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

oeAofIlu Compaoy
only one queens necklace" she cried
lncautiously. Then, conscious of her
indiscretion, she added with too eager
precipitation. Besides. Robin Free
mantle had nothing to do with my visit
to that house, was guided there"
understand" interrupted Beachcombe
" tbs no secret that your %ladyship was
induced by means of a letter.
Secret! l should think mott" she
cried petulantly. tossing the letter up
on the table beside him. "All the town
seems talking about it, and all the
world may read it, for aught I care!
defy the most ingenious scandal
monger to make anything out of it."
Lord BeachcOmbe took 1t UP and
slowly unfolding it. read 1T carefully,
and then looked up with a smile of tri-
Prue's heart. From his breast he drew
a letter addressed to The Right Hon
orable Lord Beachcombe. At Rodney
House. Saint James Park. London
and placing the two papers side by
side. contemplated them with vindic-
tive satisfaction.
There can be no further doubt" he
said. See for yourself, N~iscountess, the
writing is Identical"
She looked, and had some difficulty
IN maintaining her Indifference. Fur
lous at herself for having given
his suspicious, h had just enough
sclf-command left to see tina 1t was a
case of qul s'eXcuse s'accuse, and that
any attempt at explanation would only
plunge her into an ineXtricable tangle
of f~alsehood. So she merely remarked.
IN as casual a o as she could as
sumo, La me! how c%urious." and
stretched out her hand for her own
| document.
Beachcombe withheld it. Pray per-
init me to retain this, Lady Prudence
he e%ntreated. 1t is an important piece
OF evidence
More important to me than to your
lordship!" she retorted sharply. BE
good enough to return it to me-" and
as he still hesitated. she snatched it
from his grasp, e%xclaiming with an
angry laugh. Evidently the liking for
other peoples private papers runs in
the blood of the De Cliffes."
With a savage scowl, Lord Beach
combe half rose from his seat. But
Prue nae already from her
squirt OF passion. and with the prettiest
d~eprecating gesture and the most al
Turing smile she could call up at a mo-
ment's notice, she stemmed the tide of
his wrath.
"Oh! forgive me, Lord B~eachcombe.'
she said sweetly. II am not used to
y y ana my temper,
as you know we'll, is none of the most
patient. Do not let us quarrel over
such a trife as a fancied resemblance
between two scraps of writing"
lis no fancted resemblance, Lady
prudence" said Beachcombe doggedly,
Ihen II 1T is a real one. would it not
De better for us to see how we can
turn 1T to our mutual advantage, thar
to wrangle over it," she suggested
Beachcombe's brow cleared at her
conciliatory tone. and his half awak-
ened suspicious melted under the in
uuence OF a sweet and beaming smile,
There is nothing easier than to turn
IT to ~ advantage n his destruction,
dear V~iscountess, if YOU will be guided
by me-" he said eagerly. IF Captain
freemantle should make another at
tempt to see you-as / feel convinced
g to bring US face to face. or at least
to let me know where he is to be found.
l am convinced that l could show him
excellent reasons for giving up those
papers, which would prove danger
ously compromising-to him-if dis
secure yourself from further molesta-
ton and promote the ends of Justice
IN this way. and place me under a life
long obligation"
And how about Captain Free
mantle?" suggested Prue. "Would his
obligation to me also be lifelong" ~
"Why-no doubt he replied. with a
sinister smile.
well, Lord ~Beachcombe," said Prue.
with a charming smile. II will give
your message to this knight of the road
when see him-and I doubt not he
will wait upon your lordship to receive
the benefits you are so anxious to be-
stow upon him. OH! you need not
thank me- Che had no intention of do
ing 500: II am always glad to oblige
an old friend. And pray do not hurry
Barbara Sweeting, and presently the
rest of London will flock round me ia
repeat what every one is saying about
me, and find out something new to tell
In their turn. You. who have given
me so much information. can help me
to entertain them"