The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1916-04-26
CHAPTER XII.
The Red Letter 49,"

~ she hurried with the GROVE
a down to the cab Enclosure
where her escort, the alert young
stranger, put her into waiting linn
CUISINE, bundled Mrs. Castor anc
Marie after her and then dashed
away, obviously to see their luggage
through the douano.
She espiod the tall figure of her fel-
low voyggcr near the steps and lean
ed forward to wave a perfunctory
farewell to him. The car was creep
ing out toward the packed thorough
fare lie remained perfectly still
with uplifted hat, a faint smile on
his lips and not the slightest sign OF
annoyance in his face She smiled
securely to herself as she leaned back
in the seat and was satisfied,
Count QuinnoX found him standing
there q few minutes later, twirling
his stick and smiling with his eyes.
Accompanying the old soldier was a
slight, sharp featured man with keen
black eyes and a thin, pointed mus
tache of gray.
This man was Gourou, chief of po-
lice and commander of the tower in
Edelweiss. successor to the celebrat-
ed Baron Dangloss. After he had
greeted his prince the quiet little
man announced that he had reserved
for him an apartment at the Bristol.
al am instructed by the prime min
lister. your highness, to urge your i'm
mediate return to Edelweiss," he
went on, lowering his voice. "The
people are disturbed by the reports
that have reached us during the past
week or two. and Baron Romano is
convinced that nothing will serve to
subdue the feeling of uneasiness that
prevails except your own declaration
in person-that these reports are
untrue"
al shall telegraph at once to Baron
Romano that it is all poppycock,"
said Robin easily. II refer, of course,
to the reported engagement. / am
not going to marry Miss Blithers.
and that's all there is to be said. You
may see to 1t, baron, that a state
ment is issued to all of the Paris
newspapers today and to the corre-
spondents of all the great papers in
Europe and America. | have pre-
pared this statement, under my own
signature, and it is to be the last
word in the matter. You shall have
It when we reach the hotel-and that
reminds me of another thing. I'm
sorry that shall have to ask you to
countermand the reservation for
rooms at the hotel you mention. l
have already reserved rooms at the
Ritz-by wireless. We shall stop
there. Where is Dank?"
"The Ritz is hardly the place for
But Robin clapped him on the back
and favored him with the good ma
tured. boyish smile that mastered
even the fiercest of his counselors,
and the minister of police. being an
astute man, heaved a deep sigh Of
resignation.
Count QuinnoX was gnawing his
mustache. "See here, Robin" he said.
laying his hand ON the young mans
shoulder, "you are in Paris now, and
not on board ship at sea. Miss
Guile is a beautiful, charming. high
ly estimable young woman, and, !
might as well say it straight out to
your face, you ought not to subject
her to the notOriety that is bound to
follow if the newspapers learn that
she is playing around Paris. no mat
ter how innocently, with a prince
whom
"Just a moment, count" interrupt
ed Robin. a cold light in his now I'M
smiling eyes. "You are getting lit
tie ahead of the game. Miss Guile is
not going to the Ritz, nor do expect
her to play around Paris with me.
AS matter of fact, she refused to
toll me where she is to stop while
here, and / am uncomfortably GER
tain that l shall not see her unless by
chance. You may be sure that / shall
not annoy Miss Guile, and you may
be equally sure that She
81 beg your pardon. Robin, but | did
not employ the word annoy" protest
ed the count.
shat she takes me for a gentle
man if not for a prince" went on
Robin, deliberately completing the
sentence before he smiled his forgive
ness upon the old man. 81 selected
the Ritz because all rich Americans
go there, I'm told. I'm taking a
chance"
"Robin, my lad. beg of you TO con-
slider the consequences that
"There's no use discussing 1t. old
friend. Trust to luck. There Ii q
bully good chance that she will send
me about my business when the time
comes. and then the salvation Of
Graustark will be assured" He said
II lightly. but there was q dark look
in his ewes that belied the faunty