The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-03

B1ithers." He held up the ships pa per for Dank to see. and then sat back | te enjoy his companions rage. An hour later Dank and Count Quin- nox might have been seen seated side by side on the edge of a sky1ight at the tiptop of the ships structure en- gagged in the closest conversation.
 ''He is young enough and stubborn enough to make a fool of himself over her." the count had said. F'I wouldn't blame him, 'pon my soul I wouldn't. She is very attractive-ahemi You must be his safeguard, Dank. Go in and do as suggest. You are good looking chap and you've nothing to lose. So far as she is concerned you are quite as well worth while as the fellow known as R. Schmidt. There's no reason why you shouldn't make the remainder of the passage pleasant for her and at the same time enjoy yourself at nobody's expense"
 "Is it a command, sir"
 esIt is"
 ''Very well, sir. I shall do my best"
 Five days, later as the Jupiter was discharging passengers at Plymouth Count Quinnox and Lieutenant Dank stood well forward on the promenade deck watching the operations. The younger man was moody and distrait, an unusual condition for him, but one that had been noticeab1y recurreAt during the past two or three days. Something had gone wrong with him, and 1t was something that he felt in duty bound to lay before his superior, the grim old minister of war and he reditary chief of the castle guard. Oc- casionaI1y his somber gaze shifted to @& R1~ young man and woman leaned upon the rail and surveyed the scene of ac- tivity below.
 What is on your mind, Dan?" ask ed the count abruptly. Out with it."
 Pretty mess I've made of the busi- ness," 1amented Dank surlf1y. Put ting myself up as a contender against a fellow like Robin and dreaming that I could win out, even for 8 minute! Good Lord, what an ass ami Why, we've only made it worse, count. We've touched him with the spur of rivalry, and what could be more ca 1amitous than that? From being a rather matter of fact, indifferent ob- server, he becomes bewiIdering cav alier bent on conquest at any cost. I am swept aside as if I were a parcel of rags. For two days I stood between him and the incomparab1e 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 I myself am lost. Mon dieui"
 The count stared at him in perplex- ity for moment Then look of sur prise came into his eyes-surprise not unming1ed with scorn.
 +< you've fallen in love with her? Oh, you absurd fedgelings. Will you'-
 why not?'' broke in Dank ferce1y. Why should it appear incredible to you? Is she not the most entrancing creature in all the world? Is she not the most appealing, the most adorable, most feminine of all 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,'' parked the un- happy lieutenant. i've never seen a worse case.''
 We must put an end to this fond adventure. Robin is our most precious possession. We must not Why dc you shake your head?''
 we are powerless, sir. If 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 BIithers either. Besides, he says he isn't going to Edelweiss immediately"
 ''That is news to me-
 'EI 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 Inter1aken.''
 'Interlaken? ?''
 FFYes. Miss Guile expects to stop there for a fortnight after leaving Paris.''
 ''I must remonstrate with Robin-at once," declared the old man. He is needed in Graustark. He must be made to realize the. importance of''-
 'I 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 us.''
 "'Pon my sou1!" was all that the poor minister of war, an adept in 1 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 are spectful, but adamantine, conductor exercised an authority that irritated R. Schmidt beyond expression. The rest of the train was crowded to It's 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 it, after all, to be put down as simple steamer encounter? Was she delib- erately snubbing him, now that they were on land?
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