The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-03-14
CHAPTER ".

oI1af l. El( ~.
Madame Midas was standing on the
veranda OF her cottage, staring far away
into the distance, where she could see
the tall chimney and huge mound of white
earth which marked the whereabouts of
the Pactolus claim. She was a tall wom-
an Of the Junoesque type, with firm white
hands and well-formed feet.
Scattered over this pastoral looking
country were huge mounds of white earth,
looking like heaps of carded wool, and at
the end of each of these invariably stood
| Il tall, ugly skeleton OF wood. These mark
ed the positions of the mines-the tow
ers contained the winding gear, while the
white earth was the clay called mullOch,
brought from several hundred feet below
| the surface. Near these mounds were
rough looking sheds with tall red chin
| neys, which made a pleasant spot of color
| against the white of the clay. On one of
these mounds, rather isolated from the
others, and standing by itself in the midst
of wide green paddock, Mrs. ViIliers
eyes were fixed, and she soon saw the dark
| figure OF man coming slowly down the
white mound, along the green field and
advancing slowly up the hill She called
out to some one inside.
"Archie is coming, Selina--you had bet
ter hurry up the tea, for he will be hun
CRY after such a long day"
The person inside made no answer save
| by an extra clatter Of some domestic uten-
si!s Madam walked slowly down the gar
den path, and leaned lightly over the gate,
| waiting for the new conner, who was in
| deed none other than Archibald McIn-
tosh, the manager of the Pactolus.
He was a man of about medium height,
rather thin than otherwise, with long,
narrow looking head and boldly cut fea-
| lures. His eyes were gray and shrewd
looking, his lips were firmly compressed
in fact, the whole appearance of his
| face was obstnate-the face of a man
who would stick to his opinions what
ever anyone else might say to the con-
| trary.
Dye know what this may be?' he said,
smile relaxing his grim features as he
| held up q rather large nugget its the
| third this week."
Madame Midas took the nugget from
him and balanced it carefully in her hand,
with a thoughtful look in her face, as if
she was making a mental calculation.
About twenty to twenty five ounces, l
should say" she observed in her soft, low
| voice; the last we had was Fl IN. and
| the one before twenty-loOks promising,
| doesn't itI"
"Well, I'll not say but it might mean
deal MORE" replied Mcintosh, with
| characteristic Scotch caution, as he fol-
| lowed Madame into the house; its not
a very bad sign; | will not say but what
we might be near the Devils Lead"
And if we are?" said Madame, turn
ing with a smile.
''Weel, mem, yell have more siler nor
| yell know what to do with.''
Selma Jane Sprotts, who now acted as
servant to Mrs. Villiers, was rather an
| oddity in her way. She had been Mad
| ame's nurse and had followed her up to
BallarSt with the determination of never
| leaving aer. Selma was a spinster She
moved noiselessly about the small room,
in a wonderfully de1trous manner, and.
after laying the table, placed the teapot ON
| the hob.
BY and by Archie, who had been max
ing great spIashing in the bach prem
ises, came In looking clean and fresh, with
more obstinate look about his face
than ever. Madame went to the tea tau.e
and sat down. Archie asked blessing.
"You have written to SliversT' said
Madame, raising her eyes.
That wooden legged body" retortoS