The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-30
CHAPTER xIx-(continued.)

Il will tell you all about ii as soon
as you are able to lie still and listen"
said Prue, who had laid her plans on
her way from Essex street, and had
her story all ready. The duchess quieted
down and turned her face partly To-
ward her. ~.
rs that Prudence Brooke" she
asked. IF you know anything about
that accursed necklace, tell me quick
ly. before II is the death OF me"
II have news of it," said Prue, pass
ing a cool, soothing hand over the hot
brow and brushing away the heavy,
struggling masses Of hair. once the
pride OF Sarah Churchill and the envy
OF rival beauties. If the necklace is
returned what reward will 9 give the
1nder?'
Reward? Oh, he shall be well re-,
warded; the finder need not be afraid
to ask his own price cried the duel
TO any one, child-worse than worth
~less--it Is deadly! No m would steal.
It except to injure mel But they shall
swing for Il, 10 matter who is at the
bottom of it. II is a conspiracy OF
those who hate NE" w
1T is a mistake" interrupted Prue;
"the necklace was not stolen. II was
taken by--by accident" ~" =
Accident; Oh, 1 know what kind OF
accident it was; 1t was a conspiracy, /
tell you!'' the duchess reiterated.
1T was a mistake" Prue urged. Il
am sure / can prove it." g.,
Prove 1t a conspiracy, Prudence
Brooke-prove it so that i can get my
revenge upon these wretches n you
may ask what reward you win. n
and emoluments shall be heaped upoa
you -
II want neither!" cried Prue vehe-
mently. "gThat Is, the finder would not
accept money or anything Of h a kind:
She began to feel uneasy at h threat
ening tone the duchess took, and her
nimble wit jumped for shelter. For
myself" she said, in her most cajoling
way, II would ask a fayor-not now,
but l~ater--and ! want you to promise
you will grant ii, no matter how
strange and unreasonable it may SEEM"
The duchess, who was now quite coll
Iected, sat up and looked searchingly
into the guileless blue eyes, bent so
eagerly upon her. You would not Isl
anything that would injure me?" she,
said slowly. MY enemies are so many
and so willy, I fear to t~rust-even you.
Is il something you want for. your
self? II so, ] PROMISE ~
"A thousand thanks" cried Prue.
II may never ask for anything; Cor
tainly. never for anything that would
hurt my dear benefactress to grant.
Twas but a fancy. And such strange
Things n~appen--One never KNOWS "idL
one may be led into. 4 have had the
strangest adventure tonight
Another time, dear Prue," the duch-
ess interrupted; II a think of MOTH
ing now but the necklace"
yet you viii own" persisted Prue.
when you have heard 1t to the end,
that it is worth listening to. Twas
thus--as, soon as / heard OF your grace's
troubles,sI set out to offer my heart
felt condolences. Scarce 100 yards from
home, the chair was stopped tand a
rough hand thrust a paper through the
curtains. Here Il is; shall Il fetch q
liamp for you to read it by2"
mo, read IL to me. %I&haveh wept
myself purblind," replied the duchess,
without attempting to disguise her inn
patience and lack of interest.
Prue unfolded the paper. now soiled
and crum2led from frequent handling,
and read: H.
Mistress Brooke: . .CSa
Follow the bearer and you. viii ind
the queens diamond necklace"
The duchess started up and seized
her arms convulssyely. lis this true,
Prue? % she demanded t~ragically. Then
why did you not go at once without
coming to make terms with me first
Prue was too well acquainted with
the Suspicious n selfish nature OF
the woman to take any offensS IT
thought you would be interested" h
replied sweetly Have a moments pa
thence and I will tell you how. reckless
of consequence, i ordered the chair
men to follow this unknown leader, who
took us, through narrow by-strets,
where momentarily expected 70 be
waylaidi and perhaps murdered. But
my desire to serve your grace was
| stronger than my fears; besides, as you
are well aware, / am not very timid,
especially when there Is an adventure
TO the f~ore-
Yes, yes, / know how reckless you
are, but where did you find the neck
| LaGe - thu dnchess broke In. u