The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-10-31
4 p I--ocontlnued.,

had already been standing some min
utes at Prue's door, her betrothed
alighted, thanked his friend for his
courtesy in giving him a lift. and has
tened In TO press his suit with renewed
ardor.
Beachcornbe pulled the check string
and ordered the goodman to drive with
all speed to Newgate prison. 4
Newgate prison, in the reign OF
Queen Anne, vas a fostering sinlSapf
iniquity and horror. Almost every
crime under the sun was punishable by
death-from stealing a penny o q to
robbing a church, and from sharing a
pheasant to Strengthening q family. In
fact the laws in relation I property
were far more strictly enforced than
those for the protection ct human life,
unless the value of the life, was en-
HANGED by the rights of property. There,
In noisome pens, criminals of every
degree herded together--men, women
and children-all brought to an equality
under the shadow OF the gallows. But
money was just as powerful there as
anywhere else, and the prisoner who
could pay might have privacy, COM
pany, the best of food and wine
everything except cleanliness-that no
power could bring into Newgate prison,
and Ii needed the cleansing fires of de-
s~truction to purge 1t off the face Of the
earth. La-- IS. Is
Robin Freemantle,s the condemned
highwayman, a money enough to Sc
cure hin q cell to himself. One of the
poorer prisoners, for a consideration.
had swept 1t out, and he had hired q
table and chair from the jailer at about
twice the price for which they had been
bought ten years ago. 4
At his table he sat writing, with a
bottle of wine at his elbow, and the
debris Of a substantial meal on q tray.
Through q haired window above his
head enough light skunk reluctantly In
TO show the fine athletic form and
hronzed, manly face, on which the pal
Tor Of Imprisonment was already ton
ing down the rudy glow of health. On
the page before him he had inscribed
but four words, at which he sat gag
ing irresolutely while he nibbled the
feather of his pen. The key turned IN
the lock and q hoarse voice outside an
nounced, "A visitor for you, Robin
Highwayman."
Lord Beachcombe walked ~. and the
door closed behind him.
Robin rose. "Welcome. my lord" he
said, with an unn1iatakabia ring OF re-
lief In his tone. tsYour uEpmptitude
will do us both q good burn.
Il received your letter. fellow. said
~ oIlOA hdu6iAAAyy anu ~ NOALCSO ~
was curious to learn how q man OF
education had fallen to your condi-
ton" His y glanced upon Robins
left arm, which he wore in a sling, as
though he marveled why It had been
thought worth while to mend a collar
bone upon which the neck was set SC
insecurity. ~. 81
Take this chair, my lord. I have
but one in my spacious apartment.
I'll sit here He moved to the cot
and his visitor sat down, not without
some show Of reluctance.
And now, be brief,'' said Lord
Beachcombe, watching him narrowly,
and let me know the service you wish
ITO render me"--with q sneer--ssand the
member ever having been waylaid by
YOU, 80 you cannot have stolen Jewels
to restore" r.
"Yet your lordship has some idea OF
what i have to of5er--i1ot to restore, for
YOU possessed it--and If / die on
Monday, will know the full
worth OF IL until too late. Your lord
ship has a lawsuit pending invoivins
your title and estate "
Every one knows that" said Beach
combe irritably. Some mysterious
person has claimed to be my elder
brother. The thing Is manifestly i'm
possible, but he appears to have Inter
eSt6u u IhWyeT Oh SOTIS. q
THE thing is not impossible, Lord
Beachcombe, 1t Is true. 1t Is also
true that this claimant al deprive you
not only, Of your title and estates, but
of your very name"
'Yoa are madl IL such q thing were
possible, what Is ii to you, and how
can you know anything about it?"
Because all the papers are in my
possession. oh! not herein perfectly
safe keeping; where they will remain
until / die. or claim them back"
How came they in your posses
sion?" demanded Beachcombe. "In
robbing a coach, 1 suppose you took
them for something valuable"
They came into my possession by
the action Of providence, to afford your
lordship the chance Of giving me my
life and keeping your W honorable
name"
your life, my good fellow! You
overrate my power and your. W
value. II your papers are worth any
thing III give o all the money you
ask for your own spending, and the
provision of those you leave behind
Wei come to that presently" said
Robin. First, I'll tell you what /
have to offer. Some 30 q ago,
while his majesty King Charles was on
the throne, a certain lieutenant Of the
guards, younger son of q great earIs
younger brother, fell In love with q
poor schoolmaster's pretty daughter.
Passing himself off as a stage player,
under the name OF Gregory Vincent, he
won the young woman's affection,
though not, apparently, her complete
confidence, for she went to the pains
of investigating the gentleman's pri-
vate life, and discovered his real name.
Then she consented to a secret mar
riage. at which she substituted a real
priest and legal papers for the sham
mes with which her honorable lover
had intended to cozen her.. ...
This story has already been COM
municated to my attorneys inter
rupted Lord Beachcombe impatiently.
How are you acquainted with 1t, and
why do you expect 1t to interest me
in your"
II know 1t because a vast number Of
letters, written by this gentleman,
first to his sweetheart and afterward
to his vito, have fallen into, my hands.
They tell the whole history, with man
entertaining details, and would prove
racy reaGiIg In the News sheet for