The Glasgow courier., 1916-08-25

EE Ea @G 96@@ e e
However, the chief and present con-
ern of the three loyal gentlemen in
midnight conclave was not ccntered
in the trouble that Mr.. Blithers had
started, but in the more desperate
situation created by Miss Guile. She
was the peril that now confronted
them, and she was indeed a peril.
by jove." exclaimed Dank, so
| loudly that his companions actually
! Jumped in their seats.
What ails you, Dank?" demanded
the baron. removing his eyes from the
young mans face long enough to
glance fearfully at the transom.
"Tve-l've got it," cried the soldier.
Count. you remember the big red let
ter B on all of her trunks. don't you?
Hobbs is positive he
Count Quinnox sprang to his feet
and banged the table with his fist.
"By jove!" he shouted, suddenly
comprehending.
The letter b." queried Gourou. per-
picked.
"The newspapers say that she sailed
from New York under an assumed
name." went on Dank. thrilled by his
own amazing cleverness. There you
are! Plain as day. The letter B ex-
plains everything. Now we know who
Miss Guile really is. She's
Maud" exclaimed Quinnox, sinking
back into his chair.
Miss Blithers!" cried Gourou, d.
vining at last. "By jove!" And thus
was the jovian circle completed.
Robin was informed bright and early
the next morning. In fact he was still
in his pajamas when the news was
carried to him by the exhausted Dank.
who had spent five hours in bed, but
none in slumber. Never in all his
ardent career had the smart lieutenant
been so bitterly afflicted with love-
sickness as now.
II don't believe word Of it," said
the prince promptly. you've been
dreaming, old chap"
THAT letter 3 isn't dream, is it ?"
mo, 1t isn't" said Robin, and in
stantly sat up in bed. his face very
serious. III she should turn out to
be Miss Blithers, I've cooked my goose
to a crisp. Good Lord, when l think
of some of the things l said to her
about the Blithers family! But wait.
II she is Miss Blithers do you suppose
she'd sit calmly by and hear the fami.
" ridiculcd? No. sir. She would
have taken my head off Ikea flash"
Of her, your highnass." remark ed
)ank a sly hope struggling in. his
nrc@Ht
''NOnd better put it the other way.
She'll see nothing more Of me-" lugu-
nriously.
'l mean TO say, sir, YOU can't go on
sitl if. can yNu?'
'If there is reaI~ anything to go on
With, Dank, I'll go on with it, believe
me"
The lieutenant stared. But if she
should be Miss Blithers, what then?'
at might simplify matters tremend
ously," said Robin, but not at all con
fdcnlly.
Later On, while they were breakfast
ing in Robins sitting room, Hobbs
brought in the morning newspapers
He laid one of them before the prince
and jabbed his forefnger upon Il glar
ing headline.
"'Miss Blithers Denies Report
Signed Statement MysteriOusly Re
ceived. American Heiress Not to Wee
Prince of Graustark.' Shall read tn,
harticle, sir?'
Robin snatched up the paper ant
read aloud for himself.
The following card appeared at thu
head of the column and was supple
mented by complete resume of thu
Blithers Graustark muddle:
Miss Blithers desire to correct al
erroneous report that has appeared il
the newspapers. She is not engage'
= to be married to the Prince of Grau
stark, nor is there even the remOtes
I probability that such will ever be th
9 case. Miss Blithers regrets that sh
r has not the honor of Prince Robin
acquaintance, and the prince has spt
. c!fically stated in the public print
t that he does not know her by sigh
0 The statements of the two person
0 most vitally affected by this disturb
ing runor should be taken as fna
j. Sufficient pain and annoyance alread
s. have been caused by the malicious an
t utterly groundless report" The nam
S of Maud Applegate Blithers was al
l. pended to the statement, and it wa
dated Paris, Aug. 20.