The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1916-07-06

oDl4N - ldIC was 6lOW1uk WIFI
excitement. He put his hands
in his trousers pockets and
nervously jingled the coins
therein. all the while regarding his
minister OF police with speculative
eyes.
At last Robin, without speaking, i'm
pulsively held the letter out to the
baron, who strobe across the and
took II from his hand. Without a
word he extracted the single sheet of
paper and read what was written
thereon:
MY motor will cali for you at 3 this aft
srnoon, and we will run out TO st. Cloud for
tea, at the Pavilion bleu. Mrs. CASTOR Is
spending the day with relatives at Cham
pigny. and we me as well be mice under
the circumstances II you have another
engagement pray do not let 1t interfere
with the pleasure l am seeking"
Nothing could be more exacting,
my dear prince. She signs herself b.
Guile and am sure she Is magnifi-
Gently beguiling. II you will pardon the
play on words"
"It's a jolly little adventure" was all
that Robin would say
The baron was thoughtful. There
is something behind this extraordinary
behavior on the part Of a lady gen.
orally accredited with sense and re-
fnement," said he after a moment. 81
think / have it too. She Is deliberately
putting you to a rather severe test"
TEST? What do you mean?"
"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 a real gentle
man or only a make believe. She is
taking a 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. l shall re-
main a gentleman at n cost"
At 3 o'clock a big limousine swung
under the porte cochere at the Ritz
and a 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 ii but a few minutes be-
fore its arrival at his hotel. AS a 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 a 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 a 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 ervou little laugh on
her lips-red lips that showed rose.
like and tempting behind a thick chit
fon veil, obviously donned for an ex.
cellent reason. The exquisite features
of Miss Guile were barely distinguish
able beneath the surface of this filmy
barrier. The door closed sharply and,
almost before the prince had recov-
cred from his surprise. the car glided
off in the direction Of the Place de
pOpera.
isn't 1t just like an elopement?"
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
els 1t really your" cried Robin, and
he was surprised to find that his own
voice trembled.
"Oh." she said. with a sudden din
dence, how do you do? What must
you think of me, bouncing in like that
and never ice speaking to your"
81 think that you are frightened al
most out of your boots" said he
boldly.
mo. I'm not" said she ~resolutely. 81
am only conscious Of feeling extreme
ly foolish"
II shouldn't feel that way about
stealing on for a cup Of tea," said he.
TITS all quite regular. you know, and
10 frequently done in the very best cir.
cles when the cats away"
"You see. l couldn't quite scrape mp
the courage to 90 directly to the hote,
for you." she said. II know several
people who are stopping there. and l.
I-well, you wont think I'm . dread
ful person. win your"
mot 1t ALL" he declared promptly.
Then he resolved to put a Of the
questions he had made up his mind to
ask at the nrst opportunity. do you
mind telling me Why you abandoned