The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-16
cHAprER xvn-tcontinued9

" .- ---=--~- H
tOr by any one else, it's devoutly TO
be hoped remarked Sir Geoffrey;
don't you agree with me- Lady
Prudence?" I#... ft
you played thief taker before, Sir
Geoffrey,' she retorted, with nnac-
customed acrimony. You should oneT
your services again; his escape would
then be impossible"
"Quite impossible" cried Lady
Barbara, who only caught he last
words. His home will be surrounded
by soldiers. and he win be lodged in
the Tower, when they catch him"
do they send soldiers to catch a
highwayman?" inquired Peggie.,
And why the Tower?" objected Lady
Drumloch. "Methought that was re-
served for gentlemen; tbs too much
honor for robbors and footpads. VIII
they also behead this person; like a
gentleman?" Lr @s
s" 'Tis likely" cried Barbara. II had
so mucll5to tell you, that / forgot that
this Robin Is not q mere ordinary high
wayman; he Is a Jacobite 4plotter, nc
less, and Is known TO carry letters and
messages from rebels in the south tc
those in the north and back again
doing, Il persume, a little highway rob-
berry on the way, for the good OF the
cause. Mayhap he appropriated the
queens necklace as 9 contribution 10
NLilH- lEGl6lIN " vi GhAAAk al ~ a#E
"Barbarai" exclaimed Prue and
Peggie together, I'M a panic.
. My dear Lady Barbara" put In the
thin. incisiye voice OF Lady Drurnloch,
'.the King in Exile is the queens
brother Rend pFobably-may the day be
distant--will succeed her. l can not
permit such insinuations to be made In
my presence, against the cause fol
which my husband and my son laid
down their lives #v@.t -.& '"@ (,
Pray pardon me- dearest Lady
Drumloch," cried Lady Barbara, really
shocked at her w want of tact, 81
meant no harm-my tongue runs away
with me--and to De sure, i have no
greater fancy for a Dutchman on the
throne than any other loyal English
woman. Yet tits true that Robin Free
mantle is only the nom de guerre OF
one of the most turbulent rebels
against the queens government"
IF by that you mean the wings
you should rather say against the
duchess OF Marlborough's government"
retorted Lady Drumloch crisply.
And what is the real name OF this
-rebel?" inquired Prue. 81
why, he calls himself De Cliffe, and
II he really is an offshoot of the fam
lily, that would explain why Beach
combe obtained a pardon for him.
said Lady Barbara.
.E AklQ6CAF IL IGldIL0S GApASkAllAAlBs rL C
marked Prue, who had quite regained
her self-command. 1T is much easier
to understand why he is sending him
to the Tower, II he be a poor relation"
During the laughter that followed
this sally, other guests arrived and
the loss Of the queens diamond neck
lace having, by this time, become pretty
generally known. poor Prue had to
listen to every variation of the story
and every kind OF theory concerning
It, all leading to the same conclusion,
that Robin the highwayman had been
at the masquerade ball and profiting
by opportunity-the ruling planet OF
adventurers--had carried OF q prize Of
~incalculable value. @s
with dificulty she eluded Sir Geof-
frey's ironical condolences, and took
her accustomed part in the needless
chatter, watching the clock as minute
by minute slipped away and still hel
visitors fingered.
"0h, IL they would only CO." she
whispered to Peggte; DO you thinh
II I were to fallin a Mt, or make James
give an alarm of fire, that 1t woulc
speed the parting guestP
But the longest afternoon comes tc
an end some time, and Lady Brum.
loch's weary looks presently reminded
her guests that she was but recently
off her sick bed. So with O great rust
ling OF Silks anu SWScpAhB VI NSluhA
inous ourtesys. they Withdrew, with al
many farewell speeches as though the,
did not expect to meet again in a fev
hours at dinner, rout or playhouse, ant
left the old countess to be carried mp
stairs, and the two girls to their owl
devices. |&
When they were alone. Peggie threw
her arms round her cousin. "Oh! m.
poor Prue,o she cried: what I hay'
suffered for you the last hour"
TEL me Of your suffering
by and by. Peggie." said Prue. rath
Ser ungratefully. "If you woul'
help me, bid James fetch a chair, while
/ get me a cloak; / must hasten TO tn
duchess" tE
fThe duchess! Oh. Prue, dearest
don't do. anything rash; for heavens
,sak e. try to be discreet. II you canno
help Robin, do not ruin yourself for tn
sake of a thief!"
You are quite mistaken, Margaret
everyone Is determined that Robin hai
taken the necklace, and IL ] did no
lnow him better than you do. mign