Colonel.
II expect the new government to be
very considerate to the bondholders all
round" said the Colonel, as he pocketed
1t with n chuckle. Anyhow, your terms
are agreed. Ell, Signorina?"
Agreed " said she. And I'm to have
the country seat?"
agreed. y said I. And the Colonel's
to be President and to have the Golden
House and all that therein is"
Agreed! agreed agreed" chanted the
a. u--l ----I i.-.s
ness. Success to the Revolution !"
l had risen to go, when q sudden
thought struck me.
where's Johnny Carr? I say, Colo
mel, how indiscreet was he last night? Do
you think he remembers telling you about
it:"
"Yes." said the Colonel, II expect he
does by now. He didn't when I left him
this morning"
will he, confess TO the President?
II he does, Il. might make the old man
keep m nDpleasantly sharp eye on you.
He knows you, don't love him."
well, Carr hasn't seen the President
vet. He was to stay at my house over
to-day. He was con seedyt this
morning, and I persuaded the doctor to
give him a composing %draught. Fact is, 1
wanted him quiet till I'd had time to
think. You know / don't believe he would
own up-the President would drop on
him SO; but he might, and it's better they
shouldn't meet"
RGa There's somebody else he oughtn't to
meet, "gsaid the Signorina.
who's thatg" I asked.
Donna Antonia.' she replied. He's
getting very fond Of her, and depend upon
it. If he's in trouble he'll go and tell her
the frsi ching. Mr.. Carr is very conf
Dental to his friends"
We recognized the value of this sug-
gcstion. If Donna Antonio knew, the
President would soon know.
quite right" said the Colonel. 'It
won't do to have him rushing about let
ting out that we know all about it. He's
all right up to now"
"Yes, but II he gets FESTIVE tomorrow
morning? 2" said 1. And then you don't
want him at the Golden House on Friday
evening, and / don't want him at the bar
racks"
mo, he'd show fight, Carr would"
said the Colonel. Look here, we're in
for this thing, and I'm going through
with it. I shall keep Carr at my house
till it's all over, even II I nave to use
force. Master Johnny is better quiet"
Suppose he turns uglyT I suggested
again.
HE may turn as ugly as he likes
said the Colonel. HE don't leave my
house unless he puts a bullet into me
first. That's settled. Leave it to me. If
he behaves nicely, he'll be all right. II
not"
what shall You do to him?" asked the
Signorina.
.Oh, leave it to the Colonel; he'll man
IS all right" I suggested.
Now I'm OF" said the latter, Back
to my friend Johnny. Goodnight, Sig
norma. Write to tho President INC
row. Goodnight, Martin. Make that
speech Of yours pretty long. Au revoir
till next Friday"
1 prepared to 60, for the Colonel lin
gered till ! came with him. Even then
we so distrlsted one another that neither
would leave the other alone with the Sig
norma. sA fNw
We parted at the door, he going off up
the road to get his horse to ride to his
.ranch," ! turning down toward the
Piazza.
We left the signorina at the door, look
ing pale and weary, and for once bereft
OF her high spirits. Poor girl! She
found conspiracy rather trying work.
l was little troubled myself. began
to see more clearly that it doesn't do for
q man Of scruples to dabble in politics.
II had . great regard for poor Johnny,
and eelt NO confidence in the Colonel
treating him with any consideration. In
fact, I would not have insured Jchnny's
life for the next week ut any conceivable
premium. Again l thought it unlikely
that, II we succeeded, the President would
survive his downfall. / had to repeat to
myself all the story Of his treachery to
me, flashing myself into a fury against
him. before I could bring myself to think
with resignation Of the Imminent extinc-
ton of that shining light.
What q loss he would be to the world !
So many delightful stories, so grent a gift
OF MANNER SO immense a personal charm
--all to disappear into the pit! And for
Swhatsx To put into his place a rufian
without sFsdseming qualities. Was it
worth while to put down Lucifer only to
enthrone Reelzebub7 I could only check
this dolefui strain of reflection by ssernly
recalling myself to the real question
the state Of the fortunes Of me. John
Martin. And to mi the Revolution was
necessary. might get the money !: at
least I should gain time. was animat-
"a BY the honorable motive of saving my
employers from loss and by the over
whelming motive Of my love. If the
continued existence of Jokuny md the
President was incompatibisy with these
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