Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-31

Five days LATER a. the Jupiter was
discharging passengers at Plymouth
Count Quinnox and Lieutenant Dank
stood well forward ON the promenade
deck watching the operations. The
younger man was moody and distrait,
an unusual condition for him, but one
that had been noticeably recurrent
during the past two or three days.
Something had gone wrong with him.
and it was something that he felt in
duty bound to lay before his superior.
the grim old minister Of war and he
reditary chief Of the castle guard. Oc-
casionally his somber gaze shifted to
q spot farther down the deck. where
a young man and woman leaned upon
the ran and surveyed the scene Of &C
tivity below.
What is on your mind, DanT ask
ed the count abruptly. "Out with It"
Pretty mess I've made Of the bust
ness" lamented Dank surlily. Put
ting myself up as contender against
a fellow like Robin and dreaming that
I could win out, even for minute!
Good Lord, what an ass l am! Why,
we've only made it worse, count
We've touched him with the spur Of
rivalry, and what could be more ca
lamitous than that? From being O
rather matter Of fact. Indifferent OBJ
server, he becomes a bewildering cav
alier bent on conquest at any cost. !
am swept aside as II were a parcel
Of rags. For two days stood between
him and the incompatible Miss Guile.
Then he suddenly arouses himself.
My cake is dough. am nobody. The
beautiful Miss Guile has bewitched
our prince, and my labor is not only
lost, but I myself am lost. Mon dieu!"
The count stared at him In perplex.
ity for q moment. Then q look Of sur
prise came into his eyes-surprise not
unmingled with scom.
You don't mean to say. Dank, that
you've fallen in love with her? Oh.
you absurd fledgelings. Will your
why not?" broke in Dank f1ercely.
'Why should 1t appear incredible to
you? Is she not the most enhancing
creature in all the world? Is she not
the most appealing, the most adorable,
most feminine of all her sex? The
The count stopped him with sharp
gesture. A look of real concern ap-
peared in his eyes.
do you believe that he is actually
in love with this girl?"
Heels over head" barked the un-
happy lieutenant. 1--WE never seen a
worse case"
I'VE must put an end to this fond
adventure. Robin Is our most precious
possession. We must not Why do
you shake your head?"
I'VE are powerless, sir. II he makes
up his mind to marry Miss Guile he'll
do 1t in spite Of anything we can do
that Is, provided she Is Of the same
mind. All Graustark can't stop him,
nor old man Blithers either. Besides,
he says he isn't going to Edelweiss
Immediately"
"That is news to me-"
II thought It would be. He came to
the decision not more than two hours
ago. He is determined to spend a
couple Of weeks at Interlaken."
"InterlakenT
'Yes. Miss Guile expects to stop
there for a fortnight after leaving
Paris"
II must demonstrate with Robin-at
once" declared the old man. He Is
needed In Graustark. he must be
made to realize the importance Of
II told him we were expected to
reach home by the end Of next week
and he said that q quiet fortnight In
the Alps would make new men Of all
Of U.s."
"Pon my soul!" wss all that the
poor minister Of war. an adept tn
strategy, was able to exclaim.
For some unaccountable reason Miss
Guile and her companion preferred to
travel alone to Paris. They had q
private compartment, over which a re.
spectful. but adamantine, conductor
exercised al authority that irritated R.
Schmidt beyond expression. The rest
Of the train was crowded to its ca
pacity, and here was desirable space
going to waste In the section occu
pied by the selfish Miss Guile. He
couldn't understand It in her. Was It
after all, to be put down as q simple
steamer encounter? Was she deub
erately snubbing him, now that they
were on land?
Il was not until the boat train was
nearing the environs Of Paris that
Hobbs threw some light over the sit
uation, with the result that 1t instantly
became darker than ever before. n
appears that Miss Guile was met al
the landing by a very good looking
young man who not only escorted hei
to the train, but actually entered II
with her and was even now enjoying
the luxury Of a private compartment
as well as the contents Of a large
luncheon hamper, to say nothing Of an
uninterrupted view Of something fal
more inspiring than the scenery.