Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1912-11-07

mother. Lady Drumloch. who. despite her
reduced circumstances. maintains a gay
social position in the court circle.
CHAPTER Vl-(Continued.)
Sir Godfrey signihed his satisfac-
tion: each gentleman made a memoir
andum of the bet. and as the carriage
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.
AS the carriage was driven off Lord
B~eachcombe pulled the check string
and ordered the coachman to drive with
all speed to Newgate prison.
Newgate prison, in the reign of
Queen Anne, was a fostering sink of
crime under the sun was punishable by
death-from stealing a penny loaf to
robbing a church, and from snaring a
pheasant to Strengthening a family. In
fact the laws in relation to property
were far more strictly enforced than
those for the protection of 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-al brought to an equality
under the shadow OF the gallows. Blu
money was just as powerful there as
anywhere else, n the prisoner who
could pay might have privacy, COM
pany, the best of food n wine
everything except cleanliness-that no
power could bring into Newgate prison,
and 1t needed the cleansing fires of de-
struction to purge 1t off the face of the
Garth.
Robin Freemantle, the condemned
highwaynan, had money enough to Sc
cure him a cell to himself. One of the
-o---- s.. so-
had swept 1t out. and he had hired a
table and chair from the jailer at about
twice the price for which they had been
bought ten years ago.
At his table he sat writing, with Il
bottle of wine at his elbow. and the
debris OF a substantial meal or a tray.
Through a barred window above his,
head enough light skunk reluctantly in
to show the fine athletic form and
bronzed, manly face, on which the pal
lor OF Imprisonment was already ton
ing down the ruddy glow Of health. On
but o u words, at which he sat gaz
ing irresolutely while he nibbled the
feather of his pen. The key turned in
the och mt a hoarse voice outside an
%nounced, "a visitor for you, Robin
Highwayman."
Lord Beachcombe walked in, and the
door closed behind him.
Robin rose. welcome. my lord" he
said. with an u~nmistakable ring of re-
lief in his tone. Your promptitude
will do us both a good turn"
II received your letter, fellow" said
the other haughtily. land l confess /
was curious to learn how a man of
education had fallen to your condi-
ton His eye glanced upon Robins
left arm. which he wore in a sling, as
though he marveled why 1t had been
thought worth while to mend a collar
bone upcn which the neck was set SO
~fnsecurely.
Take this chair. my lord. have
but one In my spacious apartment.
and his visitor sat down, not without
some show of reluctance.
And now. be brief" said Lord
B~eachcombe, watching him narrowly.
'and let me know the service you wish
to render me'-with a snecr-"and the
price you expect for it. l do not re-
member ever having Deer waylaid by
you, sc you cannot have stolen Jewels
to restore"
yet your lordship has some idea of
VIVA I have to offer-not to restore, for
Monday. will never know the full
worth of 1t until too late. Your lord
ship has a lawsuit pending involving
your title and estate
Every n knows that" said Beach.
combe .%irritahly. Some mysterious
person Ads C1diiHeu W Oe my eioe1
brother. The thing is manifestly i'm
possible. but he appears to have inter-
ested a lawyer of sorts"
THE thing is not impossible, Lord
Beachcombe. 1t is true. 1t is also
true that this claimant can deprive you
not only OF YOU title and estates, but
of your very name"
"You are mad! If such a thing were
possible, what is it to you, and how
can o know anything about it?"
Because all the papers are in my
possession. Oh! not here-in perfectly
safe keeping; where they will remain
until 1 die. or claim them back"
"How came they In your posses
sion?' demanded B~eachcombe. "In
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 YOU own honorable
name"
your life, my good fellow! You
overrate my power and your oWK
value. II your papers are worth any.
thing I'll give o all the money you
provision Of those you leave behind,
We'll come to that presently" saie
Robin. First, I'll tell you what
have to offer. Some 80 years ago
while his majesty King Charles was OF
the throne. a certain lieutenant of tn
guards. younger son of q great earli
younger brother, fell in love with {
poor schoolmaster.s pretty
Passing himself of as a stage player
under the name OF Gregory Vincent, h
won the young woman's anection
though not, apparently, her complete
confidence, for she went to the PAIN
Of investigating the g%entleman's pri