The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-11-22
CHAPTER In-fContinued.

the ruler whereupon Billy becoming alive
to his danger, dropped the nugget and
hew off the table with a 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
fixed on a 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 Sllvers
thoughts had wandered to Madame Midas
She's clever woman" observed SllV-
ers in a musing sort of tone, land she S
got good thing in that claim if she only
strikes the lead What fool was not
to have collarcd 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 n violent way,
as il he were wishing his long fingers
were round the writer's throat Tapping
with his wooden leg on the floor, ne was
soon about to recommence his musings,
when he heard step in the passage. and
the door of his Office being pushed vlo-
lently open, a man entered without fur-
Their ceremony, and flung himself down IN
a chair near the window.
swell. Mr.. Randolph villiers," croaked
Slivers. after contemplating his visitor
for a few moments, "how's BUSINESS!
Bad retorted Mr. Villiers. i've lost
twenty pounds on those Moscow shares.
More fool you," replied Slivers. /
could have told you the mine was no
good but you will go on your own bad
Judgment"
.It's like getting blood out of stone
to get tips from you" growled Villiers,
with a sulky air. "Come now, old boy, =
in a Cabling manner, 'tell US something
good-Im 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
Yes. 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-"
fool?" said Slivers, turning vindictively
on yilliers- you amt going to let her
have all the money while you are starv-
ing. are you?"
How the deuce am / to do that =
asked Villiers.
Get the whip hand Of her. snarled
Slivers viciously; find out If she's IN
love. and threaten to divorce her If she
doesn't 90 halves"
There's no chance of her having any
lovers" retorted yilliers; shes piece
OF ice"
ice melts." replied slivers quickly.
wait till Mr.. Right comes along, and
then she'll want TO get married again
..WeIT'
You'll have the game in your own
hands, Kissed the wicked old man, rub
5ing his hands "Oh,v he cried. spin
ming round on his wooden leg, Its a
lovely idea Wait till we meet Mr.. Right.
lust wait" and he dropped into his chair
quite overcome by the state of excitement
be had worked himself into.
IF you've quite done with those gym
nastics. my friend" said a soft voice near
the door, perhaps I may enter"
Both the inmates of the Office looked
I'd at this. and saw that 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 a large white wide-awake
hat. with birdseye handkerchief twisted
round il. His companion was short and
heavily built, dressed somewhat the SAME
bat 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 te
you to get work"
Il don't keep factory" snarled Sliv
ers
It don't think would come to you il
ron did" retorted the stranger coolly
.You would not be a pleasant master
either to look at to speak to-"
yilliers laughed at this, and Sliyer'
stared dumfounded at being spoken to il
such a manner
Sliyers was just going TO snap out {
dismissal. when he caught sight of Nc
Intosh's letter on the table. Here was
Young man handsome enough to make AM
voman fall in love with him, and who
moreover, had clever tongue in his head
All Slivers' animosity revived agains
Madame Midas as he thought of tn,
Devils Lead, and he determined to u.s.
This Young man as a tool. With thes,
thoughts in his mind, he drew a sheet o
paper toward him. and dipped the rust.
pen in tile thick ink.
..Naraesg' he asked
Mine said the stranger, bowling. ii
Castor vandeloup: my friends Pierre lie
maire-botli French"
Slivers scrawled this down in the serie
of black scratches which did duty viii
him for writing.
Where do you come from:" was hi
next question
THE story" said Mr.. Vandeloup, wit
suayity. sis too long to repeat at present
but we came to-day from Melbourne"
what kind of work can you do?' aske
Silver sharply
4Aa.ything that turns up" retorted tn
Frenchman.
Il was addressing your companion, sir
not you.- snarled Slivers. turning vicious
iy on him.
Il have ~ answer for both," reptile
the young man coolly, slipping one ham
into his pocket and leaning up against tn
door in negligent attitude my frien
is dumb. But his legs, arms and eye
sre all there"
Slivers glared at this fresh uiece of i'm
partinence, but said noshing. He wrot
letter to Mcintosh, recommending hin
20 take on the two men, and handed it {
yandeloup. who received it with bow.
The price of your services, Monsieur?
be asked
Five bob" growled Slivers, holding on
his one hand.
vandeloup pulled out two half-crown
and put them in the thin, claw-like fingers
which instantly closed ON them.
Its mining place you're going to-.
said Slivers, pocketing the money 9TH
Pactolus claim. There's a pretty woma
there"
Vaudoloup mt on his hat and went I