The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-09

TOT SW6fGeu ITOH1 InS nursery ana
,Prue's self was an unpropounded prob
lem OF the distant future. E~ s
Not at all disturbed by the amuse-
ment OF her audience, Lady Barbara
raised her quizzing-glass and ran her
bright, sharp glance round the room.
What! Sir Geoffrey Beaudeserti
how come you here2~ Why are you
shire castle2 Or perhaps your parlia-
mentary immunities extend to the
slaughter of the tnnocents as well as
the spelling of the Egyptians!"
Sir Godfrey, very red in the, face. Z
came forward, bowling low. Dear
Lady Barbara, as o are strong, be
merciful," he murmured imploringly.
h gave him a look very unlike her
ordinary merry defiance. "Mercifui
to you. who have no mercy even for
the nursing mother and the sucking
babe? Never! Lady Beachcombe is
n OF my ninety-and-nine dearest
friends. l nave Just come from her.
There was q sight to wiring the heart
of a monster! the weeping mother in
one room and the wounded husband
INC father"
"oh, tush!" interrupted Sir Godfrey,
recovering his aplomb. Twas the
merest scratch. A strip torn from my
lady's kerchief would lay bound II
up and left something to spare"
Don't quarrel. you two" interposed
Prue's sweet, cooling voice. Bah,
come and sit beside granny and I'll
give you a cup of chocolate, while you
tell her the latest news"
The latest news! There Is 50 much.
that the difficulty Is to know where
to begin. i went, this morning, to
visit my interesting friend, Lady
Beachcombe, and according to prom
Use, to give her full description Of the
ball. including"-here she shook her
finger at Prue-''all the doings and
misdoings of her lord. I was prepared
to be cautious with the dear creature.
but instead Of finding myself welcomed
as q bearer OF news, I heard so much
that my poor head fairly swims with
trying to remember 1t ALL"
Begin with the least exciting and
work up by easy stages to a climax
suggested Peggie. edging toward her
cousin and trying to attract her at
tentiOn.
mo, begin with the most thrilling
while u nerves are strong enough
to bear It." Prue proposed eagerly.
First, them" Lady Barbara began,
highly enjoying her anticipated tri-
umph, there was a robbery at MARI
borough house last night; and sure
no common thief would venture to
steal her majesty's diamond necklace
from the royal tiring-room." <
The general chorus OF incredulity and
Indignation realized her expectations
and she looked around with a mys-
FERROUS smile. mo common thief, In
deed: but Robin Freemantle, the high
wayman, Is out of Jail, and It's said
indeed my authority can not be ques-
tioned-that he was among the mask
ers."
Prue felt cold shivers trickling down
her spine, but the consciousness thai
Sir Godfrey was watching her, rave
her strength to fix a smile upon her
face and pour out the cup Of chocolate
with q steady hand. ~.
why do they think he had any
thing to do with this?" some one in
quired. Tell US everything quickly,
Barbara. before we die OF curiosity"
why. now we come to the best
story of all" cried the fair news
monger. "On his way to the ball,
Robin Freemantle and a band OF ruff
fans, who carried him off-carriage,
servants and all complete-to a secret
cavern and left him there for sew
eral hours, having robbed him Of his
mask and domino and borrowed his
invitation and his carriage"
The DEVIL" calculated Sir Godfrey,
suddenly very much enlightened.
. "Fie, Sir Godfrey; you should leave
such remark to our poor friend Beach
combe, when he discovered, this morn
ing, the purpose for which his dis
SulSe nhu uScI lhh6u.
But he was there; / spoke with him."
said Prue, feeling the color ebb from
her cheeks and SURE ptitiously trying
to pinch some Of 1t back.
Did ! see you supping with him."
retorted Lady Barbara archly. Il re-
Trained from dwelling upon his sub
ject to my poor friend, Lady Beach
combe, but / saw what l saw! Before
midnight his property vas restored and
he was set free. He FASTENED to the
ball, and doubtless he woul have done
much better to go straight home, Ell,
Sir Godfrey"
He seemed in a bad humor," said
Prue reflectively, but not more so than
usual"
He might well be in q bad humor.
1t appears that he was instrumental
in getting Robin Freemantle pardoned
when he was in Newgate, condemned
to be hanged"
That Is STRANGE" Peggie exclaimed.
TITS the first time I ever heard tell
Of a charitable act of his!"
Twill be the last, no doubt; the
man Is an migrate. His first use OF his
liberty was to steal his b~enefactor's
mask and domino, and under cover Of
them to o the queens majesty. Oh!
tits outrageous" Lady Barbara ran
on volubly. But he will be punished;
and speedily" She became myster-
ious. His retreat Is known. When
Beachcombe questioned his
and added his own suspicion to theirs,
he came upon important clues, and
when l left he was going to place
them in the hands OF the authorities.
from whom this miscreant will Ger
tainly not be rescued a second time
by him.
Az