Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1907-03-15
CHATTER XXI.

CHAPTER XXI.
As he drove rapidly into town Gaston's
thoughts were anything but pleasant. Not
that he was thinking about Kitty, for
he regarded the scene he had with her as
merely an utburst 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 OFF,
Don't you know" said the other, in
surprise hes one of our richest men,
and very generous with his money"
"Oh, l see! buys popularity replied
Vandeloup. coolly show is it I've never
met him?" =
"He's been to China or Chili-or-
something commencing with a g." return
ed the young man, vaguely; she only
came back to Melbourne last week you
are sure to meet hin 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
Lie ODcIu III IL tain OdoILlCoJy "
they kept conversing eagerly, and their
voices striking on yandeloup's ear, he
glanced round at them and then relapsed
into his former inattentive position. Now,
however, though apparently absorbed in
his own thoughts, he was listening to ev-
cry word they said, for he had caught the
name of 1.-THE Maggie Reef" a quartz
mine, which had lately been floated 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 shiilings. Vandeloup recognized
one as Barraclough, a weli-known stock
broker, but the other was a dark, wiry-
looking man of medium height, whom he
had never seen before.
81 tell you it's a good thing" said Bar
raclough, vehemently laying his hand on
the table; ''Iotierby is the manager, and
knows everything about it."
A noise disturbed Vandeloup, as a
crowd of gentlemen came %thronging in.
Barty was among them, and he thought he
would speak to him on the subject. sBarty
was a clever little fellow, and seemed al
ways able to get money. Perhaps. he
would be able to assist him. He stepped
out 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 nay you been, old chap?
Come and have supper with us. We are
going to have some at Leslie's."
Yes, do come" urged Bellthorp. a com
panion, putting his arm in that of Vande-
loup's; well have no end of fun"
yandeloup was just going to accept, as
he thought on the way he could speak
privately to Barty about this scheme he
had, when he 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 Mt this
moment he turned slowly round and look
ed down the room. Castor gave a start
| when he saw his face, and then smiled in
d gratified manner to himself.
..Who IS that gentleman with the cof-
fee?',. he asked Barty.
.Those stout and lean kline? ~ said Bar
". airily. puts one in misd Of Pha.
raoh's dream, doesn't it?"
Eyes, yes :" retorted CASTOR, Impatient
" s.but who are they 2"
s..The long one is Fell, the railway con-
tractor" said Barry, glancing with some
surprise at vandeloup, land the other is
| old Meddlechip. the millionaire"
.MeddIechip," echoed vandeloup, as II
to himself I; my faith
do you know him ?"
II fancy I do" said vandeloup, 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 Vandeioup
got his coffee he furned Slowly round and
looked straight AT Meddlechip seated in
Tho chair. NJ
aeood s-vsnins. Ksstrike," he said,
Meddlechip. wApss face was usually red
and fiorid looking. turned CHASTITY pale,
and sprang 10 his feet.
Octave Braulard r. he gaspcd, placing
his coffee cup on the counter.
It your service" said y~andeloup, look
ing rapidly round to see that no one over
heard the name, .sbut here I nm Castor
vandeloup."
Meddlechip passed his handkerchief over
his face and moistened his dry lips with
his tongue.
How did you SET here2' he asked. in
q strnngled voice.
ITS a long story said NJ vandeioup,
putting his coffee cup down and wipias
his lips with his handkerchief suppose
we 90 and9hsve surpef somewhere, and
I'll tell you all about It,.
4 don't saint any supper" said Med