The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-04

midnight conclave was not centered in the trouble that MT. B1ithers had started, but in the more desperate situation created by Miss Guile. She | was the peril that now confronted l them, and she was indeed a peril.
 tRy joveI" exclaimed Dank, so loudly that his companions actually l jumped in their seats. I ttWhat aiIs you, Dank?" demanded | the baron, removing his eyes from the young mans face long enough to glance fearfu1ly at the transom.
 Twelve got it!" cried the soldier. Count, you remember the big red let ter B on all of her trunks, don't you? Hobbs is positive he''-
 Count Quinnox sprang to his feet and banged the table with his fist. @eBy jove!" he shouted, suddenly l comprehending.
 fstThe letter B 9" queried Gourou, per plexed.
 'tThe newspapers say that she sailed from New York under an assumed name,' went on Dank, thrilled by his own amazing cleverness. There you are! Plain as day. The letter B ex- plaiEs everything. Now we know who | Miss Guile really is. She's''- "Ma53!" exclaimed Quinnox, sinking back into his chair.
 Miss B1ithers!" cried Gourou. di- vining at last. By jove!' And thus was the jovian circle completed.
 Robin was informed bright and early the next morning. In fact, he was still in his pajamas when the news was carried to him by the exhausted Dank, who had spent five hours in bed, but none in s1umber. Never in all his ardent career had the smart lieutenant been so bitterly afflicted with love sickness as now.
 tI don't believe a word of it,'' said the prince promptly. You've been dreaming, old chap,
 "That letter B isn't a dream, is it ?''
 ttNo, it isn't,'' said Robin, and in- stantly sat up in bed, his face very serious. eff she should turn out to be Miss B1ithers, I've cooked my goose to crisp. Good Lord, when think of some of the things I said to her about the Blithers family! But waitI If she is Miss Blithers do you suppose she'd sit calmly by and hear the fami- Iy ridicuIed? No, siri She would have taken my head off like a fash"
 T suppose you'll see nothing more of her, your highness," remarked Dank, sly hope struggling in his breast.
 You'd better put it the other way She'll see nothing more of me- 1ugu- briously.
 .T mean tos say, sir, you can't go on with it, can you ?"
 If there is really anything to go on with, Dank, I'll go on with it, believe me-
 The lieutenant stared. But if she should be Miss Blithers, what then?''
 ''It might simplify matters tremend- ous1y,'' 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 ing headline.
 Signed Statement MysteriousIy Re 'cefved. American Heiress Not to Wed Prince of Graustark.' Shall read the hartic1e. 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 resume of the B1ithers Graustark muddle.
 Miss Blithers desire to correct an erroneous report that has appeared in the newspapers. She is not engaged to be married to the Prince of Grau- stark, nor is there even 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 vitally 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 App1egate B1ithers was ap- pended to the statement, and it was dated Paris, Aug. 29.
 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 1utely no clue to the identity of this woman.
 .eWeIS the appears to be here,' said Robin as he laid down the last of the three journals and stared at Dank as if expecting hope from that most un- reliable source.
 'T suppose you will now admit that I am right about the letter B. said Dank sullen1y.
 When I see Miss Guile I shall ask point blank if she is Maud Applegate, Dank, and if she says she isn't I'll take her word for it,'' said Robin. And if she says she is? ?" We'll said the prince rueful1y. ''I1l 1 still take her word for 1t '' I And ther ?'' (To Be Coi1tinued.) Enrique B. Mange1, confidential ad-