Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-12-27

Eossil Ce0pany
brought to an ignominious and linger-
ing death. Torture was supposed to
have been abolished in those days, but
treason was still punishable by drawing
and quartering, and while the country
was still astir with Jacobite plots, the
charge OF treason might easily be fas-
tened on man who could not readily
account for his comings n goings.
The day passed slowly. for Lord
beachcombe, hut up in his study. gave
orders hat no visitor should be admit
ted except h lawyers clerk. Once
p~ossessor OF h proofs-if proofs they
were-of the shadow upon his birth,
he could set his heel without fear upon
the throat Of this miscreant who
claimed to be his brother. His broth
err! his elder brother! The shrill cry
OF IN baby heir smote upon his ear,
and goaded him to such a madness of
importent fury that IL Samuel could
have seen him then and known the
the blood upon his bitten lip, he might
have made his own terms and become
rich for life.
In the afternoon, a groom came to
say that his lordship's horse had been
brought to the stable by q ragged boy,
questioned.
VIVA condition was he in? Had he
been ridden fast Of for?" Lord Beach
combe inquired eagerly.
"Hadn't turned a hair, my lord" was
the reply; might a been for a canter
round the park"
Beachcombe went to the stable him
self to make inspection, but could dis
cover no mark or sign to enlighten the
most sh~arpsighted. oh! IL you could
speak," he muttered, as he caressed the
glossy coat and deer like e Of his
70 NnR{fA Il ynV <p0,H11 &4I wD> ~vyt@~
you have been these three hours!"
But there was nothing to be learned;
not 30 much as could be shown by q
muddy fetlock. II the horse had been
out OF town, he a been carefully
groomed on his return and every trace
of travekremovfd. His master returned
to h house, more morose and venge-
ful than ever. to while away the hours
that slowly passed until 1t was time
to dress for the great entertainment at
Marlborough house.
! When he descended from his wife's
departments. where he a gon to dis
play himself in his masquerade dress,
he was certainly a magnificent and pic
turesQue figure. His costume. Of the
period Of Charles III, was of white satin,
p~rofusely trimmed with exquisite lace,
and adorned with dazzling orders and
the harsh outline Of his face. and a
skilful touch OF rouge relieved his
swarthy pallor and lent q brilliancy to
his dark eye His resemblance to
Robin was remarkable enough then to
have struck the most unobservant.
over his arm he carried a voluni-
nous domino of car silk, and a
mask to match dangled from his Jew
eledM fingers.
He was stepping into his carriage,
when a little black figure darted in
front Of him. n Samuel. bowling to
the very ground before mis- gorgeous
apparition, besought q word with him.
Leave him alone,' cried Beachcombe
as two or three serving men stepped
forward to sweep this insect from their
masters path. Have you anything
important to say to me?" he eagerly
inquired.
Most important. your worship
I've got it; only just now. though, and
v run every step Of the way" and
he showed a corner of h letter hidden
in his breast.
Give 1t to me-" said Beachconfbe, in
q low. concentrated voice. and held out
his hand for 1t. But Samuel hung back.
MY lord-my lord" he stammered
clutching the packet like a drowning
me sioo?% ~
What. now: before / SEQ the pa
pers?" Besides. I've not so much
0OOuI me, eAClAiIHcu oe6CNCOIlOc
why, you imp Of the devil, are you
afraid to trust me? Here take my purse
and give me that packet. I must have It
now, do you hear? And come to me
tomorrow for your 100 guineas."
And before Samuel could make uI
his mond what to do, he found himself
k%standing alone with a silken purse. full
of golden guineas, in his hand, and the
precious packet being whirled away
from him in the earl's chariot.
Lord Beachcombe, with the packet
tightly clutched In his hand. gave way
to q reverie 90 pleasant and absorbing
that he did not notice q slight addition
al Jar in the jolting Of the carriage over
the M-paved street. The u of the
jar was the sudden accession Of two
box beside the c%oachman. and the
Each Of these f~unctionaries. Al
the same instant. felt the cold con-
tact Of q pistol against his ear, and
before they could make n outcry. the
carriage was going In q different di-
A touch OF the whip sent the horses
forward at breakneck speed. Keep
quiet and you are safe" said the
stranger ON the box. and in a moment
he slipped over the coachan's head Z
bag that served both to gag and biQd-
fold him. The same operation wa
performed simultaneously. apo the
footman. Very soon, they turned
sharply under an Archway. and z
heavy gate was slammed behind them.
Leading h c0achman on the box,
.Sf1esronN h>re Toni R~Aacheomha 81