The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-05-09


"Yes, do come" urged Bellthorp, a com.
panion, putting his arm in that of vande-
loup's; "we'll have no end Of fun"
Vandeloup was just going to accept, az
he thought on the way he could speak
privately to Barty about this scheme he
had, when he saw a stout gentleman at
the end of the room taking a cup Of
coffee at the counter, and talking to an
other gentleman who was very tall and
thin. The figure of the stout gentleman
seemed familiar to Vandeloup and at this
moment he turned slowly round and look
ed down the room. CASTOR gave a start
when he saw his face, and then smiled in
q gratified manner to himself.
"Whs is that gentleman with the cof-
fee?" he asked Barty.
"Those stout and lean kine?" said Bar.
ty, airily. puts one in mind of Pha-
raoh's dream, doesn't it?"
"Yes, yesw retorted CASTOR, inpatient
ly; ''but who are they?"
"The long one is Fell, the railway con-
tractor" said Barty, glancing with some
surprise at Vandeloup, 'and the other 10
old Meddlechip, the millionaire"
"Meddlechip," echoed Vandeloup, as II
to himself; my faith!"
do you know him"
II fancy do" said Vandeloup, with
a strange smile. "You must excuse me to
your supper tonight"
CASTOR sauntered slowly up to the cof-
fee bar, and asked for cup in his usual
musical voice, but when the stout gentle
man heard him speak he turned pale and
looked up. The thin one had gone off to
fall f,,p nlg I,la
got his coffee he turned slowly round and
looked straight at Meddlechip seated in
the chair. -
Good evening, n Kestrike," he said,
quietly.
Meddlechip, whose face was usually red
| and florid looking, turned CHASTITY pale,
| and sprang to his feet.
Octave Braulardw he gasped, placing
his coffee cup on the counter.
AT your service" said Vandeloup, look
ing rapidly round to see that no one over
heard the name, "but here / am CASTOR
Vandeloup."
Meddlechip passed his handkerchief over
his face and moistened his dry lips with
his tongue.
How did you get here?' he asked, in
a strangled voice
Its long story" said VI. Vandeloup,
putting his coffee cup down and wiping
his lips with his handkerchief; suppose
we go and have supper somewhere, and
I'll tell you all about it,
Il don't want any supper" said Med
dlechip, sullenly, his face having regained
its normal color.
Possibly not, but l do" replied Van
deloup, sweetly, taking his ARM "come,
let us CO."
Meddlechip did not resist, but walked
pasSively out of the bar with Vandeloup,
much to the astonishment of the thin
gentleman, who called out to him but
without getting any answer.
Meddlechip went to the cloak room and
put on his coat and hat. Then he follow
! ed Vandeloup down the stairs and paused
at the door while the Frenchman hailed
a hanson. When it drove up, however,
he stopped short at the edge of the pave
ment.
II won't CO." he said, determinedly.
Vandeloup looked at him with a pecu-
liar CLEAN in his dark eyes, and bowed.
LET me persuade you, Monsieur" he
said, blandly, holding the door of the
| cab open.
Meddlecsp glanced at him, and then,
with a sigh of resignation, entered the
| cab followed by Vandeloup.
Where to, sir?" asked the cabman,
| through the trap.
ITO Leslies Supper Rooms" replied the
Frenchman, and the cab drove off.
Leslie's Supper Rooms in Bourke
| Street East were very we'll known, and
were soon reached by the two men.
Now, then, SIR" said Meddlechip,
| sharply, what did you bring me here
| for! You must leave Australia"
IF l refuse?" asked Vandeloup, lazily,
| smiling to himself.
Il will denounce you as q convict es-
| capped from New Caledonia" hissed the
| other, putting his hands in his pockets.
and bending forward.
Indeed" said CASTOR, with a charm
| ing smile, II don't think you will 60 50
| far as that, my friend"
II thought it was done WITH" said Med
dlechip, twisting his fingers together,
while the large drops of perspiraton stood
on his forehead, ''but here you come like
spectre from the past and revive all the
old horrors"
| ''If you call Adele horror" retorted
! Vandeloup, coolly, II am certainly going
to revive her, 80 you had best sit down
and hear me to the end, for you certainly
will not turn me from my purpose"
I'VE will begin the story" said NJ. Van
deloup, in conversational tone, with an
airy wave of his delicate white hand, ''in
the good old-fashioned style of our fairy
tales. Once upon time-let us say three
years ago-there lived in Paris young
man called Octave Braulard, who was
well born and comfortably off. He had
a fancy to be a doctor, and was studying
for the medical profession when he be-
| came acquainted with Mademoisele Adele
Blondet. Octave Braulard," went on NJ
Vandeloup, complacently looking at HIM
| self ..uraS ha andSo,,.a oh, foll