The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1907-04-18
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Madame Midas
by Fergus Hume ~

by FerStis Hume

CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued.)
'Mercy ~ cried the unfortunate wom-
an, taken by surprise, and, involuntarily
tightening the reins, the horse stopped
"who are your
Villiers never said a word, but tight
ened his grasp on her throat and short
ened his stick 10 give her blow on the
head. Fortunately, Madame Midas saw
his intention, and managed to wrench her
self free, so the blow aimed at her only
slightly touched her, otherwise it would
have killed her.
As it was, however, she fell forward,
half stunned, and yilliers, hurredly drop
ping his stick, bent down an eiesddz
ping his stick, bent down and seized the
box which he felt under his feet and in
tuitively guessed contained the nugget.
With a cry of triumph he hurled it
out on to the road and sprang out after
It; but the cry woke his wife from the
semi i-stuDor into which she had fallen.
Her head felt dizzy and heavy from
the blow, but still she had her senses
about her, and the moon bursting out from
behind a cloud rendered the night as clear
as day.
villiers had picked up the box, and was
standing ON the edge of the bank, just
about to leave. The unhappy woman rec
ognized her husband, and uttered cry.
You you !" she shreked, wildly, cow
ard bastard Give me back that mug
get !" leaning out of the trap in her Gag
erness.
We're quits now, my lady" retorted
villiers, and he turned to SO.
Maddened with anger and disgust, his
wife snatched up the stick he had dropped,
and struck him on the head as he took a
step forward. With stifed cry he stag
gered and fell over the embankment, still
clutching the box in his arms. Madame
let the stick fall, and fell back fainting
on the seat of the trap. while the horse,
startled by the noise, tore down the road
at mad gallop.
Madame Midas lay in dead faint for
some time, and when she came to herself
she was in the trap, and Rory was calm
ly trotting along the road home. At the
foot of the hill, the horse, knowing every
inch of the way. had settled down into his
steady trot for the Pactolus, but when
Madame graSped the situation, she mar
yelled 10 herself how she had escaped be-
ing dashed to pieces in that mad gallop
down the Black Hill.
Her head felt painful from the effects
OF the blow she had received, but her one
thought was TO get home 10 Archie and
Selma, so gathering up the reins she sent
Rory along as quickly as she could When
she drove up TO the gate Archie and Sc
lima were both out to receive her, and
when the former went to lift her off the
trap, he gave a cry of horror at seeing
her dishevelled appearance and the blood
on her face.
Heaven save u.s." he cried. lifting her
down; what's come to ye, and where's
the nugget" seeing it was not in the
trap.
Lost" she said, in a stupor, feeling
her head swimming, but there's worse"
"Worse?" echoed Selma mad Archie,
who were both standing looking terrified
at one another.
Yes" said Mrs. Villiers, in hollow
whisper, leaning forward and srasping
Archie's coat, I've killed my husband
and without another word, she fell faint
ing to the ground.
At the same time Vandeloup and
Pierre walked into the bar at the Waffle
Tree Hotel. Pierre went to lrs bed. and
Vandeloup, humming a gay song, turned
on his heel and went to the theater.