Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-02-14
Copyright 1919. The Bobhs-Nsr.ill COMPANY,

peated refectively. Il should be glad
to hear the explanation, now You have
p~ropoundcd the conundrum."
Ills simple enough. When Barbara
Sweeting old the story of the necklace,
you Instantly jumped at the same con-
cluslon as he rest OF us-nanely, that
Robin ~F'rcemantle. secure in his dis
guise, had made the use of his oppor-
tunity that a robber naturally would.
and mad stolen the most valuable thing
he could lay his hands on"
oh! then you don't give me the
credit of h robbery?' She exclaimed
With a pout. 1t would have added
so much to the interest of the romance
You? Oh. Lady Prudence. can you
ask me such a question:" he inter-
rupted, in a tone of vehement reproach.
II only give You credit for Fastening
TO warn Eour-husband of his danger
and carrying away the discriminating
proof of his guilt: and l. admire your
courage and generosity though l de-
pore its object"
Have You quite finished this roman
tic story. Sir Godfrey" aueried Prue,
dlsmlssing his personal opinion With a
disdainful toss of her fan.
The preface only. but the rest will
wait" he replied, with a sinister smile.
Then perhaps you would like to hear
what really happened? 1t would be
wished-that l spoke with Captain
~iFreemantle. at the ball"
Quite So" Sir Godfrey agreed
blandly.
Not that I wish to DEM it," she
went on p%etulantlN: "at Il masquerade
everything is permitted. and YOU. my
dear Sir Godfrey. know better than
amy one else, this gentleman's claim
upon my attention. Still. l fail to see
l an. Inr1t,nItiA,,
mantle's presence at the ball aud the
nlsappcarance of the necklacc-about
which. you acknowledge. that I
know more than any one else, since 1
fOund-and restored 1T"
Sir Godfrey bowed his acquiescence,
nuf ms smile was not r~eassuring.
We all know what an admirable
faconteuse Barbara is. and | was nat
urally much worked up by her story of
the lost necklace: in fact could
scarcely restrain my Impotence to hear
IA more authentic account" Prue pro-
ceeoec. recovering her self-contidence.
which for :; moment had wavered under
Sir t'eoifrey's attack. so the moment
my visitors left me. / sent for a chair
and started for Marlborough House, to
get my at first hand. At
a short distance. however, was JIM
corrupted by Il person who thrust this
paper INTO my hand"
She drew from her bosom the
crumpled document which had already
piaNed afi important part in her YER
SION OF the affair. and handed it to
him.
SlT Geofrey read it carefully. re-
lolded II. and meeting her eye. bowed
graNelN. as though to intimate thai he
was too much interested to break he
Unread OF the narrative even by Il word.
You know my love of adventure too
Well to doubt that | instantly decided
10 risk anything and follow this clue.
IL took me to 4 dismal old house.
empty. j believe. except for an old hag.
VINO. Keeping her face concealed. thrust
the casket into my hands and at tho
first sound of the soldiers approach
Disappeared"
Sir Godfrey softly clapped hi. hands.
as though in applause.
Capital. excellent he cried. NV
dear Prue. with shame / confess that
l never before have done Justice to TN.
vast of your wit. actually
dared to Wonder how you had managed
to forestall suspicion and snatch safe
ty out of the jaws of peril. You have
surpassed YOURSELF! To plan SO subtly;
to execute so promptly. no omit moth
lng-even the written proof-and to
crown 1t all with a guileless frankness
that might disarm the most captious.
and certainly would have deceived me.
If had not been close beside you from
the moment YOU emerged from your
" cCVi aAiei Sldl OI fSODln Free
mantle hid you from my Jealous eyes!"
Then suddenly, without giving her
time to disguise the startled dismay
that sprang to her eyes, he bent for
ward and seized her two hands i'm his.
Why treat your faithful lover so
harshly. sweet Prue?' he went on pas-
%sionately. Have ] not proven my love
again and again in the defense of your
reputation and i'm unquestioning sub
mission to your caprices? Have I not
endured your GOODNESS and yielded my
just claims before the scruple that
prompted to deny your future hus-
band the smallest favor, while the
phantom of a vow linked YOU to a
felon" And am to have no reward,
not even enough of your confidence to
enable me to give the lie to your ira
ducers?"
My ~traducers!" she cried Impatient
ly. Who are they? At present the
only person who has dared to cast a
doubt on my vcracity is-Sir Godfrey
Beaudesert!"
And how long do you expect to es-
cape the pack OF damned g~ood-natured
friends who have been accustomed to
feed upon the choice morsels of scandal
you have literally provided for them 2"
he demanded. Before tonight every
gossip in town will be in possession OF
the story of your adventures. n each
one who recount it will put his OWL
construction upon it,"
Iris true" she murmured. Il have
often assisted at sucil asst of reason
They are highly entertaining. and every
one is eager to add a dash of spice OF
vinegar to the witches' broth. And there
is nothing I car do to stop those busy
bodies.' She glanced resentfully at Sit
Godfrey, yet there was inquiry in hel
eye.
Certainly there is something" he re.
Piled. answering the unspoken question
You can give them something else t.