The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-02-20
CHAPTER XxI-(continued.)

She checked herself quickly, though
not quite unobserved. Beachcombe, of
course, did not suspect anything so
preposterous as that Prue could be in
terested in the -highwayman, beyond
the fact that he had made her the
heroine of a successful ~escapade, but
her change of countenance, slight as
it was. n her gesture. though in
stantly diverted to a reimbursement of
the rose at her breast, did not escape
his keen eye.
You recognize the superscription o.
he suggested i~nsinuatingly. You saw
the packet in his hands. perhaps? If
So
So, she interrupted quickly,
you have little chance of recovering
it, since it's said he was drowned last
night,
If l could only believe that true"
he exclaimed fiercely. but no; he es-
capped; there can be no doubt of that;
In fact. l have reason to know
ITO know that he Is safe" she cried
in a thrilling accent OF unmistakable
JOY. "Oh, heayen"-tlen suddenly she
remembered that this man was his
enemy and desired his death. She
stopped short and then went on hur-
riedly. conscious that she had betrayed
herself-'is Il possible that this-this
miscreant is still alive and at lib
erty p"
He looked at her obviously. but all
though a growing suspicion that she
was acting a part disturbed him, it
did not yet enligllten him with any
ray of the truth.
Il am as sure of ii, as / am that
he pursued you at the ball. under
cover of my domino-and. for his pun
ishInent, fell in love with YOU. he
said boldly.
Fell in love with me-" cried Prue
disdainfully. Again. sir? How dare
you suggest such presumption"
The fellow certainly does not lack
presumption replied Beachcombe,
with you. did he not prove his in
~fataation by surrendering his priceless
booty for the sake of seeing YOU once
more. even at the peril of his life?
Believe me. dear visconntess. the man.
who will risk SO much, will risk still
Captain Freernantie,s
You think not Q" cried Prue. What
do you he will do nexta"
Probably he will repeat the tactics
that he has already pursued with such.
enviabie success" said the earl. with
a scarcely p~erceptible sheer. and send
one ssor his followers to your ladyship
to beSeech another interview; or per
haps he will come to you himself
Heaven forbid cried Prue. THRUST
audacions. 4
% the contrary. my cal lady"
replied l~eachconlbe blandy. If N
will be guided by me. * think we can
turn this fellows impudence to il
mutual advantage. / most sincerely
trust that he Will come on send to
you, because now he has been
routed Jul of his house by
the river side, we no longer know
wher he Is hiding. He Is not like
TO return there, but gentlemen OF his
profession ave many haunts, and hav-
ing induced your ladyship to visit one
Sof them he will, no doubt. try an
other
You seem ia forget that there is
only one queens necklaces. she cried
Internationally Then. conscious of her
indisSretion, she added with too eager
precipitation. Besides, Robin Free
n1at1tIe q nothing to do with my visit
10 that house: r was guided here
Bya messenger sent by him, as
understand Interrupted B~eachconbe.
sNIis no secret that your Iadysfip was
induced by means OF a letter.
Secretl should think not.s. she
cried petuIa ntly, tossing the letter up-
on the table beside him. All the town
seems talking about it. and all the
World mayaread At. for aught / care,
defy the most ingenious scandal
Z to make anything out Of It"