The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-06-20

man at the WINDOW.
"I should rather think So" said vii
liers, insolently, advancing into the room !;
II don't look like dead man, do Il"
Madame Midas sprang forward and
caught his wrist.
$50 you have come back, murderer"
she hissed in his ear.
'What do you mean" said her hus-
hand wrenching his hand away.
"Mean?" she cried, vehemently; you
know what l mean. You cut yourself off
entirely from me by your attempt oE Eoy
life, and the theft of the gold you dare
not have showed yourself in case you re-
ceived the reward of your crime; and so
you worked In the dark against me.
knew you were near. though / did not see
you; and you for a second time attempted
my life"
"I did not" muttered yiliers, shrink
ing back from the indignant blaze of her
eyes. II can prove"
"You can prove" she burst out, con-
temptuously, drawing herself up to her
full height. "Yes you can prove any
thing with your cowardly nature and ly-
ing tongue but prove that you were not
the man who came in the dead of night
and poisoned the drink waiting for me,
which was taken by my nurse. You can
prove-yes, you shall prove it, in the pris-
cner's dock, ere you go to the gallows."
During all this terrible speech Villiers
had crouched, half terrified, while his wife
lowered over him, magnificent in her an
ger. At the end, however, he recovered
himself little, and began to bluster.
Every man has right to hearing"
he said. defiantly, looking from his wife
to Calton; Il can explain everything"
II have no doubt you will prove black
Is white by your lying" she said, coldly,
returning to her seat II await this ex-
Iplanation."
Thereupon villiers sat down and told
them the whole story Of his mysterious
disappearance, and how he had been made
a fool of by Vandcloup. When he had
ended, Calton, who had resumed his seat
and listened to the recital with deep in
terest, stole a glance at Madame Midas,
but she looked as cold and impenetrable
as ever.
II understand now the reason Of your
disappearance" she said, coldly; 'but
that is not the point. want to know
the reason you tried to murder me a sec
ond time"
II did not" returned Villiers, quietly,
with gesture of dissent.
Then Selma Sprotts, since you are so
particular" retorted his wife, with
sneer; ''but it was you who committed the
crime"
"Who says did," cried Villiers, stand
ing up. "You asked me who committed
the crime; look at that door," pointing
to the door which led into the hall, "and
you will see the real murderer of Selma
Sprotts appear"
Calton and Madame Midas turned sim
ultaneously, and the seconds seemed like
hours as they waited with bated breath
for the opening of the fatal door. The
same name was on their lips as they
gazed with intense expectation, and that
name was-Gaston Vandeloup.
The noise of approaching footsteps,
rattle at the handle of the door, and 1t
was flung wide open by the servant. There
stood, meet, apologetic and smiling-the
fast-living bank clerk, the darling Of So
-ciety, and the secret assassin--Bnrty.
He advanced smilingly into tie room,
when suddenly the smile died away, and
his face banched as his eyes rasted on
Viliers. He made a step backward as if
to Ay, but in a moment Kilsip was on
him.
~ arrest you in the Queens same for
the murder of Selma Sprottg," and he
slipped the handouts on his wrists.
The papers We're full OF IL next day,
and Villiers' statement, together with Bar
tvs confession, were published side by
side.
OF course there was great excitement
over the discovery of the real murderer,
especially as Barty was so we'll known
in Melbourne society, but no one pitied
him. In the days of his prosperity he
had been obsequious to his superiors and
insolent to those beneath him, SD that all
he gained was the contempt of one and the
hate of the other. Luckily, he had no
relatives whom his crime would have dis
graced and as he had not succeeded in
getting rid Of Madame Midas. he intended
to have run away to South America. and
had forged check in her name for
large amount in order to supply himself
with funds. Unhappily, however, he had
paid that fatal visit and had been arrest
ed, an since then had been in state of
abject fear, begging and praying that his
. life mn yht be spared. His crime, how
ever, h awakened such Indignation that
the la, was allowed to take its course,
so early one wet, cold morning Barty was
deireres into the hands of the hangman,
and .hn mean, pitiful little soul was
lauj .htk into eternity.
\, tty was of course, released, but over
-A.0A with shame and agony at all her
%, I, Mo having been laid bare, she did
nj 60 To see Madame Midas, but disap-
AniGloup, for whom a warrant was
OF ifo9 the murder of Lemaire. had also
dtI ~pMred, and was supposed to have
- \ ~ Amarlca.