Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-09-11
CHAPTER IIIfcontin,ea

ney. Slivers stretched out his hand for
the ruler. whereupon Billy becoming alive
10 his danger, dropped the nugget and
few off the table with discordant shrek.
Slivers leaned back in his chair drum
ming IN an absent sort of way with his
lean fingers on the table. His cork arm
hung down Imply, and his one eye was
liked on letter lying in front of him.
This was a communication from the man
ager of the Pactolus mine requesting Sliv-
ers to get him more hands, and SliVers
thoughts had wandered to Madame Midas.
she's a.clever woman" observed Sliv-
ers in a musing sort of tone, and she
got good thing in that claim If she only
strikes the lead. What fool was not
to have collaned that ground before she
did; but Mcintosh never would tell me
where the place was Never MIND, III
be even with him yet"
His expression of face was not pleas
ant as he said this. and he grasped the
letter in front Of him in a violent way,
as if he were wishing his long fingers
were round the writer's throat. Tapping
with his wooden leg on the floor, he was
soon about TO recommence his musings,
when he heard step in the passage, and
the door of his Office being pushed VIC
lently open, a man entered without FUR
Their ceremony, and flung himself down in
chair near the window.
''Well, Mr. Randolph Villiers," croaked
Sliyers, after contemplating his visitor
for few moments, ''how's business:
Bad" retorted Mr.. Villiers. I've lost
twenty pounds on those Moscow shares.
more fool you" replied Slivers- i
could have told you the mine was no
good but you will go on your own bad
Judgment"
Its like getting blood out of stone
ia get tips from you" growled Villiers,
with a sulky air. Come now, old boy,
in a cajoling manner, tell us something
good-I'm nearly stone broke, and / must
live"
II don't see the necessity" Indignantly
returned Slivers, ''but if you DO want to
get into a good thing
''YesI yes :" said the other, eagerly
bending forward.
Get an interest in the Pactolus," and
the agreeable old gentleman leaned back
and laughed loudly at his visitors dis
comfture.
You know as we'll as do that my
wife won't look at me-"
why don't you ruin your wife, you
fool?' said Slivers, turning vindictively
on Villiers. you amt going to let her
have all the money while you are starv-
ing, are you"
How the deuce am l to do that
asked Villiers.
Get the whip hand of her" snarled
Slivers viciously; find out if she's in
har ha
doesn't go halves"
There's no chance of her having any
lovers" retorted Villiers shes piece
Of ice"
lice melts." replied Slivers quickly.
wait till Mr.. Right comes along, and
then she'll want to get married again.
Weir
You'll have the game in your own
hands," Kissed the wicked old man, rub
bling his hands. "0h !" he cried, spin
ming round on his wooden leg, its a
lovely idea. Wait till we meet Mr.. Right,
inst wait'' and he dropped into his chair
quite overcome by the state of excitement
he had worked himself into.
IF you've quite done with those GYM
nastics, my friend" said a soft voice near
the door, perhaps / may enter"
Both the inmates of the Office Looked
I'D at this, and saw thar two men were
standing at the half-open door-one an
extremely handsome young man of about
thirty, dressed in a neat suit of blue serge,
and wearing large white wide-awake
hat, with birdseye handkerchief twisted
round it. His companion was short and
heavily built dressed somewhat the same
but with his black hat pulled down over
his eyes.
Come in growled Slivers, angrily.
what do you want?"
Work" said the young man, advanc-
ing to the table. I'VE are new arrivals
in the country, and were told TO come to
you to get work"
a don't keep a factory snarled Sliv-
srs.
II don't think would come to you if
Won did" retorted the stranger. eoolly.
You would not be a pleasant master
either to look at or to speak to-
Villiers laughed at this, and Slivers
stared dumfounded at being spoken TO in
such manner.
Slivers was just going to snap out a
dismissal, when he caught sight of Nc
Intosh's letter on the table Here was a
woman fall in love with him, and who.
moreover, had clever tongue in his head.
All Slivers' animosity revived against
Madame Midas as he thought of the
DEVILS Lead, and he determined TO use
this young man as tool. With these
thoughts in his mind. ne drew a sheet of
paper toward him. and dipped the rusty
pen in the thick ink.
"NamesT' he asked.
Mine" said the stranger, bowling. lis
CASTOR Vandeloup; my friends Pierre lie
maire-botb French"
Sliyers scrawled this down in the series
of black scratches which did duty with
him for writing.
Where do you come from?" was his
next question.
The story" said Mr.. Vandeloup. with
suavity, lis too long TO repeat at present
bur we came to-day from Melbourne"
What kind of work can you dog" asked
Siivers sharply.
Anything that turns up" retortei ;he
Frenchnan.
Il was addressing your companion. sir;
not you," snarled Slivers. turning vicious
ly on him.
Il have to snswer for BOTH replied
the young man eoolly, slipping one hand
into his pocket and leaning up against the
door in n negligent attitude: my friend
IS dumb. But his legs, arms and eyes
sre all there"
Slivers glared at this fresh uiece of inn
rartinence. but said nothing. He wrote
letter TO Mcintosh, recommending him
10 take ON the two men. and handed IL to
Naadeloup. who received il with bow.
The price Of your services, Monsieur"
ne asked.
Five bob growled Slivers, holding cut
his one hand.
vandeloup pulled out two hslf-erowns
and put them in the thin, claw-like fingers,
Which instantly closed on them.
Its mining place you're gong 70,
said Slivers, pocketins the MONEY; THE
Pac;olus claim. There's pretty woman