Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1913-02-28

braVed alone the dangers so many of
her friends would willingly have
shared"
You too?" cried Barbara, raising
hand n eyes appealingly to the Of
Tended heavens. "Can neither matri-
fevcr?-nor even %phlebotomy at the
hands of so skilful a chirurgeon as Sir
Godfrey Beaudesert"! Pray, if one
may venture to inquire. what may be
your interest in the recovery of the
queens necklace, since surely it can
be either friendship or love-"
The look he gave her certainly sug-
gested neither OF these emotions. but
his voice was under better control.
My interest. dear Lady Barbara, is
so far selfish that as the robbery was
perpetrated under cover of my domino,
I hould certainly have wished to take
part in finding of the jewel-and the
thief"
La cried Barbara. smiling ente-
matically. How unfortunate that the
necklace has been returned and the
thief arrested without your assist
ance!'
Arrested" her auditors exclaimed
together. but in very different tones.
Lord Beachcombe's vibrated with graf
flied hatred. Prue's trembled with dis
may. The color dropped from her
cheek, and but for Peggie's prompti-
tude, her agitation would have be-
trayed her beyond concealment. She.
however, had been lowering on the
threshold trying to attract her Cousins
attention, and now ran forward with
great vivacity, and by a torrent OF
eager questions, drew attention to her
self n gave Prue time to recover
from her perturbation, though not be-
fore 1t had been observed with malic-
ious Inference by Lord Beachcombe.
why. truly, l scarcely expected to
bring news to the fountain-head,"
Barbara ran on. "Ye it's a fact, my
poor Prue. that your manc has a
very commonplace finale. '1is no dash
ing exploit of a bold highwayman.
after all. no hairbreadth escape from
a robbers den. but merely the out
come OF an intrigue between a cham
bermaid and a scrivener's clerk; and
a mt OF vulgar jealousy has pricked the
bubble of your romance, my love!"
Greatly to the astonishment OF both
her visitors. Prue's face, instead of
falling in dismay, became irradiated
with the loveliest expression of joy.
Her eyes. softly luminous, swan i'm a
%rapturous mist and dimples played IL
the damask that suddenly drove the
pallor from her cheek. Such a trans
formation could hardly fail to aston
Assn ever those most accustomed to the
swift variations of this creature of
caprice.
Tell us quickly, dear Barbara" she
cried, with a little emo of excite
ment in her voice. "You know twas
near midnight when the duchess
brought me home. and l was so tired
i slept until noon-allamy visitors this
morning have come to seek informa-
tlon-not to impart 1t. Do. pray. tell
me what has h~appened.".
La. Prue. 1 thought you would be
mortified to death at such a tame end
ing to our romantic adventure. and
you seem delighted" replied Barbara,
with pique. One of the serving
wenches at Marlborough house. finding
the royal firing room for a UNI
guarded. took her sweetheart in. and
not content with gazing. they must
needs carry their audacity to the point
or lingering her majesty's toilet arti-
cles, and so come upon the necklace in
IN It's case, which so dazzled them.
presume. that they turned crazy. and
nearing voices at one door. ran out of
another and found themselves back in
the quarters with the neck
lace In their possession. The girl
swears they did not mean to steal it.
put did not know how to get it back
unobserved. n finally the lover in q
panic, fled from h house, carrying the
oerilous pelf with him."
"A probable story. indeed" cried
Beachcombe scoffingly. TT might ac-
count Tor the disappearance Of the
Jewel, but scarcely for its restoration"
ON! that was a case of conscience.
a tE1ng quite incomprehensible of
course to an esprit fort such as your
iorasnip' retorted barbara. The girl
suffered ~tortures. 1t appears, during
winch n was a dozen times on the
point of confessing, but hesitated for
rear or discriminating her lover. Their
came the story Of the return of the
necklace, which, by the time 1t reached
the stu room, had grown to the Wild
est OF marvels. After that. no one
seems to know exactly what happened,
but possibly, between fear Of her own
part IN the affair and rage at the
treachery of her lover, the wretched
creature lost what few sense she had
and actually forced her way into the
presence of the duchess. where she
groveled on the floor. confessing and
accusing and Lord knows what besides.
n was carried out raving and foam
ing at the mouth
AND SO h confessed that she and
her lover had stolen. or at any rate
carried off the necklace" commented
Prue thoughtfully.
"Ihen how do you account for it's
restoration by Robin ~Freemantle?"
Beachcombe inquired, with his stealthy
eyes upon her.
Meeting him with this AFFAIR."" she re-
torted. facing him %defantly. For my
part. l am now thoroughly convinced
that 1T was a very vulgar matter and
that l have been made q foo and a
tool of by a pack of low wretches. Do
not let any one who does not wish to
offend me. w mention my art in
it again"
'On the contrary" Barbara was be-
ginning, when Peggie. from h win
dow. uttered a cry of admiration.
rs that yOur new chair at the door.
Barbara she cried. Sure, tits the
finest in town."
..Ahi I had for the mnmen fnr1offen