The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-12-12
CHAPTER xn-econtinued.,

Il E1AfIE
"You have a kindly face and I'll be
sworn o heart to match, fair Goddess
OF the Grape" said Robin. win you
help two hapless lovers. separated by
cruel fate?" .A
THAT depends on what / am to help
them to" she retorted. Mines a re-
spectacle house, and I'd rather have
dealings with lawyers than lovers"
Il want but a trifiing service from
you, though It's a vast favor to rne,
said Robin. win you take charge Of
this letter. and by and by give II to
the serving man OF Mistress Larkyn,
whose name it writ pon lit"
"ohi IL that's all" she said, extend
ing a hand that was plump n shape
ly, If not over clean. Robin seized the
hand and touched 1t CALAMITY with his
lips, before surrendering the letter to
its clasp. After that, although she
called him an 'impudent ~varlet." and
made as though to box his ears, he
might have asked a much greater favor
without danger of rebuff.
When they went out again, Robin
cast the green cloak about him, and
strobe along with an air that made
more than one peaceable citizen give
| him the footway all to himself. AS
they entered Lincoln's Inn Square, this
became still more marked, and in front
OF one Of the finest houses, he stopped
n looked round with an insolent
swagger that greatly impressed a
group OF men lettering under a tree
Double could not quite conceal his
dissatisfaction, and pulling his client
by the sleeve, whispered that the men
looked like constables in plain clothes,
and that they could hardly fail to
recognize him when he came out, II,
as seemed probable, they were waiting
Let them stare their ali" said Rob-
In. II wish them to become thoroughly
acquainted with Robin Freemantle's ap-
pearance." And he walked slowly up
the steps intofthe house.
In an upstairs room. Lord Beach
combe n his lawyer awaited them.
ROBIN LETT his sW~ashbuckling manners
In the anteroom, where Samuel was
relieved of his bag and left to the con-
genial society of two or three clerks.
Lord Beachcombe returned Robins
courteous greeting with q naughty
movement that was scarcely a salute,
the two lawyers met with friendly for
mality, tape tied papers were produced,
and the conference began.
Il understood said the earl, adj
dressing his attorney, that the person
who calls himself Robert Gregory de
Cliffe would be present today"
Have patience, my Lord, he will be
here in good time" interposed Mr..
Double. Have you examined the at
tested copies, Mr.. Perry?"
II have, and to avoid waste OF time,
| am prepared to admit that they APP
pear to contain interesting family mat
tiers, highly interesting. Not that they
would be OF much legal value if you
brought the case before the courts, but
enough to cause some annoyance TO
my client. We have shown that we
consider 1t worth examining into the
affair, by obtaining the pardon OF this''
--hs glanced at Robin-'this gentle
man,
And also by taking the precaution
Of having a warrant ready for my ar
rest on another charge" said Robin,
Beaehcombe, n theirETAOINU'
quietly but incisively. Mr.. Perry
glanced at Lord Beachcombe, and their
eyes mel with the same inquiry, How
can he known"
Had you kept faith with me-" said
Robin, bending his stern gaze upon
Beachcombe, this matter could have
Deen settled IN a few minutes. AS It
Is, I have decided not TO put the two
most important documents in your
hands Until / am In a place of safe
ty."
'tTraitor!" exclaimed Beachcombe.
striking the table with his clenched
fist. II knew he would devise some,
means to balk met"
IF you talk of traitors. did you not
purpose 70 get everything you wanted
from me, and then put my head back
In the noose?" demanded Robin.
Such a cat-and-mouse, game is not
SO easy to play with a man who has
carried his life in his hand through
every kind of danger-even to the gal
foot-even through treachery
tnough that Is less common among
gentlemen of the road than some other
kinds of gentlemen In exchange for
my life, 1 will give you, as I promised,
the original letters that passed be-
tween your father and his first wife,
the original documents proving the
IDENTITY OF both parties. and the cop
les or the marriage certificate and the
death certificate that prove your moth
er's marriage a fraud"
oh! this william will drive me mad,p
screamed Lord. Beachcombe LET me
60. Perry; must I kill you to get at
BE calm, my lord. / beg YOU" urged
tne mWyer, very red in the face from
MS efforts to restrain his client: this
matter can be arranged without VIC
lence, II you will leave 1t to me. Mr.
a Captain-a-Freebooter, pray adj
dress any remarks to me. You viii
only impede the negotiation by pro-
Voking Lord Beachcombe."
Here are the original letters and
documents" said Nj. Double. advanc-
ing to the table, 1--WE viii go over
them together" The lawyers went to
work together, comparing. arguing and
quibbing as though the whole matter
a not been settled in advance.
Robin. meantime, strolled to the
window, where he observed one OF the
iolter1ng men In conversation with a
L IuTlIlVG man I'm hlnnE| q. Ws mill " n IA nA~
stuck in his rusty wig. He stealthily
pointed Robin out when he appeared
at the window, and then darted back
10 the house like a rat into its hole.
These letters appear genuine, /" said
Mr.. Perry finally but they are val,e-