Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1906-04-06
CHAPTER NX.-fContinued.)

" A''
the problem why a respectable clerk
of his time of life should think 1t lit
to come to Lynne Burrows and light a
candle, when the maj gave him an
other surprise by unbuttoning his
frock coat and taking from under It "A
small hand trowel.
The man stuck the candle on the
ground by the simple method of pour
ing some grease from 1t and standing
the candle In it; then, with his back
TO Neville. paced slowly from the tree,
counting as he went. Then he went
down on his knees and began to dig
qrickly.
Every now and thcn he paused and
looked around and listened, and once
as he did so a bird. Weakened by the
noise and the light, flew out OF the
trees; the man extinguishcd the can
die in an instant, as if frightened. and
Neville could hcar him breathing hard
as he walked and listened.
Then he relit the candle and fell TO
digging again. Suddenly the man ut
tered a low, suppressed cry of salts
faction, as IL he had found what he
had been looking for.
What Neville saw as he leaned
down from the branch was n round tin
canister. such as cocoa or coffee is
packed in, lying at the bottom OF the
hole which the old man had dug.
The man took up the box, forced
open the lid, and drew out-not a bag
gold, or a string Of jewels-but a roll
Of paper. This he placed carefully in
his breast pocket; then, f1inging the
empty can into the hole, he filled in
the dirt, stamped it down, M strewed
some of the dead leaves and twiSs
over the spot.
Then he sat down meditatively. After
a few minutes he, with 4 shake of the
head, drew the paper from his pocket
and looked around. AS his eyes ap-
preached Neville's hiding place Neville
quietly and cautiously drew himself
up to a higher branch. -
The man went up to the tree, and
carefully placed the paper inside n OF
the hollows. thrusting in his hand to
see how deep the hole Went The
paper was thus well within NeVliles
reach if he stretched out an arm.
The old gentleman then returned to
his seat at the foot of another tree.
Presently ne listened with his head
on one side. then -e knelt and aid his
ear to the ground,
The man got up. resumed his seat
with an evident air of satisfaction, and
a few minutes afterward Neville
80 1870 nNrnorhfnO
Now, Neville was the last man In
the world to play the part Of caves
dropper, and he vas about to speak to
the man and descend when a tall hg-
ure entered the thicket, and Neville
recognized with amaZernent his broth
ef Jordan.
Jordan ilai got on u dress inrer-
ness, with the collar turned up. but
Neville knew him in a moment as
he made his way toward the other
man, who remained seated, eyins
Jordan coolly, and Jordan, in a tone
OF impatence and hauteur, said:
You are here. Let us get this
business over quickly, please"
The man looked up at him with an
easy indolent grin
.sWhat are you afraid of, Sir Jor-
dam" he retorted. Were quiet
enough here"
At the sound Of his voice Neville's
heart leaned. and the blood rushed to
his head. Was he mad or dreaming,
or was that Lavarick's volceP
"I am here, very reluctantly" said
Jordan, haughtily. and l am desir-
Gus OF completing this business and re-
turning as soon as possible. have
the notes"
.Pass them over then"
excuse me-" said Jordan, !
brought them for IN exchange, not a
gift"
II refuse to hand you the will be-
fore l get the notes. I wouldn't trust
it in your hands-until I'd got the
.ready-for a moment! What do you
propose, Sir Jordan|
II Will place the notes N the
ground beside me here: put the-the
viii on the ground beside You. to-
-ether with the paper for which I
stipulated- Have you brought
it?,
I,ayarick drew a paper from his
pocket, and. advancing, held it, very
tightly, near the candle, so that DOR
dan ccald read It.
That's what you want. ehg
at viii do" said Jordan. Now sc
hack twenty PAGES, and lay 1t and the
| win on the ground. l will do the same
with the notes, and we a cross and
| make the exchange.
Jordan took some banknotes from
his pocket and fiuttered them in the
feeble candle light. then laid them
down ON the ground. and set the toe
/ Of his boot on them.
At this moment. while ~I.avarick
| with his back to the tree, vas watch
ing Jordan's motions intently. Neville
| stretched down and took the paper
| from the hole in the trunk in which
I.avarick had placed it,
sThe notes are here" said Jordan,
haughtily, and he tapped them with
his foot.
Right rejoined Lavarick, and he
turned 10 the tree eagerly. and put his
/ hand in the hole
he did 50 Neriile ssw him start
then Lavarick thrust his hand in far
ther down to the bottom of the hol
low and fumbIed about s~earchingly
| Then he glanced over his shoulder a
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