The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-03-28
CHAPTER VIII.

SllverS and his friend NlllierS were
by no means pleased with the existing
state Of things. In sending Vandeloup
to the Pactolus claim, they had thought
that Madame Midas would fall in love
with the attractive Frenchman, and seek
for a divorce in order to marry him
which divorce Nillicrs would of course re-
sist, unless she br:5ed him by giving him
an interest in the PactOlus. But they had
both reckOned wrongly, for Madame was
not in love with Vandeloup, and acted
with much crcumspection. Consequently
Slivers and Co., not finding matters going
to their satisfaction, met one day at the
office of the senior partner for the purpose
of discussing the affair and seeing what
could be done toward bringing Madame
Midas to their way of thinking.
Then, suppose you go out to the Pac-
tolus and see your wife," suggested Sliv-
ers.
mo 60" returned Villiers, gloomily,
shed break my head"
Bah you amt afraid of a woman,
are yOu?" snarled Slivers. viCiously.
mo, but l am of Mcintosh and the
rest Of them," retorted Villiers. What
NoAA CiiC man Wv d5aiiiSl twenty Va IiCoS
demons? Why, they'd kill me if | went
out there; and that wife Of mine wouldn't
raise her little finger to save me-"
It's no good beating about the bush.'
said the wooden-legged man. You go
out near the claim, and see II you can
catch her; then give it to her hot"
Villiers thought moment, then turned
to go.
I'll try" he said, as he went out of
the door, but it's no go, tell you shes
stone," and with a dismal nod he souched
away.
"Stone, is she?" cried the old man,
pounding furiously on the floor with his
wooden leg then I'd smash her; I'd
crush her; I'd grind her into little bits"
and overcome by his rage, Slivers shock
Billy off his shoulder.
Mr.. Villiers went to the railway xta-
tiOn and took the train to the PaHtolus
claim. Unluckily for Madame Midas, she
had that day been to Ballarat, and was
just returning. She had gone BY train,
and was now leaving the station and walk
ing home to the Pactolus alorg the road.
Being absorbed in thought she did not
notice the dusty figure in front of her, 9th
erwise she would have been sure to have
recognized her husband, and would have
given him a wide berth by crossing the
fields instead Of going by the road. Mr..
Villiers, therefore, tramped steadily on to-
ward the Pactolus, and his wife tramped
steadily after him, until at last, at the
turn Of the road where it entered her
property, she overlook him.
chuIIar nf ItCO,,ot ShoI th oh
her frame as she raised her eyes and saw
him. and she made sudden gesture as
though to fall behind and thus avoid him.
1t was, however. too late, for Mr.. VIII
liers, hearing footsteps, turned suddenly
and saw the woman he had come to sc1'
standing in the middle of the road.
Husband and wife stood glaring at each
other for few moments in silence, she
looking at him with an expression of in
tense loathing on her fine face, and he
vainly trying to assume a diguifed car
riage.
At last, his wife. drawing her dress to-
gether as though his touch would have
contaminated her, tried to pass, but on
seeing this he sprang forward, before she
could change her position, and caught her
wrist
Not yeti" he hissed through his cench-
ed teeth first you must have a word
with me-"
what do you want?' she asked in a
low, clear voice.
Money" growled Viliers. insolently
planting himself directly in front of her,
land I'm going to have it."
Money" she echoed, in a tone Of bit
ter irony; have you not had enough yet ?
Have you not squandered every penny
had from my father? What more do you
want? 2"
"A share IL your Pactolus," he said,
sullenly.
His wife laughed scornfully. Villiers
writhed like a snake under her bitter
scorn.
II understand" he said. in a taunting
tone; you want it for the man You are
going to marry"
'"What do you mean?"
"What I say" he retorted boldly; "all