The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1913-03-06
CHAPTER XIII, Continued.

Prue soon appeared, all smiles and
artlesS witcheries, quito determined
TO see. nothing strange iE. this untlne-
Iy visit, and as ready to gossip as
though she had nothing more serious
on her mind than the latest epigram
and the newest scandal. Lord Beach
combeshowever, was in too deadly ear
nest to encourage her frivolity, and
with very little circumlocution nqulreo
for Captain Freemantle. .
"Captain-Freemantie-?" she ques-
toned, with a puzzled air. do you
mean the, highwayman? Ia! now
should II know anything about him!
/ You must be dreaming, Lord Beach
combe!'r .
'.I am not dreaming, ~Viscountess,"
DE said resentfully. Nor was / dream
ing q couple Of hours ago, when. quite
by accident, l saw/him here" he indi-
Gated the spot by a motion Of his hand,
tin cJose-ahem!-conversatfon with
your ladyship." /
with me?" she cried. OH! you
are In error. The gentleman you spied
upon-pardon, l mean accidentally In
terrupted-is your relative, Captain de
Cliffe"- s.. =.
The difference is merely nominal"
he i~nterposed with a sour smile 1t
ls of great importance that l should
have a few words with that-gentle-
man"
N"Oh! how fortunate" she cried. with
profound regret; h went away hours
ago--oh! ages ago." -.
Went away? Impossible! he could
not have left this house without my
knowledge exclaimed B~eachcombe,
Moo thoroughly reused for dissimula-
ton,
Indeed" said Prue, ominously gen
tie. May l inquire since when you
took upon yourself the right to OBJ
serve the movements OF my guestsT
He pulled himself together a little.
My dear Lady Brooke he said, as
suaVely as he could, can you
not understand my anxiety about you?
You surely are not surprised thai j
was reluctant TO leave you unprotect-
ed in the power of a ruffian-an es-
| capped convict
told" she replied, for family rea-
sons"
The same reasons for which I arr
| now anxious to meet him." retorted the
earl. Il know not by what arts he has
| induced you to help him-or to con-
eeal him. p~erhaps-under a mistaken
compassion for a fugitive"-
s:Would you wish to search tho
house, Lord Beachcombe? Z" said Prue
4 majesticallY rising. IF So, do moi
| hesitate to make the minutest investl.
| CATION. You will be quite as success
l ful today as your emlSSarleS were yes
terday. Captain de Cliffe came int
my grandmother's house openly anC
without precaution and walked out o.
it two hours ago. just as you, Lore
B~eachcombe, will do when you have
satisfied yoursel of my veracity-anC
with as little prospect Of yer return
ingI"
Lord Beachcombe stood dumfounded
Could this pale, proud woman, he
azure eyes suddenly black with ange
and her clear voice vibrant with pas
sion. be the gay, frivolous creature
who had played with his heart for
few weeks and tossed 1t back to hin
with a gibe and a laugh; whom n
one could anger, because nothing eve
seemed worth being angry about, an,
whose deepest emotion had Away
been more volatile than the bubbles o
champagne2 What had happened I
work such a transformation? r.
IT fear that you have misunderstood
me. Lady Prudence" he said at las
iErIf 7 have unwittingly offended you.
beg TO apologize most humbly."
Prue preserved q ~disdainful silenc'
r"Pray pardon my inadyertence,
Heachcombe went on, still more al
lectly. II cannot leave you again un