Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-04-05
.=-S9--
Madame Midas
by FerSus Hume
ygt(ApTER XXV.-(Continued.
BY FerSus Hume


AAN.-tContlnued.)
Kitty danced for a little time, but wa
tos much agitated to enjoy the valse, il
spitg Of the admirable partner Mr.. Van
deloup made. She stopped abruptly, an
insisted on Vandeloup taking her to tn
conservatory.
"What for?" he asked, as they thread
ed their way through the ovid room
us 1t important?"
Very" she replied, looking straight t;
Lin "it is essential to our comedy"
"My faith !" he murmured, as they en-
tered the fernery, this comedy is becom
ing monotonous."
The fcrnery was a huge glass building
on one side of the ball room, filled will
Australian and New Zealand ferns, ant
having a large fountain in the ccnte'
sendi.g up a sparkling jet of water, whicl
fell into the shallow stone basin hllet
| with water lilies and their pure whit
flowers.
.WelI." said Vandeloup amiably, as h,
sank into a scat beside Kitty, what i!
this great matter you wish to speal
aboutI"
.Mndama Midas, retorted Kitty. look
ing straight at him.
"Such a delightful subject murmuret
CASTOR, closing his eyes, as he guessed
what was coming go on, I'm all atten
ton"
you are going to find some way to di
vorce me and marry her." said Miss Mar
churst, bending towards him and closing
her fan with a snap.
.You don't say so? Who told you this
news-for news it is to me, l assure you
..Then it's not true?' added Kitty, Gag
erly, with a kind of gasp.
'I'm sure | don't know he replied. 81
haven't asked her yet. Don't talk SC
loud, my dear; it doesn't do to let every
one know your private business"
'It's private now" she. said, in a voice
Of passion, but it will soon be public
enough
Indeed which paper do you advertise
imp
Listen to me, CASTOR" she said, tax
ing no notice of his sneer; you will
never marry Madame Midas; sooner than
that, / will reveal all and kill myself
You forget he said, gently lit is
comedy, not tragedy, we play"
Having given Kitty over to the tender
care of Mrs. Rolleston, Vandeloup went
baek into the conservatory, and, sitting
down in his old place, commenced to re-
view the position.
If h could only stop Kitty's mouth in
some way-persuasion was thrown away
on her. If he could with safety get rid
of her he would. All! that was an idea.
He had some poison-if he could only
manage to give it to her, and thus remove
her from his path. 1t was a pity to kill
her, so young and pretty, and yet his
safety demanded it for if she told Mad
.,co Midas al "a vaiuhf lanH RI fin rt or
inquiries, and NJ. Vandeloup well knew
his past life would not bear looking into.
Well, if he had to get rid of her, the
sooner he did so the better, for even on
the next day she might tell all-he would
hive to give her the poison that night
but how? that was the difficulty. He
could not do it at this ball, as 1t would
be too apparent if she died-no-it would
have to be administered secretly when she
went home. But then she would go to
Madame Midas room to see how she was,
aud then would retire to her own room.
He knew where hat was-just off Mrs.
Villiers' room; there were French win
dows in both rooms-two in Mrs. Vii
liers' and one in Kitty's. That was the
plan-they would be left open, as the
night was hot. Suppose he went down to
st. Kilda, and got into the garden-he
knew every inch Of the way-then he
could slip into the open window, and if
il was not open he could use a diamond
ring to cut the glass. He had a diamond
ring he never wore, so if Kitty was dis
covered to be poisoned, and the glass cut,
they would never suspect him, as he did
not wear rings at all, and the evidence
Ct a cut window would show a diamond
must have been used. Well, suppose he
got inside, Kitty would be asleep, and he
could put the poison into the water ca
raffe, or he could put it in a glass of
water and leave it standing. He might
get Barty to assist him.
When M. Vandeloup had come to this
conclusion he arose, feeling a little nerv-
Gus over the crime he was about to com
mil He thought he would give Kitty one
last chance, so when she was nearly cloak
ed, waiting with Mrs. Killer for the car
ria, b, he drew her aside.
.sTou did not meal what you said to-
Mig t. lie whispered, looking ~searchingly
at Ter.
"Ies, I did," she replied defantly 'if
you push me to extremities you must take
the consequences"
!" / will be the worse FOR you,,' he said,
thra iteningly, as the carriage drove up.
81 IN not afraid of you," she retorted,
s~hrugsing her shoulders, a trick she had
learned from him; you lave ruined my
life, but I'm not going to let you ruin
Madame's. I'd sooner see her dedd."
Remember I have warned you," he
said ~gravely, handing her to the carriage.
"Good nightv
"Good night! she answered, hooking
"; "to-morrow," in a low voice, you will
be astonished."
"And tomorrow he said to himself,
~ the carriage drove off, you will be
head"
CHAPTER XXvI.