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

1T might simplify matters tremend-
ously," said Robin, but not at all con
fdently.
Later on, while they were breakfast
ing In Robins sitting room, Hobbs
brought in the morning newspapers.
He laid one of them before the prince
and jabbed his forefnger upon a glar-
ing headline.
"'Miss Blithers Denies Report.
Signed Statement Mysteriously Re-
ceived. American Heiress Not to Wed
Prince OF Graustark.' Shall l read the
harticle, sir?"
Robin snatched up the paper and
read aloud for himself.
The following card appeared at the
head Of the column and was supple
mented by a complete esum Of the
Blithers Graustark muddle:
Miss Blithers desire to correct an
erroneous report that has appeared in
to be married to the Prince Of Grau-
stark, nor is there ever the remotest
probability that such will ever be the
case. Miss Blithers regrets that she
has not the honor OF Prince Robins
acquaintance. and the prince has spe-
officially stated in the public prints
that he does not know her by sight.
The statements Of the two persons
most vitality affected by this disturb
ing rumor should be taken as final.
Sufficient pain and annoyance already
have been caused by the malicious and
utterly groundless report" The name
Of Maud Apologize Blithers was ap-
pended to the statement, and 1t was
dated Paris. Aug. 20.
It appears that the signed statement
was left in the counting room Of the
various newspapers by a heavily veil
ed lady at an hour agreed upon as
about 10 o'clock" There was abso-
lutely no clue to the identity of this
woman.
well, she appears to be here" said
Robin as he laid down the last of the
three journals and stared at Dank as
IL expecting hope from that most I'M
reliable source.
II suppose you will now admit that
l am right about the letter B." said
Dank s~ullenly.
when l see Miss Guile l shall ask
point blank II she Is Maud Apologize,
Dank. and II she says she isn't I'll take
her word for It." said Robin.
"And II she says she isl"
We'll" said the prince ruefully. "I1i
still take her word for it."
"And them"
Then ! shall be equally frank and
tell her that l am Robin of Graustark.
That will put us all square again, and
we'll see what comes of II In the end"
The day was warm and clear, and
Paris was cleaning. Robin stretched
his long legs In a brisk walk across
the Place Vendome and up the Rue
de la Paix to the boulevard. Here he
hesitated and then retraced his steps
slowly down the street of diamonds,
for he suspected Miss Guile Of being
interested In things that were costly.
Suddenly inspired. he made his way
to the Place de la Concorde and set
tied himself on one of the seats near
the entrance to the Champs Elysees.
A man came up and took a seat beside
him.
"Good morning. Mr.. Schmidt" said
the newcomer. and Robin somewhat
grufly demanded what the deuce he
meant by following him. II have some
interesting news" said Baron Gourou
quietly.
From homer" asked Robin care
lessly.
Indirectly. It comes through Ber-
lin. Our special agent there wires me
that the oflces of Mr.. Blithers in that
city have received instructions from
him to send engineers to Edelweiss
for the purpose Of estimating the cost
of remodeling and rebuilding the cas-
tle--in other words, to restore 1t to its
condition prior to the Marlanx rebel
lion fifteen years ago."
There was q tantalizing smile on the
baron's face as he watched the chang.
ing expressions in that of his prince.
Are you In earnest?" demanded
Robin. q bright red spot appearing In
each cheek. The baron nodded his
head. Well. he's got q lot of nerve!"
II shudder whenf think Of what IL
likely to happen to those architects
when they begin shopping around the
CASTLE" said Gourou dryly. by the
way, have you seen Miss Guile this
m~orningf"
Robins cheeks were now completely
suifused. Certainly not"
"She was In the Rue de IL Paix half
an hour ago. I thought you might
You saw her. baronf~
Yes. highnesA and Il may interest
you to know that aha saw you"
The deuce ron Sky! But how DO
you know that Il was Miss Guile.
You've no means Of knowing"
II = : part of nv profession to rso-