The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-03-21
CHAPTER VII.

CASTOR NandelOup having passed all
his life in cities, found that his existence
on the Pactolus claim was likely to be
very dreary. Day after day he arose
in the morning, did his office work, ate his
meals, and after a talk with Madame
Midas in the evening went to bed at lO
o'clock. Such Arcadian simplicity as this
was not likely to suit the highly cultivat-
ed tastes he had acquired in his earlier
life. As to the episode of New Caledo-
MIA NJ. Vandeloup dismissed it completely
from his mind. for this young man never
permitted his thoughts to dwell on dis
agreeable subjects.
A whole month had elapsed since Mad
anne had engaged NJ. Vandeloup and his
friend, but as yet the Devils Lead had
not been found Madame, however, was
strong in her belief that it would soon be
discovered, for her luck-the luck of Mad
anne Mdas-was getting quite a proyerb
in Ballarat.
One bright morning Vandeloup was in
the office running up endless columns OF
| figures, and Madame, dressed in her un-
| derground garments, was making ready to
| go below, just having stepped in to see
| CASTOR.
by the way, NJ. Vandeloup," she said
| in English, for it was only in the even
| ings they spoke French, Il am expecting
a young lady this morning, so you can
| tell her l have gone down the mine, but
| will be back in an hour if she will wait
for me-
| Certainly, Madame" said Vandeloup,
looking up with his bright smile; "and the
young lady's name"
Kitty Marchurst," replied Madame,
pausing a moment at the door of the
office "she is the daughter Of the Rev.
Mark Marchurst, a minister at Ballarat.
l think you will like her, NJ. Vandeloup,"
| she went on, in a conversational tone;
tremely pretty"
| Then | am sure to like her." returned
CASTOR, gaily; Il never could resist the
charm of pretty woman
He went to work on the figures again,
when suddenly he heard high, clear voice
singing outside. At first he thought it
was bird, but no bird could execute such
trlls and shakes. so by the time the
voice arrived at the office door NJ. Vande-
| loup came to the conclusion that the own
er of the voice was a woman. and that the
woman was Miss Kitty Marchurst
He leaned back in his chair and Won
dcred idly if she would knock at the door
or enter without ceremony. The latter
course was the one adopted by Miss
MarchurSt, for she threw open the door
and stood there blushing and poutipg %
the embarrassing situation in which she
now found herself.
81 thought | would find Mrs. Villiers
here" she said, in a low, sweet voice, the
peculiar timbre of which sent thrill
through Gaston's young blood, as he arose
to his feet Then she looked up and catch
! ing his dark eyes fixed on her with
good deal of admiration in them, she look
ed down and commenced drawing figures
on the dusty floor with the tip of very
dainty shoe.
Madame has just gone down the
mine" said NJ. Vandeloup politely, but
she desires me to say that she would be
back soon, and that you we're to wait
! here. and I was to entertain you then,
with grave bow. he placed the only chair
in the Office at the disposal of his visitor,
and leaned up against the mantelpiece in
an attitude of unstudied grace. Miss
| Marchurst accepted his offer and took
furtive glalces at him, while CASTOR,
! whose experience of women was by no
means limi-ed looked at her coolly, in a
manner which would have been rude but
for the charming smile which Guivered
upon his lips.
(To be continued.)