Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-25
CHAPTER XIV.
The Hand Of the Law.

Guiles footman at once. When
he returned TO the table she
was again reading the note.
ut is really quite thrilling, isn't it?"
she said, aId there was still quaver
Of indigna C1n in her voice. Are you
not rnystifled?'
Not in the least" said he promptly.
and drew chair up close beside hers.
ITS as plain as day. Your father has
found you out, that's all. Let's read
IL again." and they read it together.
"A word to the WISE" it began. 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, | suspect. | have it 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. i
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"
Il should have anticipated this, Mr..
Schmidt" she said ruefully. 1T is
Just the sort of thing my father would
do"
You seem to take it calmly
enough"
Il am quite used to it. l would be
worth a great deal TO any enterpris-
ing person who made it his business
to steal me- There is no limit to the
ransom he could demand"
You alarm me-" he declared. NO
doubt these worthy guardians look
upon me as a kidnaper | am in
clined TO SILVER"
"'All's well that ends WE'LL quoth
she, pulling on her gloves. al shall
restore you safely to the bosom Of the
Ritz, and that will be the end of it"
81 almost wish that some one would
kidnap you, Miss Guile. 1t would af-
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 l should hold out for. u
II am quite sure he would give you
anything you were to ask for. Mr.
Schmidt" said she gaily. "You would
be reasonable, Of course"
Il 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 wisi
that l might be kidnapped. l should
then find out what you consider to be
his most precious possession" sht
said, and her voice was perilously
low
81 think could tell you in ad
vance," said he, his eyes shining.
TI prefer to find it out in my owl
way, Mr.. Schmidt" she stammeret
hurriedly. Her confusion was i'm
mensely gratifying to him. There il
no telling what might have happened
to the Prince of Graustark at tina
moment II an obsequious attendan
had not interviewed with the earthl!
information that the car was wait
ing.
The car shot across the bridge ant
was speeding on its way toward tn,
Bots when Robin ventured a glanc'
behind. Through the little window
in the back Of the car he saw big
swift moving automobile not NOR
than a quarter of mile in the rear
"Would you like to verify the re
port Of my friend Gourou?" he asked
his voice quick with exhilaration
She knelt with one knee upon tn
seat and peered back along the road
"There they arei" she cried. Sh
threw the veil back over her hat a
she resumed her seat in the corner
Her eyes were fairly dancing will
excitement. The warm red lips wer
parted and she was breathing quick
ly. Suddenly she laid her hand owe
her heart as If to check its livel.
humping. isn't 1t splendid? ",
bT6 USlAS SAdSGt
by the manhunters of Paris! Oh.
was never SO happy in my life. Ism
it great?"
at is glorious," he cried exult
antly. "Shall I tell the chauffeur Il
hit it up bit? Let's make it rea
chase?"
ayes, do! Well see If we can CIV,
them the slip; isn't that what 20,
call it,"
Robin gave hurried direction
through the speaking tube to the at
tentiye footman.
Miss Guile then took command o
the flight She called out the instruc
lions TO the driver, and her l.nowledg
Of the intricate routes through tn
park stood them well in hand. II wa
soon quite clear 10 the pursued tina
the car containing their followers hat
been successfully eluded. For SOM
time there had been a worried look il
the princes eyes Once he undertook
10 demonstrate with his fair compan
ion.
NY dear Miss Guile, we'll land IL
tail If we keep up this hair raising
speed. There wouldn't be any fun II
that. you know"
Pooh, I'm not afraid of the police
They-why, whats the matter? Oh
goodness"
The car had come to a somewha
abrupt stop. Two policemen. dis
mounted from their bicycles, formed