Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-03-25

in to the fast paling girl, into whose
eyes the most ahject misery had leap,
ed at the sight Of the two officers.
The polite officers came up to the
window with their little notebooks.
Il regret, m'sieur, that we shall be
obliged to conduct yourself and made
moiselle to the office of magistrate.
the order Of last May, motorists may
be given a hearing at once. | regret
to add that m'sieur has been exceed
ing the speed limit. A complaint came
in but a few minutes ago from the
Porte de la Muette, and we have been
ordered to intercept the car. You may
follow US to the Office Of the magis-
trate, m'sieur. 1t will soon be over,
mademoiselle."
In a very few minutes the process
sion arrived at a low, formidable
looking building on narrow side
street. The cavalcade Of policemen
dismounted and stood at attention
while mademoiselle and monsieur got
down from the car and followed a po-
lite person in uniform through the
doors.
An instant later they were ushered
into fair sized room on the left OF
the hall, where they were command
ed to sit down. A lot of chairs stood
about the room, filling it to the far
: yI-hi1n af the aytrpmG
end was the judges bench.
I'D like to have word in private
with the magistrate" said the Prince
of Graustark to one Of the attend
ants.
impossible" he said, lifting his
eyebrows in an expression Of extreme
amazement. at is impos'- A sharp
rapping on the judges desk reduced
| the remainder of the sentence to a
delicate whispcr-"ible, msieur."
; "Will you conduct me to tele-
+ phone booth?" whispered Miss Guile
tearfully.
! A thunderous pounding on the
bench interrupted her.
! Attend" came in a sharp, uncom-
promising voice from the bench.
''What is the delay? This is no time
to think. All that should have been
done before. Step forward. Sergeant
see that the prisoners step forward. .
Robin slipped his arm through
Miss Guile's. expecting her to drooT
heavily upon it for support. To his
surprise she drew herself up, Olsen
gagged herself and walked straight VI
to the bench, without fear or hesita-
ton
"Will you be so kind as to raist
your veil, madam" spake the court,
She promptly obeyed. He leaned
forward with sudden interest. The
prosecutor blinked and abruptly over
came the habitual inclination to ap,
pear bored. Such ravishing beaut!
had never before found its way into
that little courtroom.
estate your name, mademoiselle,
said the prosecutor.
! Miss Guile lowered her head for 81
instant Robin could see that her liz
was quivering.
"My name is-oh, is there no way t
avoid the publicity"-she sighed mis-
erably-"the publicity that
~ regret, mademoiselle, that Their
is no alternative began the judge
to be interrupted by the banging o
the courtroom door. He looked up
glazing at the offender with ominou
eyes. The polite attendant from tn
outer corridor was advancing il
great haste. He was not only II
haste, but vastly perturbed. H
thrust into the hand of the judge
slip of paper. at the same time gasp
ing something that might have bee
mistaken for an appeal for pardon
but which more than likely was moth
ing of the sort.
The magistrate was impressed. H
took up the slip of paper and rea
what was written thereon. He wa
guilty Of a start. Then he cleared hi
throat and beamed upon them in
most friendly fashion.
Robin grasped the situation in
flash. His own identity had been n
vealed to the Judge. 1t was not likel
that the daughter Of William Blither
could create such lively interest In
French court Of justice, so 1t must b
that Gourou or Quinnox had come t
the rescue. The court would not thin
Of fning a prince of the royal BLOOD
law or no law.
"M'sieur, mademoiselle, will you
so good as to resume your seats? A
extraordinary condition has arisen.
shall be obliged to investigate"
He descended from the bench an
hurried into the corridor, followe
closely by the prosecutor and the az
vocate, both of whom almost trod o
his heels.
Il fancy my friends have heard c
our plight. Mr.. Schmidt" she sait
quite composedly. I'VE will be n
leased in q very few minutes"
He smiled complacently. He eoul
afford to let her believe that he
friends and not his were performing
miracle.
Your friends must be very power
full" he said.
They arc" said she, with consider
able directness.
Ssh. Here they come. Now W
shall see"
The magistrate and his companion
re-entered the room at that instant
more noticeably excited than whe
they had left It. The former. rubin
bis hands together and smiling as b
lad never smiled before,