The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-12-20
CHAPTER XI.-(Continued. }


what are these?" he asked. touching
he white blossoms lightly with his finger.
II do declare it's that hemlock ~ said
Martha, in surprise. pulling the white
flowers out of the bunch: land | never
knew it was there. Pah. and she threw
the blossoms down with gesture of dis
gust. How they smell -
CASTOR picked up one of the flowers
and crushed it between his fingers, upon
which it gave out a peculiar mousy odor
eminently disagreeable. Il was hemlock
sure enough. and he wondered how such
plant ; id come into Australia.
"Does it grow in your garden?' ne
asked Martha.
That damsel intimated it did, and Of
fered to show him the plant, so that he
could believe his own eyes. Vandeloup
assented eagerly, snd they were soon IN
The flower garden at the back of the house,
which was blazing with vivid colors, in
the no. glare of the sunshine.
There you are" said Miss Twexby,
pointing to a corner of the garden near
the fence where the plant was growing
par brought a lot of seeds from home,
and that beastly thing got mixed 10 with
them Far keeps it growing, though.
cause n, one else has got it. It's quiGe
a curiosity
Vandeloup bent down and examined the
plant, with its large, round, smooth. pur-
ple-spotted stem-its smooth. shining
green leaves, and the tiny white flowers
with their disagreeable odor.
''Yes, it is hemlock,' he said, half to
himself: At did not know it could be
l. 1ar " he,
said, turning to Miss Twexby, and walk
ing back to the house with her, Il will
ask you to let me have some of the roots
of this plant to make an experiment
with"
"As much as you Ike" said the fair
Martha. amiably. What are you going
to make out of it?"
Nothing particular" returned Vande-
ioup, with a yawn, as they entered the
house and stopped at the door of Pierre's
room. I'm bit Of chemist, and amuse
myself with these things"
You are clever" observed Martha, adj
miringly but here's that mans room
we didn't give him the best"-apologet-
tcally-"as miners are so rough
"Mademoiselle," said Vandeioup eager
ly, as she turned to go, Il zee there are
few blossoms of hemlock left in your
flowers there" touching it with his I'm
ger; will you give them TO mef'
Martha Twexby started; surely this
was the long-expected come at last-she
had secured lover; and such lover
handsome, young. gallant-the very hero
Of her dreams. She almost tainted in
delightful surprise, and unfastening the
lowers with trembling fingers, gave them
to CASTOR He placed them in button
hole of his flannel coat.
WELL she said to herself, 'if that
isn't case of love at first sight, then my
name amt Martha Twexby." and she sat
down in the bar with her nerves all of
hutter, as she afterward told female
friend who dropped in sometimes for
friendly cup of tea
CASTOR closed the door after him, and
found himself in moderately large room.
There were two beds, and on the farthest
of these Pierre was sleeping heavily. Go
Ing over to him, vandeloup iouhced him
slightly, and with a spring the dumb man
sat up as il he expected to be arrested,
and was all on the alert to escape.
ITS only I, my friend" said CASTOR,
In French, crossing over to the otner bed
and sitting on it. "Come here; 1 wish
to speak TO you"
Pierre rose from his sleeping place and
stumbling across the room, stood before
CASTOR with downcast eyes, Castor
coolly threw his straw hat on the bed and
chen, curling one leg inside the other, look
ed long and keenly at Pierre
'You saw Madames husband to-day!'
he said sharply. still cycling the slouching
figure before him, that seemed so restless
under his steady gaze.
Pierre nodded and shuf1ed his large
feet.
'sSit down." said vandeloup, in a per-
emptory tone, pointing to the floor. Il
wish to tell you What | think. / need
hardly remind yor that when we landed
In Australia 1 told you that there was
war between ourselves and society, and
that, at any cost, we must try to make
money so far, we have only been able to
earn an honest livelihood way of get
ting rich which you must admit is re-
markably slow. Here, however, is a
chance Of making, If not fortune, at
least a good sum of money at one stroke.
THIS NJ. villiers is going to rob his wife,
an6 his plan will no doubt be this He
will lie in wait for her, and when she
drives slowly down the hill he will spring
ON to the trap and perhaps attempt to
kill her: at all events, he will seize the
box containing the nugget, and try to
make of with IL. How he intends to
manage 1t I cannot tell you-it must be
left TO the chapter Of accidents; but when
he does get the nugget we must obtain it
from him."
Pierre looked up and drew his hand
across his throat.
Mot necessarily" returned vandeloup,
coolly: II know your adage. dead men
tell no tales, but it is a mistakenly
do. and to kill him is dangerous. No,
II we stun him We can go OF with the
nugget. and then make our way to Mel
bourne. where we can get rid of II quiet
". As to Madame Midas, if her hus-
band allows her to live. I will MAKE our
excuses to her for leaving the mine. Now,
I'm going up to NJ Marchurst's house, so
you can meet me at the top of tie hill, at
eight O'Clock tonight. Madame will prob
ably start at half-past eight or nine. so
that will give US plenty of time to see
what NJ. Villiers is going to do"
They both rose to their feet. Then
vandeloup put on his hat and, going to
the glass, arranged his tie in as cool and
nonchalant a manner as IL he had been
merely planning the details for a picnic
instead of a possible crime. Humming a
merry tune, he walked saily out of the
room to the bar.
"This heat is enervating, and I'm 60
Ing to walk up to Black Hill. BY the
way. mademoiselle," he said, ''as / see
there are two bells in my friends room
will stay here al night"
"You shall lase the best ROOM" said
Martha, decisively.
"Ycl are too kind" replied VI. Van
deloup. cooily, "but l prefer to stay with
NV silent friend- He was one of the sail
ors in the ship when | was wrecked, as
you have no doubt heard, and looks upon
me as a sort of fetish.'
CHAPTER XII.
Mr.. Villiers walked in leisurely man