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

IL SOIltRlCAlOA. OldCh SSs
black hair, without powder, worn
She interrupted him with a laugh.
Surely not, the woman was old. bent,
no taller than myself; a toothless,
blear-eyed beldame-'
And she disappeared, you say? Ser
geant. examine the room thoroughly
and break in anything hat seems like
a secret panel. I fear. Madam" the Of
fcer said. again addressing Prue, that
l shall be compelled to arrest you if
we can not find the person we are seek
ing"
will make yourself the laughing stock
of London II you arrest Lady Prudence
enjoy it amazin mass' n have
never been arrested, and it would
be something quite new for
l have found the queens necklace
she clasped 1t in her arms with an air
OF defance-''and you must first take
me either to Marlborough house, where
it was lost, or to Kensington palace,
where you will easily find out whether
ladies' in waiting"
She. threw of her veil and smiled
up at him with all the alluring arch
ness at her command. 1t was not
thrown away, although h young SOL
captivating arts, by ordering his men
to leave no loophole OF escape for the
object OF their search or any one who
might be his accomplish. They roughly
tested the walls with blows and kicks.
finding at last q hollow sounding
panel. knocked 1T in without delay and
found, not a secret passage, but q
closet containing some weapons. a d
die and a couple of cloaks. These they
made into a bundle and were abou to
search farther, when the sounds of
shouts and shots from the river drew
their attention that way.
by heaven, they have caught him
on the river" cried the officer. hurrying
to the window. He unclasped the shut
ter. and dashing the window open,
sprang out on the terrace. followed by
Prue. The night was intensely dark
and a drizzling rain falling. but at a
short distance the blaze OF torches
stained the fog a dull crimson. that
looked to her excited Imagination like
a haze Of blood. She stood shivering
on the terrace beside the officer. as he
shouted himself hoarse in his efforts
to get into communication with the
crew of h boat which had intercepted
Robins flight, but the lights drifted
farther away and the shouting ceased,
and. at last, she ventured to lay her
hand tightly on the officers arm.
Who is being ~pursued?" she asked.
and what is all the disturbance
about:"
Don't you kno thai This is the hid
ing place OF the notorious highway
suspected OF being an active agent of
the Jacobite plotters in Scotland? 1t is
strange that you Should be alone here.
madam. and yet know nothing Of this
mans escape. My orders are to arrest
him and all persons found in his COM
pany; therefore you must consider
yourself under arrest"
ARREST me II you WILL" she replied,
but II o refuse to take me to the
Duchess Of Marlborough or the queen,
the consequences be on your own head.
Rest assured that there will be honors
and promotion for the gallant soldier
who protects one Of the ladies of the
court and brings her and the treasure
she has recovered to safety. But to
thrust n Of my condtion"-her eyes
indignant pride-"into prison. will GER
tainly bring disgrace or worse upon
you. I have influence with the duchess
and through her with the duke.'
The officer was young and not alto
gether insensible either to the sweet,
propounded. He hesitated. and meet
ing the earnest eyes raised to his, be-
gan to waver. This was evidently a
great lady. Her elegant dress and
naughty abashed him. and hi
/! began to think IL he took her to the
tower in place of Robin Freemantle,
she might prove q dangerous substi-
tute.
Come. come. Sir Officer" Prue went
on. reading h changes OF his express
be so hard to convince" She smiled
up at him now with a bewitching petu-
lance n laid her slender hand on his
arm. "Tts but a step to Marlborough
house and I am In q fever to see the
duchess. was. perhaps. indiscreet in
Il 0nYnfn0 tn thf0 otr0rOa FN0n04 n0~n@ l.k
the hope of finding the jewels turned
my foolish head and put all other con-
sidcrations out Of it. I fear I ran a
desperate risk: l might have been at
tackled by robbers. instead OF rescued
by soldiers! I shall never forget that
I owe my safety, perhaps my life. to
you"
BY this time the lieutenant was in
complete subsection. Il am most for
tunate, madam, in being Of some serv-
ice to you" he said CALAMITY. when
came here to take a prisoner, I little
expected to become a captive myself"
Prue finished him OF with a glance
OF Irresistible archness. "Oh, I am quite
r%econciled to my arrest now" she pro-
tested. Indeed. I should claim your
escort, II I did not feel sure that you
would wish to see the queens necklace
safely through it's adventures. Fortu-
nate man: there is no an officer In
the dukes army who would not envy
your good. luck"
Il can well believe It," he cried. with
an ardent glance. Il would not change
places with a general"
"The duchess appreciates devotion as
much as her husband does courage"
said Prue, with tantalizing occurrences.
And the Lady Prudence Brooke
does she also appreciate devotion - the
young officer murnured h~urriedly. "Oh,
II I could believe So
you would take me TO the MARI
borough house instead OF the toWer?s