The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-02-27

AANA 80 ~" AACf - So
In q kind OF desperation that was q
rapture. He will betray you, but they
must AXE me, too; / will not be sep
arated from you .
-He will rot come here for me"
said Robin, cool and practical In the
presence OF danger. 1T Will be best
for me to go at once, before he has
time to call assistance. I oar surely
beat off half a dozen Of his lackeys
singlehanded. If I give him time to
set a posse OF ~constables In wait for
me, / may have more trouble with
them. Farewell, heart Of gold. / will
send a safe messenger to you soon. Oh
I must see you again very soon. I have
so much to say to you"
yet, wait, said Prue, OBTAINING
him. LET me think. / would not risk
your life unnecessarily. Stay here and
i win return Instantly"
She was back in a few minutes, ac-
companied by a gorgeous vision of rich
brocade and costly lace. These embel-
lishments fftly set of a stately figure
that had ono been ~slenderer and q
charming face that showed few OF the
rayages of time and indeed had more
than replaced the graces OF youth by
the archness and gaiety time had but
enhanced. - RI
Barbara, this is my friend, Cap
tain de Clifre," said Prue. I'VE met
in the north country. Permit me to
present him to you"
Lady Barbara's evident astonish-
ment did not affect the ceremonious-
ness of her deep curtsey. to which
Robin, not less surprised by Prue's
maneuyer. responded with a gravely
respectful salute.
"Methinks I have heard of your
meeting with this gentleman-on
Blackmoor," said Barbara. with twink
ling eyes. Il, myself, claim a dis
tant kinship with the De Cliffes; what
branch do you belong to, Captain" ,
II am an unworthy twig OF the Sc
Nor branch" replied Robin.
All, that accounts for your strong
resemblance to the late earl" said
Barbara, seating herself near the win
dow and so compelling him to face the
light, while she cody scrutinized him.
And II the present earl were a hand
some fellow, you would be like enough
for brothers. As II is"
A IL is, he hates me like a brother"
a Robin negligently, and in that
the resemblance between us Is not be
be denied
Dear Barbarba," cried Prue, "let me
make a confession to you. Captain
de Cliffe is also known as Robin Free
mantle, the highwayman."
And when / told you SO t'other day
you pretended to be surprised" cried
Barbara reproachfully. Little did I
ever expect that my Prue would so
deceive me-"
Twas not to deceive you, dear Bar
bara, but a roomful Of curious Cos
sips. all ready to fall upon poor. little
me n tear my secret to shreds. Scold
me as much as you will, some other
time. dearest Bah, but help us now"
"Us?" cried Barbara, turning her
shrewd eyes from one to the other
with sudden enlightenment. AHA"
she smiled knowingly, and Prue, blush
ing and faltering, found no word to
explain away her ~unvoiced suspicion.
on rather dryly, ito find Sir Geoffrey's
nose out Of Joint. But If you want
help, why did you not ask B~eachcombe,
who seems all too willing to return to
your feet, and who has already, II I
am not mistaken, once rescued this
gentleman from Newgate?"
barbara, he wishes nothing so much
as to get him back there. Scarce an
hour g lie proposed to me to decoy
him here that he might seize him and
rob him OF valuable papers. No doubt
he would kill him If he resisted, or
throw him into prison. So now, dear
Barbara, help me to devise some way
OF getting him away from here unob-
served"
mat - HOt ulIlcuIt, BARBARA as
sured her. my new chair is amply
large for two. II Captain de Clifre viii
give me his arm, we will walk out Of
this house together and he can escort
me home" s -'..,
"But Bah, II that wretch Is on the
watch, he may attack you. Remember,
he has seen Rob-Captain de Cliffe,
here and If you had seen his face Gs
! did, when he looked in at the door.
oh van NAV ha aIira that aNyar, .ya,,
would not be safe at his hands, If
you stood between him and the object
Of his hatred
II have a better plan" said Bar
bara, laughing m~tschieyously, land, one
that promises more diversion. You are
tall, captain" she looked him over
with an approving BYE, "a proper man,
trusted to take the place of one of
my chairmen? They are all six-foot
men, chosen to match In size. I am
very fastidious in such matters. Three
are new to my service, but the fourth
is a faithful lad, who can be trusted
to hold his tongue. In his livery you
can defy my Lord Beachcombe and
his myrmidons and walk away under
their noses" "
This proposition was quite to Prue's
taste and Robin, who was too anx-
ious to get away without causing her
any serious trouble, to care much in
what guise he Jared forth, gratefully
consented. So James was despatched
to call Lady BarbarR's man Thomas, ia
whom she conveyed her commands In
the fewest possible words, and the
two ladies withdrew while the e&-
change of costume was effected and
the stolid Thomas, too well accustomed
to his mistress whims to raise the
least question, resigned his crimson
coat and gold laced hat, his silk stock
ings and buakled shoes, and even his
powdered boe-wig, to the new chair
IA .%.a4' ..... y. 4".. .
BY this time Prue's usual afternoon
cour was assembling In far greater
numbers than the little house could
easily accommodate, and the rustic OF
brocades and the ripple OF gay
voices filed the air. Outside the
library Barbara hesitated. ST think ]
will not go back to your visitors. Prue
my tongue is apt to slip put OF my
control and / might say something
compromising" she said. Then, seeinI
the door open into the empty dinini
room, she went In, drawing Prue aft
err her.
'Is 1t serious, childp' she demanded
with a hand on each shoulder an,
Prue's eyes vainly attempting to NEE
her searching gaze unfiinchingly. IL
1t possible that the heart that has re,
sisted 101 and skilled assault can hav,
surrendered to, the Stand and deliver
OF a brigand? Come, tell me every