The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-04-04
CHAPTER II.

llLtIe puDllC HOuSe III IL quiet SlIetl. IL
was far away from the main thorough
fares of the oity and stranger had to
go up any number of quiet streets to get
to it and turn and twist round corners
and down narrow lanes until it became
perfect miracle how he ever found the
hotel at all
Any one going into the bar could see
old Simon--a stolid, fat man with a
sleepy looking face always in his shirt
sleeves and wearing a white apron sitting
in chair at the end while his daughter,
sharp, red-nosed damsei vino was 80
years OF age, and confessed to %, served
out the meals. Mrs. Twexby had long
ago departed this life, leaving behind her
the sharp, red-nosed damsel to be her
fathers comfort. AS a matter of fact, she
was just the opposite and Simon often
wished that his daughter had departed
to a better world in company with her
mother. Thin, tight-laced, with a shrill
voice and an acidulated temper, Miss
Twexby was still a spinster, and not even
the fact of her being an heiress could
tempt any of the Ballarat youth to lead
her to the altar. Consequently Miss Twex-
by's temper was not a golden o1e, and
she ruled the hotel and its inmates with
a rod Of iron.
Mr.. Villiers was frequent customer at
the Waffle Tree, and was in the back
parlor talking to old Twexby Ol the day
that Pierre arrived. The dumb man came
into the bar out of the dusty road, and,
leaning over the counter, pushed letter
under Miss Twexby's nose, and although
it was directed to her father, Miss Twex-.
By, who managed everything, opened it
and found it was from Mcintosh, saying
that the bearer, Pierre Lebaire, was to
have bed tor the night meals and what
| ever else he required, and that he-McIn-
tosh-woud be responsible for the money.
He furthermore added that the bearer
was dumb.
"Oh, 80 you are dumb, are your said
Miss Twexby, folding up the letter and
looking complacently at Pierre. II wish
there were a few more men the same
way; then, perhaps, we'd have less chat"
Meanwhile, Villiers having heard the
name of Pierre Lemaire, and knowing he
was engaged in the Pactolus claim, came
round to see him and try to find out all
about the nugget. Pierre was sulky at
first, and sat with his old black hat drawn
| down so far over his eyes that only his
bushy black beard was visible, but Mr..
Villers' suavity, together with the pres
ent of half q crown, had a marked effect
on him. AS he was dumb Mr.. Villiers
somewhat perplexed how to carry on
conversation with him, but he ultimately
| drew forth a piece of paper, and sketched
| a rough presentation of nugget there
on, which he showed to Pierre. The
Frenchman, however, did not comprehend
until Villiers produced q sovereign from
his pocket, and pointed first to the gold
and then to the drawing, upon which
Pierre nodded his head several times in
order to show that he understood. Nh-
liers then drew picture OF the Pactolus
claim, and asked Pierre in French If the
nugget was still there, as he showed him
the sketch. Pierre shook his head, and,
taking the pencil in his hand, drew
rough representation Of horse and cart
and put a square box in the latter t<
show the nugget was ON journey.
"Hullo!" said Villiers to himself, its
not at her own house, and she's driving
somewhere with it; l wonder where to!
She's got the nugget with her in the trap,
and she's taken it to show Marchurst
| Well, she's sure to stop there to tea, and
won't start for home till about nine
o'clock; it will be pretty dark by then.
She'll be by herself and if - here he
stopped and looked around cautiously, and
then, without another word, set of down
the street at a run.
The fact was, Mr.. Villiers had come to
the conclusion that as his wife would not
give him money willingly, the best thing
to be done would be to take it by force,
and accordingly he had made up his mind
| to rob her of the nhgget that night if pos
siOle.
The afternoon ore dYowsily along, and
| the great heat made everybody inclined
to sleep. Pierre had demanded by signs
to be shown his bedroom, and having been
conducted thereto by a crushed-looking
waiter, who drifted aimlessly before him,
threw himself on the bed and went fast
asleep.
Even Martha, the 'wide-awake, was
| yielding to the somnifcrOus heat of the
| day, when a young man entered the bar
| and made her sit up with great alacrity.
This was none other than NJ. Vande
| loup, who had come down to see Pierre.
| Dressed in hannels, with a hlue scarf tied
! carelessly round his waist, blue necktie
| knotped loosely round his throat under
the collar of his shirt, and wearing a
| straw hat on his fair head, he locked
wonderfully cool and handsome. and as
he leaned over the counter Miss TweIby
| thought that the hero of her novel must
have stepped bodily out of the book. Gas
| ton stared eomplacently at her while he
| fo;r ton ba P,,f !.
| was not looking at her somewhat mature
charms, but at a bunch of pale blue flow
ers, among which were some white bios
SONS she wore in the front of her dress.
(To be continued.)
High Art.