The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-02-20
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Lord Beachcombe took 1t up, and
slowly unfolding II, read 1t carefully,
and then looked up with a smile of tri-
umph, that struck a sudden chill to
Prue's heart, From his breast he drew
a letter addressed to THE Right Hon
orable Lord Beachcornbe. At Rodney
House, Saint James Park, London"
and placing the two papers side by
side, contemplated them with vindic-
tive satisfaction. ,''
There can be no further doubt" he
said. See for yourself, V~iscountess, the
writing Is identical"
She looked, and had some difficulty
in maintaining her indifference. Fur
ious at herself for having given
B~eachcombe an opportunity to confirm
his suspicious, she had just enough
elf-command left to see that 1t was a
case OF qui s'excuse ~s'accuse, and that
any attempt at explanation would only
plunge her into an inextrt able tangle
OF ~falsehood, So she merely remarked,
in as casual a o as h could as
sumo, La me! how curiousi" and
stretched out her hand for her own
document. ... .'.E '" .
B~eachcombe withheld It. Pray per-
init me to retain this, Lady Prudence"
he entreated. ut is an important piece
Of evidence" ~.
More important to me than to your
lordship!" she retorted sharply. BE
good enough to return 1t to mel" and
as he still hesitated, she snatched il
from his grasp. exclaiming with an
angry laugh. Evidently the liking for
other peoples private papers runs In
the blood Of the De Cliffes."
With a savage scowl, Lord Beach
combe half rose from his seat. But
Prue had already recovered from her
squirt of. passion, and with the prettiest
d~eprecating gesture and the, most al
Turing smile she could call up at a mo-
ment's notice, h stemmed the tide of
his wrath.
"Oh! forgive me, Lord B~eachcombe,"
she said sweetly. II am not used to
be so cross questioned and my temper,
as you know we'll, Is none of the most
patient. Do not let us quarrel over
such a trifie as a fancied resemblance
between two scraps of writing"
TITS no fancied resemblance, Lady
Prudence" said Beachcombe doggedly.
The If 1t is q real one would it not
be better for us to see how we can
turn 1t to our mutual advantage, than
to wrangle over it," she suggested.
Beachcombe's brow. cleared at her
c~onciliatory tone, and his hall awak-
ened suspicious melted under the in
1uence Of a sweet and beaming smile.
There is nothing easier than to turn
1t to Advantage and his destruction,
dear V~iscountess, If you will be guided
by me-" he said eagerly. "If Captain
Freemantle should make another at
tempt to see you-as i feel convinced
he will-surely woman's wit can man
Eage to bring us face to face, or at least
to let me know where he is to be found.
] am convinced that i could show him
excellent reasons for giving up those
papers, which would prove danger
ously compromising--to. him--if dis
discovered in his possession. You could
secure yourself from further molests-
ton and promote the ends of Justice
in this way. and place me under a life
long obligation" .."
And how about Captain Free
mantle?" suggested Prue. Would his
obligation to me also be lifelong?"
"Why-no doubt" he replied, with a
sinister smile,
We'll, Lord ~Beachcombe," said Prue,
with a charming smile, II will give
your message to this knight Of the road
when ] see him-and I doubt not he
will wait upon your lordship to receive
the benefits you are SC anxious to be-
stow upon him. Oh! you need not
thank me-. Che had no intention OF do
ing 500; II am always glad to oblige
an old friend. And pray do not hurry
away; / hear the voice Of my gossip,
Barbara Sweeting, and presently the
rest OF London will flock round me to
repeat what every n Is saying about
me, and find u something new to tell
in their turn. You, who have given
me so much Information, can help me
to entertain them"