The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1916-04-13

ed the count abruptly. "Out with H.
Pretty mess I've made Of the but
ness" lamented Dank surlily. Put.
ting myself up as contender against
a fellow like Robin and dreaming that
could win out. even for a minutel
Good Lord. what an ass | ami Why.
we've only made Il worse. count.
We've touched him with the spur OF
rivalry. and what could be more ca
lamitous than that! From being a
rather matter OF fact. Indifferent OBJ.
server. he becomes a bewildering cav.
alier bent on conquest at any cost. I
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
Ny cake Is dough. am nobody. The
beautiful Miss Guile has bewitched
our prince. and my labor is not only
lost. but myself am lost. Mon dleul"
The count stared at him in perplex.
ity for moment. Then look OF sur.
prise came into his eyes-surprise not
uninlHkleu Win hCOrn.
You don't mean 10 say, Dank, that
you've fallen in love with her! Oh,
you absurd fledgeings. VIII YOU
Why not?" broke In Dank fiercely.
Why should II 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 sexl 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 I've never seen a
worse case"
we must put an end to this fond
adventure. Robin is our most precious
possession. We must not Why do
you shake your head7"
We are powerless. sir. II he makes
up his mind TO marry Miss Guile he'll
do II In spite Of anything we can do
that ia. 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-"
Il thought Il would be. He came 10
the decision not more than two hours
ago. He is determined to spend a
couple OF weeks at Interlaken."
"Interlaken?"
Yea. Miss Guile expects to stop
there for fortnight after leaving
Paris."
I must remonstrate with Robin-at
once" declared the old man. HE IA
needed In Graustark He must be
made TO realize the importance Of
\ told him we we're expected TO
reach home by the end Of next week,
and he said that a quiet fortnight in
the Alps would make new men OF all
Of US"
"'Pon my soul" was all that the
poor minister of war. an adept in
strategy, was able to exclaim.
For some unaccountable reason Miss
Guile and her companion preferred 10
travel alone TO Paris. They had a
private compartment. over which a re.
spectful. but adamantine, conductor
exercised an authority that irritated r.
Schmidt beyond expression. The rest
Of the train Waa croudod 10 dee ~.
pacity. and here was desirable space
going 10 waste In the section occu.
pied by the selfish Miss Guile. He
couldn't understand II in her. Was IL
after all. to be put down a. simple
steamer encounter? Was she DELHI
erately snubbing him. now that they
were on land?
II was not until the boat train WAS
nearing the environs Of Paris that
Hobbs threw some light over the ST.
uatlon. with the result that II instantly
became darker than ever before. II
appears that Miss Guile was met Al
the landing by a very good looking
Young man who not only escorted her
to the train. but actually entered Il
With hE and was even now enjoying
the luxury Of a private compartment
rs well as the contents OF "a large
luncheon hamper. To sly nothing of an
uninterrupted view NJ something far
more inspiring than the scenery.
CHAPTER XII.