Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-11-07

think have It too. She Is deliberately
putting you to rather severe test"
"Test? What do you meanr
"She is trying you out Sir. Miss
Guile, or possibly Miss Blithers-is
taking a genuine risk in order to de-
termine whether you are real gentle
man or only q make believe. She Is
taking chance with you. You may
call it a Jolly little adventure. but
call It the acid test"
Robin laughed. Thank you, baron
Forewarned is forearmed. ! shall re-
main gentleman at any cost"
At 8 o'clock a big limousine swung
under the porte cochere at the Ritz
and nimble footman hoped down
and entered the hotel. Robin was
waiting just inside the doors.
"For Mr.. Schmidt" he inquired.
"Oui, m'sieur."
Thrilled by a pleasurable sense Of
excitement, the Prince Of Graustark
entered the car.
A delicate perfume fingered In the
machine, convincing proof that Miss
Guile had left It but a few minutes be-
fore its arrival at his hotel. As mat
ter Of fact, she was nearer than he
| thought, for the car whirled into the
Rue de la Paix and stopped at the curb
not more than hundred yards from
the Place Vendome.
Once more the nimble footman hop
ped down and threw open the door. A
slender, swift moving figure in a blue
linen gown and wide hat, from
which sprang two gorgeous blue
plumes, emerged from the door Of a
diamond merchants shop, and, before
Robin could move from his corner,
popped into the car and sat down be-
side him with a nervous little laugh on
her lips-red lips that showed rose
like and tempting behind thick chif-
fon veil, obviously donned for an ex-
cellent reason. The exquisite features
Of Miss Guile were barely distinguish
able beneath the surface Of this flmy
barrier. The door closed sharply and,
almost before the prince had recov-
cred from his surprise, the car glided
of in the direction Of the Place de
pOpera.
isn't 1t Just like an elopementf"
cried Miss Guile, and 1t was quite
plain to him that she was vastly
pleased with the sprightly introduc-
ton to the adventure. Her voice trem-
bled slightly, and she sat up very
straight In the wide, comfortable seat.
"ls 1t really your" cried Robin, and
he was surprised to find that his own
voice trembled.
"Oh," she said. with sudden diff
dence, "how do you do? What must
you think Of me, bouncing In like that
and never once speaking to your"
"I think that you are frightened al
most out of your boots" said he
boldly.
mo, I'm not" said she resolutely. II
am only conscious Of feeling extreme
ly foolish"
T shouldn't feel that way about
stealing of for cup Of tea," said he.
'Tt's all quite regular, you know. and
is frequently done in the very best CIR
cles when the cats away"
"You see, couldn't quite scrape up
the courage to 60 directly to the hotel
for you," she said. II know several
people who are stopping there, and l.
lI-well, you wont think Inn q dread
full person. will you"
mot at ALL" he declared promptly.
Then he resolved to put one OF the
questions he had made up his mind to
ask at the first opportunity. do you
mind telling me why you abandoned
me so completely, so heartlessly. on
the day we landed?"
Because there was no reason why
should act otherwise, Mr.. Schmidt"
she said, the tremor gone from her
voice.
"And yet you take me to st. Cloud
for tea," he said pointedly.
"Ah. but no one Is to know Of this,"
she cried warmly. "This Is secret,
a very secret adventure"
He could not help staring. "And
that is just why am mystiHed. Why
Is today so very different from yester-
day"
ut isn't" she said. Doesn't all this
prove it?"
He suddenly remembered the baron's
shrewd conjecture and let the oppor-
tunity to say something banal go by
without word. Perhaps It was test,
after all.
"There are many things want to
speak about, Mr.. Schmidt, and-and
you know how impossible It Is to-to
get a moment to oneself when one Is
being watched like child, as am be-
ing watched over by dear Mrs. Gas
ton. You will understand. won't your
"Pray do not distress yourself. Miss
Guile" he protested. "The last word
} is spoken. I am too happy to spoil
. the day by doubling its integrity.
AS the the car turned into the Bou-
levard des Capucines Robin suppress
, ed an exclamation of annoyance on be-
holding Baron Gourou and Dank
, standing on the curb almost within
arms length Of the car as 1t passed.
The former was peering rather In
, tently at the two men on the front
, seat and evinced little or no interest
, In the occupants Of the passing ton
7 neau.
,, wasn't that your friend Mr.. Dankr'
!. inquired Miss Guile with interest. He
felt that she was chiding him.
'Yes," said he, and then turned for
another look at his compatriots. Gou-
,, rou was jotting something down on
his cuff band. The prince mentally
promised him something for his pains
sBut let US leave dull care behind" he
) went on gayly.
won't you be good enough to take
, of that veili It seriously obstructa
the view"
She complacently. shook her head
1T doesn't obstruct mine," she said
"Have you been reading what the pa
i pers are saying about your friend Mr.
, Buthers and his obstreperous daugh.
| ter, MaudY .
. Robin caught his breath. In dasf
. he suspected an excellent reason fol
! keeping the ven in place. he coulo
NOW see that It gave her distinct ad