The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1913-03-27

at once, without a moments delay"
Then I will go with YOU" criedcPeg-
gle. You cannot go to Lord Beach
combe's house alone"
Cannot i? Besides, / shall not be
alone; Steve Larkyn will escort me-.
She turned to Robins faithful hench-
man with a wan smile. One woman
is enough for you to take care Of:
you. Peggte dear. will watch for
me. SO that when I return / can get
In without rousing the house. Believe
me, dear" h went on firmly, as Peg
gle was about to demonstrate, what
I have to do. can be better done by my
self alone; n I am not timid, as you
know"
But, Prue-what on earth can you
do for Robin. by going to Lord Beach
comb In the middle of the night?"
Peggie urged. in desperation.
That remain to be SEEN" said Prue,
with a smile of mystery. I think / can
make Lord Beachcombe set him free,
and be grateful for the chance. Come,
steve. and wrapping her mantle
closely round her, she drew the hood
we'll over her q and went out with
a resolute step into the street, already
growing gray in the early dawn of the
May morning.
The court yard Of Rodney house was
an astir When Prudence, clingfng to
steve L4arkyn's ARM. stole through the
great gateway, and under the deep
shadow of the arcade that fianked the
main entrance. That was closed, but
from a ow DOR a few feet away, n
food of light poured upo a travelling
carnage with foul horses and q group
OF men. Without q moments
hesitation, Prue darted past them, ran
down a few stone steps and found her
self In q large, bare basement hall.
where Robin, his dress in disorder and
his hands tied behind him, stolidly
confronted Lord Beachcombe in a
white heat Of fury.
At Prue's sudden apparitien a couple
OF servitors interposed to stop her and
Lord Beachcombe, in a voice hoarse
with rage, shouted, "Who are these
people? What the devil do they want?
Turn them out"
Prue,s silvery laugh rang out. mot
SO tast,,. she cried, flinging back her
hood. Il have business of the utmost
Importance with Lord Beachcombe."
and She swept him q mockingly cere-
monious curtsey.
NO lady of the court, not even the
great Duchess Sarah herself, was bet
Widow Brooke" The sight Of
her familiar face seemed to para
I'VE every n present. The
lackeys fell back abashed, Robin gazed
at her speeches., n -Beachcombe's
sallow a flushed with a purple that
Sah0SGd eNcltlfS
"Vlscountess Brooke!" he stammered
What in The
You are surprised ?" she interrupted
10 be sure. my visit is somewhat I'M
timely" She ca1ne close to him and
lowered her voice almost to a whisper.
Did o lind what you expected when
YOU searched Captain de Cliffe?" she
inquired insinuating1y.
How do o know I searched linn ~
demanded Beachcombe.
why, When one sees a man with his
hands tied behind him and his pockets
inside out, it is not unreasonable to
q prose THAT he has been searched. Yet
tnat Whatever o found, 1t was not
what you We're looking fort"
Aiow can you know anything about
that" he replied, with dawning sus-
plc1on. Perhaps you know what it
was and where 1t may be found. If
value except to me-"
posed. NY
captain de Clire!" he repeated
with a bitter and disdainful emphasis
What would o have me call him?"
she bent forward n in q whisper sug-
sesteu, Robert-Earl B~eachcombe p
is that better"
The blood ebbed from his face. leav-
ing II ghastly with fear and fury. He
cast a hasty glance toward the groun
OF men surrounding Robin, and al
tnoush theY were quite out Of earshot.
ne merely motioned them to a greater
distance. Then he pulled himself to-
gether sufficiently to force a sardonic
laugh.
Was it to play comedy that your
iadyshfp honored me with this noe
tufnal Visft?' he sneered.
Not altogether" she renlied 1T
came To prevent Vp11r h ,,,-;.. Cz.A-,
de Cliffe. and, incidentally, yourself.
Now tell me-in confidence-not hav-
ing found the documents you sought.
what do you propose to do with your
~prisoner?"
Il propose" said Beachcombe slowly,
70 hand him over to justice. believe
the--documents-to be lost. At anv
rate, ! am willing to hazard the risk
OF their recovery in order that this man
may receive his deserts as a traitor
and a malefactor. After he has been
hanged. there will be plenty of time for
me 10 deai with a claim that has no
longer a claimant"
And you really hate him enough to
prefer his death to our own safety?"
Prue could not repress a shudder at
the cold %ferocity of his tone.
What If secure BOTH" he retorted,
gratlted by the effect he had produced.
This man is a traitor and has earned
a traitors death. Although I may not
have found what I sought, | have
found papers that will send him to the
gallows, and give me a claim to the
gratitude Of the government. Do not
trouble further about him, his fate is
sealed"
And how if another claimant. per-
maps far stronger. should spring up
IN his place? How If he leaves a wild
oW?' suggested Prue. One, for ex-
ample. able and willing to pursue his
claim?"
Il am not uneasy about that, he
replied, but his tone was less confident
than his words. II have the best of
reasons for knowing that he is not mar
RED"
And o think that, having no wife,
and leaving no - heir - to his claim
!lyou acknowledge that he has a claim)
II VIII a with his death, because
there is no n to pursue it?"
MY dear Lady Prudence, a lawyer
could not have put 1t more clearly!
That is exactly his position; think
mine Is pretty safe, even IL those re-
EQUITABLE documents should still be in
existence. 1t will then be merely a
matter of money-someone will bleed
me more or less copiously-but that
Wlli be b end Of the trumped up
claim Of Captain-Freemantle."
u "