The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-05-16
CHAPTER XXI.-(Continued.) }

Zone night" pursued CASTOR, in low,
eoncertrated voice, grasping Meddlechip's
wrist firmly, and looking at him with fiery
eyes, "Braulard prepared poison, mar
cotic which was quick in it's action, fatal
In its results. He goes to the house OF
Adele Blondet at half past twelve o'clock
the hour now," he said, rapidly swing
Ing round and pointing to the clock on
the mantelpiece, which had just struck
the half hour; 'he found them at supper
releasing Meddlechip's wrist and crossing
to the sofa; 'he sat opposite Kestrike,
as he does now," leaning forward and
glaring at Meddlechip, who shrank back
In his chair. adele, ut the head OF the
table, laughs and smiles she looks at her
old lover and sees murder in his face; ;
she is i'll and retires to another room.
Kestrike follows her to see what is the
matter. Braulard is left alone; he pro-
duces bottle and pours its contents into
a cup of coffee, waiting for Adele. kes-
trike returns, saying Adele is i'll; she
wants a drink. He takes her the poison
ed cup of coffee she drinks it and falls"
with long breath-"asleep. Kestrike
returns to the room, asks Braulard to
leave the house. Braulard refuses. kes-
trike Is afraid, and would leave himself {;
he rises from the table; so does Braulard'
here CASTOR rose and crossed to Meddle-
chip. who was also on his feet-"he goes
to Kestrike, seizes his wrist, thus-drags
him to the next room, and there lies Adele
Blondet-dead-kil by the poison of
one lover given her by the other-and the
murderers look at one another-thus."
Meddlechip wrenched his hand from
vnndeloup's iron grip and falls back
ghastly white in his chair, with stran-
gled cry, while the Frenchman stood over
him with eyes cleaning with hatred.
"Kestrike," pursued Vandeloup, rapid
ly, "is little known in Paris-his name
Is an assumed one-he leaves France be-
fore the police can discover how he has
poisoned Adele Blondet, crosses to Eng
land and returns to Australia, where he
Is called-Meddlechip
The man in the chair threw up his
hands, as II to keep the other off, and
uttered a stfied cry.
"He then goes to China" went on Gas
ton, bending nearer to the shrinking fig
| ure, "and returns after twelve months,
where he meets Octave Braulard-yes, the
two murderers meet in Melbourne! How
came Braulard here? Was it chance?
No. Was 1t design2 No. Was it Fate?
Yes"
He Kissed the words in Meddlechip's
ear, and the wretched man shrank away
from aim again.
"Bnulard," pursued Vandeloup, in
calmer tone, "also left the house of Adele
Blondet. She is found dead; one of her
lovers cannot be found the other, Brau-
lard, Is accused of the crime; he defies
the police to prove it; she has been poi
soned. Bah! there is no trace. Braulard
will go free. Stop who is this man call
ed Prevol who appears? He is fellow
student of Braulard's, and knows the poi
son. Braulard is lost! Prevol examines
the body, proves that poison has been Civ
sn-by whom? Braulard, and none other.
He Is sentenced to death; but he is 50
handsome that Paris urges pardon. No;
1t is not according to the law. Still,
spare his life? Yes. His life is spared.
The galleys at Toulon? No. New Gale
donia? Yes. He Is sent there. But is
Braulard a coward? No. Does he rest as
q convict? No. He makes friends with
another convict; they steal boat, and fly
the island; they drift, and drift, for days
and days the sun rises, the sun sets-still
they drift: their food Is giving out, the
water in the barrel Is low are they to die
of thirst and famine? No. The sky is
red-like blood-the sun is sinking: land
Is in the distance-they are saved!" fall
Ing on his knees; 'they are saved"
Meddlechip, who had recovered himself,
wiped his face with his handkerchief. and
sneered with his white lips at the theat-
sical way Castor was beaving in.
"You know a secret" said Meddlechip,
nervously, (which Is dangerous to me
you want to sell It; well, will be the
6uyer-name your price"
Five hundred pounds" said vande-
loup, quietly.
"Is that ALP" asked the other, with
start Of surprise; II was prepared for five
thousand"
II am not exorbitant in my demands"
answered Vandeloup, smoothly; 'and I
have a scheme on hand by which 1 may
make lot of money-tive hundred pounds
Is sufficient to do what l want. II the
scheme succeeds will De rich enough to
do without any more money from YOU"