The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-04-11
CHAPTER XI.-(Continued.)


Martha, in surprise, pulling the white
flowers out of the bunch; "and l nevel
knew 1t was there. Pah % and she threw
Che blossoms down with a gesture of dis
gust. How they smell! "
CASTOR picked up one of the flowers
and crushed it between his fingers, upon
which 1t gave out peculiar mousy odor
eminently disagreeable. 1t was hemlock
sure enough, and he wondered how such
plant had come into Australia.
Docs it grow in your garden?" he
asked Martha.
That damsel intimated it did, and Of
fered to show him the plant, 80 that he
could believe his own eyes. Vandeloup
assented eagerly, and they were soon in
the flower garden at the back of the house,
which was blazing with vivid colors, in
the hot glare of the sunshine.
There you are" said Miss Twexby,
pointing to a corner of the garden near
the fence where the plant was growing;
"par brought lot of seeds from home,
and that beastly thing got mixed up with
them. Par keeps it growing, though,
cause no one else has got it. It's quite
a curiosity"
Vandeloup bent down and examined the
plant with its large, round smooth, pur
ple-spotted stem-its smooth, shining
green leaves, and the tiny white flowers
with their dsagreeable odor.
"Yex, 1t is hemlock," he said, half to
himself; II did not know it could be
grown here. Some day. Mademoiselle," he
said, turning to Miss Twexby, and walk
ing back to the house with her, II will
ask you to let me have some Of the roots
of this plant to make an experiment
with"
"As much as you like" said the fair
Martha, amiably. What are you going
to make out of it?"
Nothing particular" returned Vande-
loup, with yawn, as they entered the
house and stopped at the door of Pierre's
room. "I'm bit of chemist, and amuse
myself with these things"
You are clever" observed Martha, ad-
miringly; 'but here's that mans room
we didn't give him the best"-apologet-
ically-"as miners are 80 rough"
"Mademoiselle," said Eandeloup eager
ly, as she turned to go, II see there are
q Few blossoms Of hemlock left in your
flowers there" touching it with his fin
ger; 'will you give them to me?"
Martha Twexby started; surely this
was the long-expected come at last-she
had secured lover; and such a lover
haJ 'some, young, gallant-the very hero
of her dreams. She almost tainted in
delightful surprise, and unfastening the
flowers with trembling fingers, gave them
to CASTOR. He placed them in a button
hole of his flannel coat.
"Well," she said to herself, "if that
isn't case of love at first sight, then my
name amt Martha Twexby," and she sat
down In the bar with her nerves all Of
futter, as she afterward told female
friend who dropped in sometimes for a
friendly cup of tea.
CASTOR closed the door after him, and
found himself in moderately large room.
There were two beds, and on the farthest
Of these Pierre was sleeping heavily. Go
ing over to him, Vandeloup touhced him
slightly, and with a spring the dumb paan
sat up a. If he expected to be arrested,
and was all on the alert to escape.
"It's only 1, my friend" said Castor,
In French, crossing over to the other bed
and sitting on it. Come here; I wish
to speak to you."
Pierre rose from his sleeping place and,
stumbling across the room, stood before
CASTOR with downcast eyes. GaAton
coolly threw his straw hat on the bed and
then, curling one leg inside the other, ls'ok-
ed long and keenly at Pierre.
"You saw Madame's husband to-day?"
he said sharply, still eyeing the slouching
figure before him, that seemed so restless
under his steady gaze.
Pierre nodded and shufied his large
feet.
"Sit down." said Vandeloup, in a per-
emptory tone, pointing to the floor. Il
wish to tell you what I think. l need
hardly remind you that when we landed
In Australia told you that there was
war between ourselves and society, and
chat at any cost, we must try to make
money; so far, we have only been able to
earn an honest livelihood way of get
ting rich which you must admit is re-
markably slow. Here however, is a
chance of making, if not a fortune, at
least a good sum of money at one stroke.
This NJ. yilliers is going to rob his wife,
and his plan will no doubt be this: He
will lie in wait for her, and when she
drives slowly down the hill he will spring
on to the trap and perhaps attempt to
kill her; at all events, he will seize the
box containing the nugget, and try to
make off with it. How he intends to
manage it I cannot tell you-it must be
left to the chapter of accidents; but when
he does get the nugget we must obtain it
from him."
Pierre looked up and drew his hand
across his throat.
mot necessarily" returned vandeloup,
ccoily; II know your adase, dead men
tell no tales but it is a mistake-they
do, and to kill him is dangerous. No,
~ ws stun him We can 80 OF with the