The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-02-06

AaPtStJ 40 q SofiC VI NSAASiliCkAb ASplO dSN.
Il only give you credit for Fastening
to warn your-husband of his danger
and carrying away the discriminating
proof of his guilt; and I admire your
courage and generosity though / de-
pore Its object"
Have you quite finished this roman
tic story, Sir Geoffrey?" queried Prue,
disdainful toss Of her fan.
"The preface only, but the rest will
wait" he replied, with a sinister smile.
Then perhaps you would like to hear
what really happened? 1t would be
useless for me to deny-even IL !
wished-that I spoke with Captain
~Freemantle, at the ball
Quite So" Sir Godfrey agreed
blandly.
Not that I wish to deny It," she
went on petulantly; "at a masquerade
dear Sir Godfrey, Know better thar
any one else, this gentleman's claim
upon my attention. Still, I fail to see
any connection between Captain Free
nantes presence at the ball and the
disappearance of h necklace-about
which, you must acknowledge, that /
know more than any one else, since /
found-and restored it."
Sir Godfrey bowed his acqutescence,
but his smile vas not ~reassuring.
w all know what an admirable
raconteuse Barbara is, and I was nat
urally much worked up by her story of
the lost necklace; in fact I could
scarcely restrain my impatience to heal
a moro authentic account" Prue pro-
ceeded, recovering her self-confidence,
which for a moment had wavered under
Sir Geoffrey's attack. $50 the momen
my visitors left me, I sent for a chair
and started for Marlborough House. to
get my information at first hand. AT
a short distance, however, l was in
terrupted by a person who thrust this
paper into my hand"
She drew from her bosom the
crumpled document which had already
played an important part In her YER
sion Of h affair, and handed it to
him.
Sir Godfrey read 1t carefully. re-
folded 1t, n meeting her eye, bowed
gravely, as though to intimate that he
was too much Interested to break the
thread Of the narrative even by a word
You know my love of adventure toe
Well to doubt that I instantly decided
to risk anything and follow this clue
1t took me to a dismal old house
empty, l believe, except for an old bag,
VINO, keeping. hersface concealed, thrust
the casket into my hands and at the
first sound of the soldiers approach,
Disappeared"
Sir Godfrey softly clapped his hands,
as though in applause.
Capital! excellent" he cried. s.My
dear Prue, with shame / confess that
never before have lone justice to the
vast Of your wit. I ACTUALLY
dared to wonder how you had managed
to forestall suspicion and snatch safe.
ty out of the jaws Of peril. You have
surpassed yourself! To plan SO subtly:
to execute SO promptly! To omit moth
the written proof-and to
crown 1t all with a guileless frankness
that might dtsarm the most captious.
and certainly would have deceived me,
II l had not been close beside you from
the moment you emerged from your
own door until that OF Robin Free
mantle hid you from my Jealous eyes!"
Then suddenly, without giving her
that sprang to her eyes, he bent for
ward and seized her two hands in his.
Why treat your faithful lover so
harshly, sweet Prue 2" he went on pas
sionately. Have I not proven my love
again and again in the defense Of your
reputation and In unquestioning sub
mission to your caprice5? Have I not
endured your coldness and yielded my
just claims before the scruple that
promptedsyou to deny your future nus
band the smallest favor. while the
phantom Of a vow linked you to a
felon? And am I to have no reward,
not even enough Of your confidence to
enable me to give the lie to your ira
Educers r.
my traducers!" she cried Impatient
|ly. who are they? At present the
only person who has dared to cast a
doubt on my veracity is-sir Geoffrey
"And how long do you expect to es-
cape the pack OF damned good-natured
friends who have been accustomed to
feed upon the choice morsels OF scandal
You have literally provided for them?'
he demanded. Before tonight every
gossip In town will be in possession Of
the story Of your adventures, and each
one who recounts 1t will put his own
construction upon it."
"'Tis true she murmured. II have
often assisted at such feasts OF reason.
They are highly entertaining, and every
one Is eager to add a dash OF spice or
vinegar to the witches broth. And there
is nothing I can do to stop those busy
bodies" She glanced resentfully at Sir
Geoffrey, yet there was inquiry in her
EYE.
Certainly there is something" he re-
piled. answering the unspoken question.
talk about that will throw the escapade
OF the necklace into the shade. The
shade, dc I say? Rather into utter
oblivion" An tronclad smile began to
dawn upon her face, u he did not
leave her time to speak. You can give
them a wedding to talk about. q SUBJ
ject that eclipses every other: IL you
prefer 1t, an elopement; indeed, / think
that would be more dramatic. Say but
the word, dearest, and In an hour. q
postchaise@
aoh, Sir Geo1rey." she exclaimed,
bursting into q hearty laugh. Can you
really seriously propose such an abb
Esurdity to me? An elopement? a post
schaise7 Methinks I should be like q
man who jumps into q river to avoid
being wetted by o passing shower!
We should indeed give the town some-
thing to talk about; and not only talk.
but laugh at"
Let them laugh" said Sir Geoffrey
Edoggedly. $50 can 4: p he laughs
longest who laughs last
with me for the butt OF your hilar-
|ity? Thanks, / am always pleased to
have my friends-and my enemies
laugh with me, but to have them all
Laughing at me is scarcely to my taste.
Besides, for you, Sir Geoffrey, to sug-
Egest such d thing to me-you who
know that I a ALREADY another mans
wife and can not therefore legally be-
come yours-for you to make such an
Eoffer is an insult-no less.
MY dearest Prue. SPARE me these re-