Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-15

we've only made II worse. count.
We've touched him with the spur of
rivalry, and what could be more ca
lamitous than that? From being a
rather matter of fact. Indifferent OBJ
server. he becomes d bewildering cav
alier bent on conquest at any cost. l
am swept aside as IL l were parcel
OF rags. For two days l stood between
him and the Incompatible Miss Guile.
Then he suddenly arouses himself.
My cake is dough. / am nobody. The
beautiful Miss Guile has bewitched
our prince. and my labor is not only
lost, but ] myself am lost. Mon dieu!"
The count stared at him in perplex.
ity for moment Then look Of sur
prise came into his eyes-surprise not
unmingled with scorn.
You don't mean to say, Dank, that
you've fallen in love with her? Oh,
you absurd fledgelings. VIII YOU
why not?" broke in Dank fiercely.
why should it appear incredible to
you? Is she not the most enhancing
creature in all the world? Is she not
the most appealing, the most adorable,
most feminine of ali her sex? The
The count stopped him with sharp
gesture. A look of real concern ap-
peared in his eyes.
DO you believe that he is actually
in love with this girl?"
Heels over head" barked the I'M
happy lieutenant. I've never seen
worse case"
I'VE must put an end to this fond
adventure. Robin is our most precious
possession. We must not Why do
you shake your head?"
I'VE are powerless, sir. II he makes
up his mind to marry Miss Guile he'll
do 1t in spite Of anything we can do
that is. provided she is of the same
mind. All Graustark can't stop him,
nor old man Blithers either. Besides,
he says he isn't going to Edelweiss
Immediately"
That is news to me-"
II thought it would be. He came to
the decision not more than two hours
ago. He is determined to spend a
couple of weeks at Interlaken."
"Interlaken?"
Eyes. Miss Guile expects to stop
there for fortnight after leaving
| Paris"
II must demonstrate with Robin-at
once" declared the old man. "He is
| needed In Graustark. He must be
made to realize the Importance off,
| Il told him we were expected to
reach home by the end Of next week,
and he said that a quiet fortnight in
the Alps would make new men of all
| of u.s."
"'Pon my SOUL" was all that the
| poor minister Of war, an adept in
strategy, was able to exclaim.
For some unaccountable reason Miss
| Guile and her companion preferred to
travel alone to Paris. They had a
private compartment, over which a re-
spectful, but adamantine, conductor
exercised an authority that irritated R.
Schmidt beyond expression. The rest
Of the train was crowded to its ca
pacity, and here was desirable space
going to waste in the section occu.
pied by the selfish Miss Guile. He
couldn't understand it in her. Was 1t,
after all, to be put down as a simple
steamer encounter? Was she delib
erately snubbing him, now that they
were on land?
It was not until the boat train was
nearing the environs Of Paris that
Hobbs threw some light over the sit
uation, with the result that 1t instantly
became darker than ever before. II
| appears that Miss Guile was met al
the landing by very good looking
young man who rst only escorted he1
to the train, but actually entered Il
with her and was even now enjoying
the luxury Of private compartment
as well as the contents of large
luncheon hamper, to say nothing of ar
Uninterrupted view of something fal
more inspiring than the scenery.