Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-02-01

Slivers and Co., not finding matters goin
to their satisfaction, met one day at tn
Office of the senior partner for the purpos
of discussing the affair nj seeing whs
could be done toward bringing Madam
Midas to their way of thinking.
Then, suppose you go out to the Pac
toIus and see your wife," suggested Sliv
ers.
mo CO." returned villiers, gloomily
shed break my head"
Bah! you amt afraid of a woman
are your" snarled Slivers. viciously.
mo. but / am of Mcintosh and tn
rest Of them" retorted Villiers. "Wha
can one man do against twenty of thes
demons? WIZ theyy'aa Kill me If wen
out there and that wife of mine wouldn'
raise her little finger to save me-
Its no good beating about the bush,
said the woodcn-legged man. You g
out near the claim, and see if you cal
catch her then give it to her hot"
Villicrs thought a moment, then turned
to go.
IN try he said, as he went out o
the door, but it's no go, l tell you, shes
%stone," and with a dismal nod he slouchet
away
"Stone, is she" cried the old man
| pounding ~furiously on the floor with his
wooden leg. then I'd smash her.; Ic
crush her I'd grind her into little bits
and. overcome By his rage, Siiyers shook
Billy off his shoulder.
Mr.. Villiers went to the railway sta,
ton and took the train to the Pactolus
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 along 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..
Yilliers, 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.
A sliidder of disgust pashed through
her frame as she raised her eyes and saw
him, and she made a 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 see
standing in the middle of the road.
Husband and wife stood glazing at each
other for a few moments in silence, she
looking at him with an expression of in
tense loathing on her fine face, and he
yainly trying to assume a digniied 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.
mot yet y he Kissed through his clench-
ed teeth; first you must lave a word
with me-"
what do you want?" she asked in a
low, clear voice.
Money !" growled villiers. ~insolently
planting himself directly in front Of her,
.'and I'm going to have it."
Money y she echoed, in a tone of bit
ter irony have you not had enough yet?
Have you not squandered every penny I
had from my father? What more do you
want2"
"A share in your Pactolus," he said,
s~ullenly.
His wife laughed scornfully. villiers
writhed like q snake under Ter bitter
scorn.
understand he said, in a haunting
tone ''you want it for the man you are
going to marry"
What do you mean
what I say" he retorted boldly "all
Ballarat knows you are in love with that
young Frenchman."
Mrs. villiers felt herself grow faint
this man, who had embittered her life
from the time she married him, was still
her evil genius. A man she had seen on
the road was now nearly up to them, and
with a revulsion of feeling she saw that
it was Vandeloup. Recovering herself
with an effort, she turned steadily.
You lied when you spoke just now"
she said in a quiet voice. II will not
lower myself to reply to your accusation /:
but If you dare to cross my path again I
will kill you"
She looked so terrible when she said
that villiers involuntarily drew back,
but recovering himself in a moment, he
sprang forward and caught her arm.
"Ill make you pay for this" and he
twisted her arm till she thought It was
You'll kill me, will you?-you !
he shrieked, still twisting her
arm and causing her intense pain, .'you
viper !"
Suddenly, when Madame was almost
f~ainting with pain, she heard a shout, and
knew that Vandeloup had come to the
rescue. He had recognized Madame Midas
down the road, and saw that her com-
panion was threatening her so he made
all possible speed, and arrived just in
time.
Madame turned round to see vande-
loup throw her husband into a ditch by
the side of the road. and walk toward
her. He was not at all excited, but seem
ed as cool and calm as if he had just
been shaking hands with Mr.. yilliers
instead Of treating him violently.
ssYou had better go home. Madame"
he sad, in his usual cool voice, and
leave me to deal with this gentleman you
are not hurt?"
"Only1ia arm, replied Mrs. Nilliers.
in a faint voice The nearly broke it.
But | can walk home alone"
II you can, do So. said yande,oup.
with a doubtful loci at her. II will send
him away
Don't let him hurt you."
II don't think there is much danger"
replied the young man, with a glance
at his arms. Il am stronger than | look.
Thank you. Monsieur" said Madame
Midas. giving him her hand; you have
rendered me i great service, and one I
will not forget"
He bent down and kissed Ter hand,
which action was seen By Mr.. yilliers as
he crawled out of the ditch. When Mad
anne Midas was gone and vandeloup could
see her walking homeward. he turned to