Pocahontas star herald., 1912-02-16
CHAPTER III.

For a moment the couple looked M
Harry and Harry looked at them. II
would be difficult to say whether thew
or he felt the greater surprise.
81 want that hati" spoke the ladv
in determined tones.
"Yess. We want dot hat!" said the
gentleman.
81 haven't a hat" Harry explained.
The German was about to exnlode
in few belligerent remarks, but the
lady put her hand on his arm to re.
strain him, and said in milder tones .
"You can help me out of a most dis.
tressing situation, sir"
How so, madam" Harry asked,
I'VE have just come from the new
milliner's around the corner. | recog.
nize you as the gentleman who figured
in that unfortunate accident this morn.
ing, and strangely enough the milliner
says that she sent to this house within
an hour the perfect duplicate of nv
hat, which your auto ruined"
yellow it vas" interrupted the Ger
man. yellow, NIT red puppies on it."
"Poppies. not puppies, count" said
the lady. Now, sir" to Harry. 81
must have the hat which was sent
here. Mine was an imported model
and the milliner had but this one
duplicate"
; There has been no hat delivered
here" Harry replied.
But 1t was" the lady argued. And
I must have It,"
Il will go now, in you please" said
the German, who had been growing
more and more nervous, evidently be-
ing anxious to be well out of the
scrape as soon as possible.
NO" Harry said, sternly. wait
minute. II the hat was sent here,
I should know 1t. There may be
mistake. Ring up this milliner per
son and find out just what there is to
1t. Use the phone there, madam"
The lady smiled with relief, went to
the phone and called for a number.
\ Hello" she said. rs Mamselle
Daphne Darlington there? Is this
you, Ma'mselle?"
Daphne Dafington!" Harry NUT
tered. Cant be little Daphne used
to flirt with"
This is Mrs. Blazes," the lady said
into the phone.
Harry started at that, Mrs.
Blazes!" he said in a hoarse whisper
to the German. Not Mrs. General
Blazes?"
Exactly" the German assured
him.
Where did you deliver that dupli.
cate of my hat?" Mrs. Blazes, asked.
After the reply, still holding the re-
ceiter, to her ear, she turnsA and
asked Harry:
What's the number of this house?"
Three hundred and ten"
They say it didn't reach here"
Mrs. Blazes said into the phone.
What? You are sure it did? You
will come over yourself? Thank you"
She hung up the receiver and turned
to Harry with:
She is positive that the hat was
delivered here, and to make sure she
says she will come herself. Now, that
hat is here, evidently. And | must
have It,"
"Yess," the German belligerently
added I've must haff it."
But Harry had by this time OWNED
who the German was-he could be no
one else than the dappar Count Won
Fitz, whose hirtatious escapades were
discussed on all sides And, this being
Mrs. Blazes, and the General beins
worried because his wife had not yet
come home Harry could put two and
two together and reason that the
Count and the dashing Mrs. Blazes
had gone for jolly little ride through
the park, which ride had been spoiled
by the untoward accident which de-
stroyed her hat
why doh't you go and get hat
any kind of a hat?" he asked. "Pll
be glad to pay for it, as | was par
TALLY at fault when your hat was
ruined"
"Oh, sir" Mrs Blazes, answered, 81
wouldn't dare to go home without that
particular hat, or it's exact duplicate.
My husband is very jealous. He would
be sure to want to know where the
original hat had gone-in fact, it is
his favorite hat. Please, please give
me the hat"
But l tell you l haven't it. I'd
give 1t to you in minute if | had II"
Vat nonsense!! the Count cried.
Mrs. Blazes was about to say some
thing, when strange voice was heard
outside.
Right up here? Thank thee" Il
was the voice of Amos Medders.
Great heavens!" Harry hissed
They've come. My future father-in-
law, and my future tiancee!"
"Aha!" the Count said, malevolent
ly. Unless you gif us der hat We
will make some trouble"
please go" Harry begged. Please!
/ haven't the hat. I'll get you whole
hat store, If you'll only go!"
But they we're adamant. Mrs.
Blazes, nerved to desperation because
she knew she simply could not 60