Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-03-21

value" said Goodridge. Il haven't the
proofs here. but I'll tell YOU the secret
for half the money and YOU shall give
me the rest, when l give YOU the proofs.
It's a loss to me- he half whimpered.
for If l kept the secret and used it
right. l might live well on ii as long AS
it remained a secret"
Aarons counted out - gold coins
upon the table, and covered them with
his hand. Now he said. There is half
your price, n If you can give me Il
satisfactory reason why Sir Godfrey
marry Lady Prudence Brooke. tina
none is yours, and as much more
when have proofs. But if YOU are de-
ceiving me, beware! l ann not u man
to be tritied WITH
Sir Geoffrey Beaudesert cannot mar
ry Lady Prudence Brooke for the very
good reason that she is already mar
ried,' Goodridge whispered. leaning
across the table with his mouth at
.AarOns' ear.
The Insurer started back and his face
became black with fury. Lady Pru-
dence married." he exclaimed.
"Sh-sh-sh!" Goodridge glanced
round app~rehensively, don't blurt it
out for the whole tow 10 hear. Yes,
she is married. l myself performed the
ceremony"
You performed the ceremony" mutt
tered Aarons, with Increasing anger
n amazement. Tell me the whole
story; whom did She marry. and
| Whcn?"
lis 1t worth the money ." asked Good
ridge, leering at his scowling face.
Aarons pushed h % guineas across
the table with quick impatience. and
the other picked them up. counted
them and slowed them in his pocket.
before continuing.
II married her less than a week ago.
i he then went on. s"rhe waddipp took
place in Newgate prison, and the
bridegroom was Robin Freemantle, the
highwayman. Now you know as much
as 1 do"
roared Aarons. beside himself with
rage. This is an invention to rob
me. You think to. get my money for a
tissue OF lies and then laugh at me for
a credulous fool! A woman who could
pick and choose among Il dozen titles
and fortunes marry u felon in Jail!
If this is a, joke. it is q dangerous one,
Mr.. Parson, as you will find unless
YOU return my money and make me Il
humble apology"
Goodridge had risen to his feet md.
considerably sobered by this uneXpect-
ed outburst. faced the Infatuated man.
pale beneath his vinous flush.
Did you think to get Il secret as
that from me and then rob me of the
price, he suffered. II swear by the
CIOSS you dcCuTSeU Jews uSSplSe, tldl
l nave told you the truth. Last Fri
day l married Prudence, widow OF
J James Stuar Brooke he sank his
f, voice to a whisper. Ito the highway
man, then under sentence to be hanged
last Monday"
A CLEAN shot across Aarons' face.
Hanged last Monday" he exclaimed.
Why. then, she's a widow again.
That's what she expected to be, IN
be sworn said Goodridge. with great
significance. But / said under sem
tence. That sentence was not carried
out. He was reprieved and set at
liberty. and my lady is still his WIFE"
A dark frown furrowed the usurer's
brow. Before his eyes rose the vision
of the beautiful object of his desire,
with the diamonds he had thought to
buy her with around her milky throat
and the banknote he had refused in
payment lying u~nregarded on the ta-
BILE. He ground his teeth in impotent
fury to thing how he had been the dupe
OF his w faulty. and n savage long
ing rose in him for revenge upon the
disdainful beauty. whose astounding
caprice had placed her out of his
reach.
Tipsy as Goodridge was, he had been
crafty enough to hold his tongue about
Sir Geoffrey's part i'm the transaction
therefore it was not unnatural that
Aarons' thoughts should turn to his
erstwhile rival as a fit instrument of
Prue's humiliation. To expose her, de-
grade her and, if possible. ruin her so
cially. he would spare neither money
nor skill, but he felt himself Unfit for
the task: the blow from his hand might
recoil upon himself and leave her un-
scatched. Besides. his ideas were, for
the moment, too chaotic. and he was
not the man to weaken his urpos by
undue haste.
With a tremendous effort OF his iron
will. he subdued all outward expression
of anger, and even called up a smile of
grim amusement. Once more rising
from the table, he bade his companion
adieu without any further allusion to
the % g%uineas, much to the reverend
scamp's relief.
Take my advice. Parson. and keep
a silent tongue in your head" he re-
marked. II will keep you secret. be-
cause it will not serve me to betray 1t.
but if you take many more into your
confidence, you may get into trouble"
With which he strobe away, leaving
Goodrldge to the congenial society OF
the half empty bottle.
s Pix. hchhrm
CHAPTER XIV.
cr1nnrD rOp err1pCE