The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-23
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Arrest mel" cried Prue. why, you
will make yourself the laughing stock
OF London f'you arrest Lady Prudence
Brooke. As to myself, I should
enjoy It amazingly; I have
never been arrested. and 1t would
be something quite new for
me In the way OF an adventure, but
I have found the queens necklace
she clasped 1t in her arms with an air
OF defiance-"and you must first AXE
me either to Marlborough house, where
II was lost, or to K~ensington palace,
where you will easily find out whether
or no TO arrest one OF her matesty's
discriminating"
She threw OF her veil and smiled
up at him with all the alluring arch
ness at her command. II was o
thrown away, although the young SOL
der made a brave effort to resist her
captivating arts, by ordering his men
TO leave no loophole Of escape for the
OBJECT or their search or any one who
might be his accomplish. They roughly
tested the walls with blows and kicks,
and nndtng at last q hollow sounding
panel, knocked 1t In without delay and
FOUND, not a secret passage, but q
closet containing some weapons, a sad
die and a couple of cloaks. These they
made into a bundle and were about 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 h 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
n hnUn ~ kI>N
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
aboutg'
Don't you know that this is the hid
ing place OF the notorious highway
man, Robin FTeemantle, who is also
suspected OF being an active agent Of
the Jacobtte. 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 n all persons found in his COM
pany; therefore you must consider
yourself under arrest"
HNLCct II IA you win. SIG TGDIleQ,
but IL you refuse to take me to the
Duchess Of Marlborough or the queen,
the consequences be IN 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 a recovered to safety. But to
thrust one of my condtion"-her eyes
flashed and she raised her head with,
indignant prfde-"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
'imperious voice, or the arguments it
propounded. He hesitated, and meet
ing the earnest Eyes raised to his, be-
a to waVer. This was evidently a
great lady. Her elegant dress and
naughty manner abashed him, and he
began to think II 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 the changes Of his express
sion with an experienced eye, do not
be so hard to convince" She smiled
up at him now with a bewitching petu-
lance and laid her slender hand on hts
arm. IT'S but a step to Marlborough
house n I am In a fever to see the
duchess. ! was, perhaps. indiscreet in
coming to this strange place alone, but
the hope of finding the jewels turned
foolish head and put all other CON
desperate risk; I might have been at
tackled by robbers, instead OF rescued
by soldiers! 1 shall never forget that
I W my safety, perhaps my life, to
you"
BY this time the lieutenant, was in
0nYnnlntE oNHhAantinr ut 49, yaonA g..
tunate, madam, in being of some serv-
ice to YOU" he said g~allantly. when
I 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
tested. Indeed, 1 should claim your
escort, IL l did not feel sure that you
would wish to see the queens necklace
safely through its adventures. Fortu-
nate man; there is not 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"
1.-THE duchess appreciates devotion as
much as her husband does courage"
said Prue, with tantalizing occurrences.
And the Lady Prudence Brooke
ices she also appreciate devotion ?" the
young officer murmured hurriedly. "Oh,
II I could believe So"
You would take me to the MARI
borough house instead Of the tower?"
she interrupted quickly. prove your
devotion by doing so, n afterward"
she fingered softly on the word-"we
will talk about appreciation"
The soldiers, by this time. having |
the house without finding
suspicious, one of them was
to fetch a chair for Lady
Prudence, and leaving a guard at the
house In case of Robins return, the
lieutenant and the rest OF his soldiers
escorted the prisoner-and the neck
lace-to Marlborough house.
CHAPTER xix.
IN THE DUCHESS APARTMENTS.