Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-01-31

ransacked the house without finding
anything suspicious, one of them was
despatched to fetch Il chair for Lady
Prudence, and leaving a guard at the
house i'll case of Robins return, the
lieutenant n the rest of his soldiers
escorted the prisoner-and the neck
lace--to Marlborough house.
CHAPTER NIX.
IN THE DUCHESS APARTMENTS
have secretly entertained as to the
credibility of her strange story, We're
set at rest the M she entered the
doors of Marlborough House. Her re-
ception was that OF the elect; u privi-
legged guest whom all delighted to
honor. The obsequious lunkeys bowed
before her, and the stately Groom of
the Chambers, by whose command the
lieutenant vas ShOwa into a waiting
room. himself carried the Lady Prue's
request for an audience of the duchess
on most pressing business.
The a~nterOOMS were thrOnged with
visitors whose curiosity had been
whetted by a rulnor that the long-eN-
pected had happened, and that the
queen had gladly awaited herself of the
loss of her jewels as an excuse for hui
initiating the tyrannical favorite whose
exactions q lately increased in pro-
portion to the waning of her influence.
1t was whispered that the queen had
been most reluctant to attend the mas
querade. and that the duchess, fearing
that h might repeat the slight of q
recent public occasion (when Her
Majesty had declined to appear in regal
state in compliment to herr, had exel-
cised her privilege as Mistress of the
Robes, n caused certain Jewels to be
conveyed to the royal firing room in
Marlborough House But the queen,
on her arrival, had signalized her dis
aYNnrnvy0 ~ t1fn nNN7oo<,,r
by refusing to make any alteration in
n conspicuously simple costume she
wore, and the ~jewels-among which the
necklace was the most important
were left in the firing room in care of
the attendants.
Those more friendly to the duchess dis
credited h whole story and claimed
to know that no royal jewels had come
into The house. except on the queens
person, and that II any were mislaid.
they would certainly be found either
esty had been residing for some weeks,
or st. James. where she had passed
the previous day, in order to incur as
little fatigue as possible in attending
the masquerade.
Ladies Rialton and Monthemer, with
other members Of h ducal family and
household. hitted from group to group,
making light OF the rumored estrange-
ment between "poor, unfortunate.
faithful Mrs. Morley" and her erstwhile
inseparable and all-powerful friend.
and vowing that nothing kept them
apart but the violent illness of the
duchess. over whom the physicians
were in consultation as to the pro-
priety Of bleeding her to avert an at
tack of fever. But all hints and al
lusions to the lost necklace we're ig-
nored, and those who were hardy
I,0n III IN ~nN A4n>&- ---s- -
words. were met with diplomatic re-
plies that neither affirmed nor denied
anything.
With q greeting here and a hand
pressure there, Prue threaded her way
through h crowd. and hurried up
stairs to the duchess private apart
ments. The way led past the little
conservatory where she had sat with
Rob last night. 1t vas dark now
and the entrance was blocked with
tubs containing the orange trees and
shrubs which had adorned the grand
staircase and entrance hall. Prue's
heart beat q shade faster and q pang
of remorse assailed her al the thouRh
that by introducing Robin to this Sc
questered part of the house she had
exceeded her privilege az q guest. and
exposed both Robin and herself to a
suspicion that only her utmost fneen-
uity could dissipate.
In n duchess dressing room a little
throng OF ladies-in-waiting and inti-
mate friends welcomed her warmly.
Deep concern sat upon every face as
they listened to the hysterical cries and
means. IN which the patient in the adj
Joining bedroom gave expression to her
sunertngs, and the broken exclama-
lions and fierce invectives by which she
called upon her doctors and attendants
to bear witness to the ingratitude and
perfdy Of the queen, and the baseness
OF her lninions.
While Prue hesitated about intrud-
Ing, the doctor n the apothecary
came out. The former hurried away
with a red face and air Of offended
dignity, and his satellite only fingered
long enough to assure the ladies' that
and having ordered The " medicos
from her presence under pain of q
d~renching with their own potions.
nothing could be done for her until
she could be brought into q more rea-
sonable mood.
with decision. II have a cure for her
malady far more efficacious than ali
the physicians nostrums."
Why, do o come from the queen?
Has she U her diamond necklace?"
a dozen g Questioners crowded
Q her. but with a smile of mys-
ferrous but encouraging significance.
Prue reiterated her demand and at last
escaped from further Interrogation. by
making her way unannounced into he
presence of the duchess.
The great lady lay upon her bed. her
d~isordered dress and disheveled hair
revealing the ravages OF time, which
n usual disguished with so much
skill. Her tire-women vainly attempted
to soothe her by chatting her feet and
n q tanning her flushed and
swollen face.
Who is that?' she screamed. catch
ing sight of Prue. Go awayLI can