The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-01-17
CHAPTER XXI.

thoughts were anything but pleasant. Not
that he was thinking about Kitty, for
he regarded the scene he had with her as
merely an Outburst of hysterical passion,
and did not dream sh, would take any
serious step. At the hotel he picked up
the evening paper and glanced over it with
a yawn. when a name caught his eye
which he had frequently noticed before.
II say" he said to a tall, fair young
fellow who had just entered, who is this
Meddlechip the paper is full of"
Don't you know" said the other, in
surprise 'he's one of our richest men,
and very generous with his money"
"Oh. l see buys popularity" replieS
vandeloup. coolly show is it I've never
met him."
Hes been to China or Chili-or-
something commencing with a c." return
ed the young man, vaguely; "he only
came back to Melbourne last week you
are sure to meet him sooner or later"
vandeloup was so occupied with his
own Thoughts that he did not notice two
gentlemen who came in, taking seats a lit
tie distant from him.. They were both
in evening dress and had apparently left
the opera in order to talk business, for
they kept conversing eagerly, and their
voices striking on Vandeloup's ear, he
glanced round at them and then relapsed
into his former inattentiye position. Now,
however, though apparently absorbed in
his own thoughts, he was listening 10 ev-
cry word they said, for he had caught he
name of 1.-THE Maggie Reef" a quartz
mine, which had lately been 1oated on
the market, the shares of which had run
up to a pound, and then, as bad reports
were circulated about it, dropped suddenly
to four shillings. Vandeloup recognized
one as Barraclough. a well-known stock
broker, but the other was a dark, wiry-
looking man of medium height. whom ne
had never seen before.
II tell you it's a good thing" said Bar
racIough, vehemently laying his hand on
the table .Tollerby is the manager. and
knows everything about it,"
A nois. disturbed vandeloup. as a
crowd of gentlemen came ~thronging in.
Barty YVES among them, and he thought he
would speak to him on the subject. Barty
was a clever little fellow, and seemed al
ways able to get money. Perhaps he
would be able to assist him. He stepped
ont of the balcony into the light and
touched Barty on the shoulder as he stood
amid his friends.
"Hullo: it's you" cried Barty, turning
round. where have you been, old chap?
Come and nave supper with us. We are
going to have some at Leslie's."
"Ges, do come" urged B~ellthorp. a COM
panion, putting his arm in that of vande-
fo-,t~. suroul hovo No and IS fun
vandeloup was just going 20 accept. as
he thought on the way he could speak
privately to Barty about this scheme he
had, when be 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 be turned slowly round and look
ed down the room. CASTOR gave q start
when he saw his face, and then smiled in
a gratifed manner TO himself.
"Who 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, yes" retorted CASTOR. impatient.
ly; 'but who are they?"
1.-THE long one is Fell, the railway con-
tractor" said Barty, gIancing with some
surprise at Vandeloup, ''and the other is
old Meddlechip. the millionaire"
"Meddlechip," echoed yandeloup, as il
to himself my faith :"
DO you know himf"
II fancy | do" said vandeioup, with
a strange smile. "You must excuse me to
your supper tonight"
CASTOR sauntered slowly up to the cot
fee bar, and asked for a 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
talk to some one else, so when Vandeloup
got his coffee he turned slowly round and
looked straight at Meddlechip seated in
the chair.
Good evening, NJ. Kestrike," he said,
quietly.
Meddlechip, whose face was usually red
and forid looking, turned CHASTITY pale,
and sprang to his feet.
Octave BrauIard! !" he gasped. placing
his coffee cup on the counter.
AT your service" said yandeioup, 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 a long story" said NJ. vandeloup,
putting his coffee cup down and wipine
his lips with his handkerchief: Suppose
we go and have supper somewhere, and
I'll tell you al about it,"
al don't want any supper" said Med
dlechip, sullenly, his face having regained
its normal color.
Possibly not, but I do" replied Van
deloup, sweetly, taking his arn come,
hlet us TO-"
Meddlechip did not resist, but walked
passively out of the bar with Vandeloup
much to the establishment of the thin
gentleman, who called out to him but
without getting any answer.
Meddlechip went to the cloak room and
put on his Goa and hat. Then he follow
ed Vandeloup down the stairs and paused
at the door while the Frenchman hailed
II UdUSom. NGcu IL uTOFe I'D, 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 gleam in his dark eyes, and bowed.
"Let me persuade you, Monsieur" he
said. blandly, holding the door of the
cab open.
Meddlecap 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 Leslie's Supper Rooms" replied the
Frenchman, and the cab drove off.
Leslie's Supper Rooms in Bourke
Street East were very well 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"