Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-11-09

ly. Yes, it is. But whore 60 you sup
pose you're going to get 100000, to say
nothing of you W shares?'
He drew his chair closer 30 mine, and,
leaning forward, said:
He's never spent the money. He's got
it somewhere; much the greater part, at
least"
Did Carr tell you that:"
He didn't know for certain but he
told me enough to make it almost certain.
Besides" he added, I'VE have other rea-
sons for suspecting it. Give me the ten
thousand. You shall nave your loan back,
and, If you like, you shall be minister of
finance. we practically know the moneys
there, don't we, SiSnorina?'
She nodded assent.
IF we fail?" said /.
He drew a neat little revolver from his
pocket, placed it for a moment against
his ear, and repocketcd it..
Most lucidly explained, Colonel" said
/. Will you give me half an hour to
think it orer?"
Yes" he said. You'll excuse me if
1 stay in the outer Office? OF course |
trust you, Martin, but in this sort of
thing"
IAN right, 1 see," said l.. And you,
Sisnorina?'
III wait, too" she said.
| They both rose and went out, and |
heard them in conversation with Jones.
| sat still, thinking hard. But scarcely
a moment had passed, when l heard the
door behind me open. 1t was the Sig
norma. She came in, stood behind my
chair. and, leaning over, put her arms
round my neck. l looked up, and saw her
face full of mischief.
what about the rose, Jack" che
asked.
Bew;ldered with delight, and believing
I had won her, | said:
Your soldier till death, Signorina."
Bother death - said she, saucily. no
body's going to die. We shall win, and
then-!"
"And then said L, eagerly. You'll
marry me, sweet"
She quietly stopped down and kissed my
lips. Then, stroking my hair, she said:
You're a nice boy, jack"
christina, you won't marry him 2"
"Him?"
"Mc4rcgor.' said l..
Jack" said she, whispering now, III
hate him !"
$50 do l." l answered promptly. "And
if it's to win you, I'll upset a dozen presi-
DENTS"
Then you'll do it for me? / like to
think you'll do it for me, and not for the
money
Il don't mind the money coming in"
began.
"Mercenary wretch !" she cried. ~
didn't kiss you, did IL"
NO." / replied. You said you would
in a minute, when / consented
ssuorr ,oat r 7 !, al, u, ,b,o ..;l Do
went and opened the door and called to
McGregor, Mr.. Martin sees no objection
to the arrangement, and he will come to
dinner tonight, as you suggest, and talk
over the details. We're all going to make
our fortunes. Mr.. Jones'" she went on.
without waiting for any acceptance of her
implied invitation, and when we've made
ours, we'll think about you and Mrs.
Jones'"
I heard Jones make some noise inco-
h~erently suggestive of qualification, for
he was as bad as any of us about the Sig
norma, and then l was left to my rcfec-
lions. These were less somber than the
reader would, perhaps, anticipate. True.
] was putting my head into a moose and
X the Presidents hands eyer found their
way to the end of the rope, l fancied he
would pull it pretty tight. But, again, l
was immensely in love. and equally in
debt. 20 a young man, life without love
isn't worth much ; to a man Of any age,
in my opinion, life without money isn't
worth much; it becomes worth still less
when he is held to account for money he
ought to have. So I c%heerfully entered
upon my bigges. gamble. holding the stake
of life well risksd. Ny pleasure In the
affair was only marred by the enforced
partnership Of McGrcgor. There was no
help for this, but I knew he wasn't much
fonder Of me than / of him. and I found
myself gently meditating on the friction
likely to arise between the new President
and his minister of finance. in case our
plans succeeded. Still the Signorina hat
cd him, and by all signs she loved me. So
l lay back in my chair, and recalled my
charmerts presence by whistling the hymn
of liberty until it was time to go to lunch.
CHAPTER x.
The morning meeting had been devoted
to principles and to the awakening OF
enthusiasm in the evening the conspira-
tors condescended upon details. and we
held q prolonged and anxious conference
at the Signorina's. Mrs. Darlington was
commanded to have a headache after din
ner, and retired with it to bed: and from
ten till one we sat and conspired. The
result Of our deliberations was Z pretty
plan, OF which the main outlines were a.
follows:
This vas Tuesday. On Friday night.
the Colonel, with twenty determined ruff
hans Cor resolute ~patriots) previously
pound to him, body and soul, by q dona-
ton Of no less than fifty dollars a man,
was TO surprisa the GoIde House. seize