The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-12-22
CHAPTER V.


the house, and Madame Midas did not by
any means object, as she was a perfect
salamander for heat. Hence, when the
outward door was closed, the faded red
curtains of the window drawn, and the
newly replenished fire blazed brightly in
the wide fireplace, the room was one
sybarite would have contemplated with
delight.
Madame Midas was seated now at the
small table in the center of the room,
porting over a bewildering array of figures,
and the soft glow of the lamp touched her
smooth hair and white dress with a sub
dued light.
Archie sat by the fire. half asleep, and
there was dead silence in the room, only
broken by the rapid scratching of Mad
ame's pen or the click Of Selna's needles.
A. this moment n knock came to the
front door, which caused Selma to drop
her work with a sudden start, and rise
to her feet.
Not you. Selma" said Madame, in a
quiet voice; 'let Archie go; it may be
some tramp"
Deed no, men," replied Archie, OBJ
stinately, as he arose from his seat ;
tits very likely man from the works
saying he wants to go. There's more
talk nor sense ABBOTT them, I'm thinkin'-
the chattering parrots"
Selma resumed her knitting in a most
phlegmatic manner, but Madame listened
inteatly, for she was always haunted by
a secret dread of her husband breaking in
on her. She heard q murmur of voices,
and then Archie returned with two men,
who entered the room and stood before
Madame in the light of the lamp.
IT'S two men from that wooden-leg-
god Slivers." said Archie. respectfully.
.'One o them has wee bit letter for We"
turning to receive the same from the
foremost man..
The man, however did not take notice
of Arches gesture, but walking forward
to Madame, laid the letter down before
her. AS he did so, she caught sight Of
the delicacy of his hands, and looked up
suddenly with a piercing gaze. He bore
the scrutiny coolly, and took a chair in
silence, his companion doing the same,
while Madame opened the letter and read
Slivers' bad writing with a dexterity only
acquired by long practice. Having fin
ished her perusal, she looked up slowly.
"A broken-down gentleman" she said
to herself, as she saw the easy bearing
and handsome face of the young man !;
then looking at his companion, SHE saw
by his lumpish aspect and coarse hands
that he occupied much lower rank Of
life than his friend.
Monsieur Vandeloup--for it was he
caught her eye as she was scrutinizing
them, and his face broke into a SMILE
most charming smile, as Madame obscrv-
cd mentally. though she allowed nothing
of her thoughts to appear on her face.
You want work." she said. slowly fold
ing up the letter; do you understand
anything about gold miningi"
Unfortunately, no, Madame" said
Vandeloup, coolly; 'but we are willing to
learn
Archie grunted in dissatisfied man
ner, for he was by no means in favor Of
teaching people their business, and, be-
sides. he thought Yandeloup too much Of
a gentleman to do good work
''You look hardly strong enough for
such hard labor" said Mrs. Villiers,
doubtfuly eying the slender figure of the
young man. Your companion, think,
II, Madame, am like the lilies of the
field that neither toll nor SPIN" replied
Vandcloup gayly: shut, unfortunately,
am now compelled by necessity to work,
and though l should prefer to earn my
bread in an easier manner, beggars cam
not be choosers."
You are French?" she asked quickly,
in that language.
.Yes, Madame" he replied in the same
tongue. both my friend and myself are
from Paris, but we have not been long
out here"
''Humph! Madame leaned her head
on her hand and thought, while Vandeloup
looked at her keenly, and remembered
what Slvers had said.
.'She is, indeed, a handsome woman"
he observed. mentally.
Mrs. Villiers rather liked the looks Of
this young man: there was a certain fas-
cination about him which few women
could resist. His companion, however,
she did not care about-he had a sullen
ard lowering countenance, and looked
rather dangerous.
what is your name?" she asked TIE
young man.
CASTOR Vaadeloup."
"You are a gentleman"
He bowed but said nothing.
And your asked Madame, sharply
turning to the other.
He looked UP and touched his mouth