The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-02-27
CHAPTER XIII.
THE PARsoN SELLS A SECRET

THE PARSON SELLS A SECRET.
AS the afternoon progressed, Lady
Drumloch's little house filled to over
flowing. Reports of the adventures Of
the diamond necklace had brought q
crowd Of 1attering, envious and above
all, curious acquaintance round the
dalnty table where the, cousins dis
pensed chocolate and coquetry.
Some vague rumors had reached
Lady Drumloch, through Lowton. of a
nocturnal exploit by which Prue had
distinguished herself In some myster-
ignorance Of the actual facts, and had
great difficulty in controlling her own
curiosity, while maintaining an appear
ance of urbane Indifference under the
crossf1re Of questions. congratulations,
thinly yelled censure and half tncred-
ulous comment by which the guests
displayed their varied interest. It was
in vain that Peggie used her ready wit
to turn the conversation into safer
channels: in vain that Prue vowed the
whole thing a ridiculous exaggeration,
and refused to be made a heroine or to
be coaxed or goaded into compromising
admissions. The necklace, she declared,
had been accidentally carried away by
some person employed at Marlborough
House, who, becoming terrified by the
possession of the dangerous ~treasure
n wishing to be rid of it, had con-
Veyed 1t to her as a sure means of get
ting it back to the rightful owner; that
h had brought it to the duchess and
together they had returned 1t to the
queen; and there, sc far as she was
concerned, Prue regarded the incident
as closed, and was quite tired Of an
swering silly questions and explaining
things that really needed no explana-
ton. Would they please not worry her
about it any more, but talk Of some
thing else?
Call -
current Of conversation, for each new
conner had some fresh umor to be con-
tradiced, some new extravaganza to be
laughed at or some malicious Inference
to be drawn from Prue's unwonted re-
serve, and her grandmother's ill-con-
cealed annoyance.
But if the afternoon wore away slow
ly to Peggie and Prue, it was a long
drawn torture to Lord Beachcombe,
whose watch upon the house was never
relaxed. Notwithstanding the gibes Of
the gay throng as it passed in and out,
marveling what kept Prue's quondam
lover hanging round Lady Drumloch's
door. and the rising murmurs of his
followers, whose numbers had been re-
inforced by numerous loungers on the
lookout for mischief or profit.
A constant stream of guests. arriv-
ing. and departing. passed before him;
still no n at all resembling Robin
Freemantle appeared. Dainty ladies' in
,brocade and Jewels passed in and out
Of the door, heir servants being obliged
to force a way for them through
the gathering crowd of idlers.
Beaux as dainty and as gaily costumed,
handed them into their equipages, lisp
Ing quaint oaths and shaking their
jeweled n in the faces of the over
bold; still no Robin Freemantle. One
after another the carriages rolled away.
the chairmen trotted off with their
fair burdens, the casual onlookers dis
persed, and left the street to Lord
Beachcombe and his noisy retinue.
At last he could control his impa-
tience no longer. Hurried1y directing
his men to keep vigilant watch for
their quarry, he once more Knocked for
and demanded a word with
Lady Brooke. James, the imperturable,
would have conducted him Up to the
drawing room, but he stalked haught-
lily to the library and abruptly opened
the door-to find the room deserted.