The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1906-11-01

not once. but dozen times. Their mean
ing ran like living fire through his veins.
He had to lean against the wall. and
draw his breath with difficulty. He could
not bring himself to realize that this was
| the end, that he had lost Sylvia just when
| he had gained her.
| BY what means had the truth come to
her? BY what danger was he not sur
| rounded? lie would 60 out of England.
This money that Sylvia had returned
would keep him like king in other coun-
tries. Let him turn his back on all let
him snap his fingers at failure let him
show this woman that her repudiation of
him left him untouched. He would not
even return to Gerald Tenby's rooms he
would go as he was, go he cared not
where, so long as he put distance between
himself and all for which he had worked.
So he turned with mocking laugh on
his lips, but an aching wound in his
heart, and before night tine came he was
well away from London.
Antonia ms. Gerald Tenby on the door
step Of Lady Charlotte Singleton's house.
The girl would have passed in without
even speaking to him, but he stopped her.
Forgive me-" he said; II heard your
uncle was very i'll. / came to offer my
sympathy
MY uncle is dead" said Antonia. She
did not look at him; he fancied he saw
the old aversion in her face.
"He was good man. / am sorry
The girl tried to conquer her feelings,
h,,f 80 -.
this moment the old loathing for this man
was uppermost. Not even for the sake
of what was to be gained could she con-
tinue the part she had set herself to play.
She bent her head and passed into the
house, and Gerald Tenby turned away and
knew that she wished him to be gone.
Long after Gerald Tenby had risen and
passed away, Sylvia and Ben Coop sat on
talking.
The woman hardly recognized herself in
this hour. She felt as If she had been
touched by some magician's wand. All the
cultivated hardness and worldliness that
had grown into her nature these many
years dropped from her and left her what
she once had been. 1t was like dream
to sit listening TO Ben's slow, north-coun-
try voice.
II must go now," she said; shut /
shall not say good-by to you, Ben; you
will come to me, won't you?"
ITO the end of the, world" Ben said,
simply; "and when have found the lad
I'll be more free to serve you, Liz"
II pray that you may find the lad"
she said II hope 1 may have been the
means, perhaps of putting you ON the
right path. | should like to feel that /
had had some share in giving JOY to that
beautiful girl who fovea him. We met
and spoke, Ben, the ether day felt bet
ter after that"
Then Sylvia had swept away and had
gone out to her carriage, needless of the
curious eyes that watched her, and Ben
had left the picture gallery, and had gone
out into the streets also, feeling his heart
a maze of sorrow and joy, feeling also
thrill of excitement.
He went slowly back to his hotel, where
quently of trouble and suspense,
Sylvia mingled in with his thought. 1t
seemed so natural, and yet so strange, tilat
Liz still lived, and that she had need of
him.
Stephens, the discharged valet, had ar
ranged to come TO him before evening; so
Ben remained i'm the hotel, waiting for
this man. The hours crept by, and Ste
phens did not come, but finally note was
brought. 1t was written in pencil, and
signed by Stephens.
..Sfantnn L., Iaa,.;po, I .npdap for tho cnp.
tinent; / am going to follow him. Will
communicate with you at the earliest OPP
portupity. / think this is my best plan.
There is work for you to do. / inclose
you herewith the address of house to
which understand Stanton has been in
ihe habit of going. / don't know wheth-
er there viii be anything in this, but ev-
erything is worth trying, especially when
we have TO deal with such a scoundrel.
shall give you an account of the money
you advareed to me when we meet again" !"
The advent of this letter acted like
magic on Ben. He threaded his way up
to Tottenham Court Road slowly.
The house to which he was going lay
very far out. and more than one person
advised him to reach it BY train.
Feeling the wisdom of keeping his
sstrength as mach IS possible. Bon resolved
TO take this advice, and it was while he
was threading his way to the station that
he suddenly saw mans face looking out
at him from hanson upon which was
piled some luggage. The man was Ger
old Tenby. Though his eyes rested upon
Ben for an instant, there was nothing to
tell the rich man that this humble looking
individual was one who was working for
justice. Gerald Tenby was going TO Mill
Cross Court.
[ When the door had closed unon An