The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1912-10-31
copyrigkt. 1917. The Bobbs- Merrill Company

youi iuIUsntps tI1enus hhu ioes' espeT
cially the latter"
The visitor WINGED. eNo man likes
his family affairs held up to ridicule,
he said. Il would willingly buy The
letters, If genuine"
"Oh! they are genuine: also the mar
riage certificate, whereof n of the
witnesses is still living, and the certi-
ficates OF the birth and baptism of the
son, now 20 years old. + believe your
tlordship Is 26?"
"And why has this matter been al
lowed TO sleep for 80 years."
Because Mrs Yincent-as she tenn
porarily allowed herself to be called
although clever enough to find out that
her stage-player lover was really a
lieutenant Of the kings guards, mas
querading under a false name, was un-
able to trace him when he disappeared,
a yea after their marriage, and nevar
knew in consequence OF several deaths.
he had becpme Lord B~eachcombe, OF
whom she probably never heard, n
certainly never connected with Lieu
tenant Gregory de Ciiffe. The last Of
this series Of documents is the certi-
sficate Of the death of the deserted
wife, when her o was about 5
years old, to whom she ~beQueathed
only her wedding ring and a casket.
which was 70 be opened when he came
" HidIk n 'GSldl6s @g#HHsEM.'f ~ s1E-eI' .a
Lord B~eachcombe's sallow face Grim
.soned with such q rush OF blood. that
his eyes were suffused, and he seemed
in danger of ~suffocating. 80. g
Five years" he gasped. "Scoundrel,
do you know what you are saying? p
Robin bent his head. without speak
ing. H% y
where are these forgeries? These
these Beachcombe stopped, APP
parently unable to utter another word.
"As I told you before, they are quite
safe,'' said Robin quietly but an
hour after my death, they will be in
the hands of the person whom they
most concern" ",s. & ,
"And do you--does this impostor
imagine that he can Gust a peer of the
realm with a few old letters and musty
documents, forsooth2" cried the earl.
recovering himself a little. I'VE mobiles
hang together, Sir HighWayman, and
are, chary OF disturbing one Of our
order for a ~trifle." ~ T.
Il do not know whether he can GUST
you. Lord B~eachcombe," said Robin.
looking him steadily In thefeye, but
he can prove you a bastard" =
Beachcombe sprang to his feet, with
hand on sword, as. though he would
have drawn II on-the defenseIess pris-
oner. and stood, breathing heavily. I'M
able to utter q word.
.E.HNG dIG dlODc, lily LOIOt ana uOI Olc
word that passes between us need ever
be repeated outside this cell,.' said Ro-
bin. that Ii, II you agree to my terms.
Otherwise, I may feel compelled to
make terms with u cousin, who
would be the inheritor if you were-il-
legitimate. and yonr elder brother were
could be induced to waive his claim"
Lord Beachcombe bent a furtipe. but
piercing regard upon the prisoner.
And how can you answer for htin r
he asked, slowly weighing his words,
IF / buy you off, / may have to fight
him I'm the law courts iafterward. Oh!
tis intolerable-fts a conspiracy-it
must be a lie--my father a bigamist!
my mother! william, you shall hang
for calling me bastard. If for nothing
else" va. ...s ."'
II think not" said Robin, ''Your
unborn child may be a son, whose fate
hangs upon your word. The rightfuI
heir values my life SO highly, that he
himself has ~instigated this offer. He
Is willing to give all his documents in
exchange for my life and liberty.
Furthermore. for a sum of money suf-
ficient to carry him abroad and start
him in life. he will sign a deed. IL you
will have n drawn up resigning all
claims on the title or estates Of Beach
combe. Is that explicit enough?
During his speech, Lord Beachcombe
hdu QulLSO uOWHp anu was now seated
opposite the prisoner, whom he regard
ed with fixed attention.
What does your claimant call him
self? Under what name Is he known p
he demanded aruptly. {.
You Gun not know IL without perus-
ing the documents said Robin, "and
you can not do that until am free to
bring them TO you myself"
Il tell YOU" exclaimed the earl pet
tishly, that you overestimate my in
fluence. How can I obtain the pardon
OF a highwayman who attacked the
Lord Archbishop r.
Il took. nothing from his grace but
his wig" cried Robin, with a bolster
laugh, r''and so that he might not
catch cold in his venerable head, I gave
him In exchange a comfortable cotton
nightcap, that had once been the prop
erty of the mayor of York! Twas q
fair exchange. and methinks the arch
bishop would scarcely wish me hanged
for a joke. when 1 might have stripped
him of a coachful Of treasure"
Lord Beachcombe rose, There are
yet three days., he said grudgingly.
TN see what can be done"
Three days for me, my Lord, but
not for you. said Robin significantly.
Il must know by this time tomorrow
what my chances are with you, for the
letter I was inditing to your cousin
francis can not be delayed longer than
that" ..
"Francis!" sneered Lord Beachcombe.
What do you Imagine he can do for
you? A man whose name is hardly
known at court! An indolent recluse:
a mere pumpkin " -,
For me? Prohablx n0+"'~ -
replied. IN a stern, threatening tone.
but what can ne ~
those papers In his possession? / may
be dead before they reach him, but my
revenge Will be sure, In his hands"
ID o suppose he will put himself
out for ~you-your claimant? You evil
IDENTIFY don't know Francis"
Il do not know him. but I know hui
man nature" retorted Robin. what
heir does not live in hopes of some
day inheriting? ] shall make no condi-
tions with him. but place the proof Of
your fathers first marriage in his
hands. Can you doubt that he will use
that weapon to put himself in your
place? oh, don't flatter yourself that
my death will clear the worst danger
out OF your path. Alive, you have a
dozen ways Of silencing me; dead, 7
have one way to ruin you-utterly."
The w men regarded each other for
a few seconds intently. Robins face
expressed cold, implacable determine
ton, h other, deadly hostility. Lord
Beacncombe turned suddenly and
raped sharply N, the door. It was
instantly opened by the jailer, and he
strobe out without another word or
glance. -f.. Ella ~. &c.,. : :