Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-11-14
CHAPTER XIV.
Thu Hand Of the Law,
Copyright 1914, BY Dodd. Mead and
Company

/ ~ . 90 PAoAA ca Noy' @SA~ ASs>>~> ~~~-~
found you out, that's all. Let's read
It again." and they read 1t together.
"a word to the wise," 1t began. 1.-TWO
men from a private detective concern
have been employed since yesterday
In watching the movements OF your
companion, for the purpose Of safe
guarding her against good looking
young men, l suspect. I have 1t from
the most reliable of sources that her
father engaged the services Of these
men almost simultaneously with the
date of our sailing from New York. It
may interest you to know that they
followed you to st. Cloud In a high
power car and no doubt are watching
you as you read this message from
your faithful friend, who likewise is
not far away"
II should have anticipated this. Mr..
Schmidt" she said ruefully. ut Is
Just the sort of thing my father would
do"
You seem to take 1t calmly
enough"
"I am quite used to it. I would be
worth a great deal to any enterpris-
ing person who made 1t his business
to steal me. There Is no limit to the
ransom he could demand"
"You alarm me-" he declared. mo
doubt these worthy guardians look
upon me as a kidnaper. I am In
clined to shiver."
"'All's we'll that ends well.'" Quoth
she, pulling on her gloves. ~ shall
restore you safely to the bosom Of the
Ritz, and that will be the end OF Il"
81 almost wish that some one would
kidnap you. Miss Guile. It would at
ford me the greatest pleasure in the
world to snatch you from their
clutches. Your father would be saved
paying the ransom. but should have
to be adequately rewarded. fancy,
however, that he wouldn't mind pay
ing the reward I should hold out for. "
IT am quite sure he would give you
anything you were to ask for. Mr..
Schmidt" said she gaily. "You would
be reasonable, Of course"
I might ask for the most precious
of his possessions" said he. leaning
forward to look directly into eyes
that wavered and refused to meet his.
"Curiosity almost makes me wish
that I might be kidnapped. should
then find out what you consider to be
his most precious possession" she
said, and her voice was perilously
low.
'T think could tell you in ad-
vance," said he, his eyes shining.
T-I prefer to find 1t out in my own
way, Mr.. Schmidt" she stammered
hurriedly. Her confusion was i'm
mensely gratifying to him. There Is
no telling what might have happened
to the Prince of Graustark at that
moment If an obseQuious attendant
had not intervened with the earthly
information that the car was wait
ing.
The car shot across the bridge and
was speeding on its way toward the
Bois when Robin ventured q glance
behind. Through the little window
in the back Of the car he saw q big.
swift moving automobile not more
than q quarter of mile in the rear.
"Would you like to verify the re-
port Of my friend Gourou?" he asked.
his voice quick with exhtlaration.
She knelt with one knee upon the
seat and peered back along the road.
"There they are!" she cried. She
threw the veil back over her hat as
| she resumed her seat In the corner.
Her eyes were fairly dancing with
excitement. The warm red lips were
parted and she was breathing quick
Fly. Suddenly she laid her hand over
her heart as If to check its lively
humping. "Isn't 1t splendid We
are being pursued-actually chased
by the manhunters of Paris! Oh. I
was never SO happy in my life. Isn't
1t great?" -
at is glorious!" he cried exult-
antly. "Shall tell the chauffeur to
hit it up q bit? Let's make 1t real
chaser"
eyes, do! Well see If we can give
them the slip; isn't that what you
call IT."
Robin gave hurried directions
through the speaking tube to the at
tentive footman.
Miss Guile then took command Of
the flight. She called out the instruc-
tions to the driver, and her knowledge
Of the intricate routes through the
park stood them well In hand. It was
soon quite clear to the pursued that
the car containing their followers had
been successfully efuded. For some
time there had been a worried look in
the princes eyes. Once he undertook
| to demonstrate with his fair compan-
ion.
my dear Miss Guile. wen land in
Jail II we keep up this hair raistug
speed. There wouldn't be any fuhpin
that, You know"
"Poohi I'm not afraid Of the police.
They-why, what's tho mstterf Oh,
| goodness!"
The car had come, to q somewhat
abrupt stop. Two policemen. d.
mounted from their bicycles, forned
IN insurmountable obstruction. They
were almost In the shade Of the Troca-
uero.
"Do not be alarmed" whispered hob
In to the fast paling girl. into Whose
eyed the most abject misery had Iesp-
cd at the sight Of The two officers.
The polite onlcer5 came up to the
window With their little notebooks.
Il regret m'sieur, that We shall -
obliged to conduct yourself and made.
moisslls to the ofnce Of = nagistxale'