The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-08-03

Quired II he was responsible for the
message they had received. 1t was a
ticklish Job, and they wanted to be
sure the message was genuine. He
wired back that he was the sender
and to go ahead. The next morning
they notified him that his instruc-
tions would be carried out as expedi-
tiously as possible.
About IL o'clock the next day an
incomprehensibly long message be-
a to rattle out of the air. He con-
tanned himself in patience. for the
matter Of half an hour or SO longer,
and then, as the clatter continued
without cessation, he got UP and
made his way to the door of the OPP
orators office.
"What Is 1t? The history Of Eng
land?" he demanded sarcastically.
Message for you, Mr.. Blithers. It's
a long one, and l had a hard time
picking 1t up"
There were four sheets Of writing
at some outlandish price per word, but
what cared he? His eyes almost start
ed from his head as he took in the
name at the bottom Of the message.
It was Maud"
He took the precaution to read 1t be-
fore handing it owe to his wife, to
whom 1t was addressed in conjunc'
ton with himself. 1t was from Paris
and ran thus:
Dear Father and Mother-In reply to
your esteemed favor Of the 18th, or pos
sibly the Goth, l beg to inform you that ]
arrived safely In Paris as per schedule.
Regarding the voyage, 1t was delightful.
We had one or two rough days. The rest
Of the time 1t was perfectly heavenly. j
met two or three interesting and amusing
people on board. and they made the time
pass most agreeably. / think / wired you
that I had q glimpse of a certain person
On my arrival In Paris l was met at the
station by friends and taken at once to
the small, exclusive hotel where they are
stopping for the summer. 1t Is so small
and exclusive that TN sn-s you have
never heard of 1t. I may as well tell you
that / have seen Channie-you now who
I mean-Chandler Scoville, and he has
been very nice to me. Concerning your
suggestion that / reconsider the statement
issued to the press, / beg to state that !
don't see any sense In taking the world
into my confidence any farther than II
has DccH tdheH dIISduy, IL lldL Is gram
matically correct. / nave also sent word
to a certain person that he Is not to pay
any attention to the report that we are
likely to change our minds In order to help
out the greedy newspapers who don't APP
pear to know when they nave had enough.
/ hope that the voyage will benefit both of
you as much as it did me. If l felt any
better than l do now I'd call for the police
as q ~precaution. Let me suggest that you
try the chicken a la bombardier in the
Ritz restaurant l found 1t delicious. ]
daresay they serve 1t as nicely on your
ship as they do on the Jupiter, as the
management Is the same. OF course one
never can tell about chefs. My plans are
a trifle indefinite. / may leave here at
any moment. II l should happen to be
away from Paris when you arrive don't
worry about me. I shall be all right and
in safe hands. L will let you know where
/ am just as soon as | get settled some
where. l must go where 1t is quiet and
peaceful. l am so distressed over what
has occurred that l don't feel as though !
could ever be seen in public again with
out a thick veil and a pair of goggles. ]
have plenty of money for immediate use,
but you might deposit something to my
credit at the Credit Lyonnais, as / haven't
the least idea how long / shall stay over
here. Miranda is well and is taking good
care Of me. She seldom lets me out of her
sight II that is any comfort to you. !
hope you will forgive the brevity Of this
communication and believe me when ! say
that 1t is not lack of love for you both
that curtails its length, but the aoomina-
bly, hot weather. With endless love from
your devoted daughter, MAUD.
1t was nearly bedtime before word
came from his managers in Paris.
Bedtime had no meaning for him aft
er he had worked out the message by
the code. 1t is true that he observed
a life long custom and went to bed
but he did not do it for the purpose
Of going to sleep.
"Your daughter has disappeared
from Paria. All efforts to locate her
have failed. Friends say she left os-
tensibly for the Pyrenees, but in
quiries at stations and along line fail
to reveal trace of her. Scoville stir
here and apparently in the dark. He
Is being watched. Her companion
and maid left with her last night.
Prince of Graustark and party lett
for Edelweiss today"
So read the message from Paris.
CHAPTER XVI.
A Word of Encouragement.