The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1913-01-23
CHAPTER xvIrI-(ContInued.) J,

She tore herself from his arms,
More than ever now" she pleaded. If
you hope ever to possess me-, fly, and
/ swear that / will ON to you-if
not on earth, in heaven. Stay, / have
an idea" She snatched up a sheet OF
paper and thrust a pen into his hand.
Write" she commanded, and he wrote
at her dictation.
Mistress Brooke:
Follow the bearer and o will md
the queens diamond necklace" '
There" she exclaimed, laughing and
crying together, leave the rest to me,
and go--if you do not wish to destroy
us both. lark! the soldiers are already
at the gate" she flung the window open
trust to my woman's wit" she cried,
81 shall not only be safe but covered
with glory and honor. :
He pressed a burning kiss upon her
willing lips and sprang through the win
dow. Follow your master" she said
to Larkyn, who stood by, an efflgy of
establishment. He obeyed without
demur, and she shut the window, clos
ing and fastening n shutter and half
drawing the faded curtain.
Then she resumed her mantle and
veil and looked around for any sign Of
Robins late occupancy. He had Sc
cured all his papers n on h table
nothing was left except the purple vel
vet case n some writing materials,
which she thrust into a drawer. In do
ing so she came upon a packet ad-
dressed:
ITO Mistress Larkyn,
in care of Mine Hostess of
The Fox and Grapes"
She too 1t up and recognized Rob-
ms writing. The angry blood glowed
in her veins. This insolent varlet!"
she muttered. He has been writing
IN q upnn0n n--FMiGfraz0 TnFEVn' In
deed!-Mine Hostess Of the Fox and
Grapes forsooth! It's some low in
trigue, and / thought him my true lover
and loyal husband. l will see how he
addresses this creature" She was
about to tear open the packet, when a
crash below stairs and the sound of
hurried footsteps warned her that the
soldiers had broken nto the house. She
hurriedly thrust it into her bosom and
waited.
A voice shouted harshly, I'm the
queens name!" and the door was
opened without ceremony. Half a doz-
en- soldiers with drawn swords rushed
in, and at sight of the little cloaked
figure, came to a halt In some con-
fusion.
But Prue, without waiting to be in
terrogated, threw back her veil, ex-
claiming, "Soldiers!" in accents Of well
feigned Joy and relief. oh! 1 am so
glad! / was afraid, when I heard the
noise, that I had fallen into a den OF
robbers, who would, perhaps, kill me
for the sake OF the queens necklace"
"The queens necklace!" exclaimed
the officer in command. Who are you,
and what do you know about the
queens necklace?"
1T am the Viscountess Brooke" she
replied, In her Hottest tone, "and this
message will explain why ! am here,
and what l know about the queens
necklace"
She handed the paper to him and
watched a~nxiously to see it's effect. He
read K obviously n turned 1t over
and over, evidently at a loss how to
deal with a matter outside of his in
structions.
"You see the necklace" she went on
after a pause. taking UP the emblazoned
casket and opening 1t. The person who
brought me here disappeared when the
noise began at the gate" She looked
round In every direction but the win
dow. II think there must be a secret
panel somewhere in the room, for while
my attention was distracted by the
noise, she disappeared"
bring you here? What kind of
person was 1t? Could it not nave been
a man. disguised"
"A mani" she exclaimed: "oh, no.
then the advantage OF ~prolonging this
cross examination struck her and she
continued slowly, as II pondering over
the sg~gestion-''at least. that never oc-
Cured to me. Her voice was loud and
rough tits true"
Was sheer he-tall and broad?"
the officer. glancing at q
in his hand and reading from
complexion, black eyes.
black hair, without powder.
She interrupted him with a laugh.
not, n woman was old. bent,
taller than myself; a toothless,
beldame-"
And she disappeared. you say? Ser
geant, examine the room thoroughly
and break In anything that seems like
q secret paneL / fear, Madam" the Of
deer said. again addressing Prue, tina
shall be compelled to arrest you IL
we q not And the person we are seek