The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach Part 15

The countess spoke quickly. "No, no, you must say nothing to me, now. I cannot listen to you. Please go away."

Bab noticed that the countess was trembling when she took her hand.

Monsieur Duval bowed courteously to Ruth. "Mademoiselle," he declared, "I owe you an apology. I fear I am but a poor chauffeur. My car swerved in front of yours on the road. It was unpardonable. I offer you many thanks for your skill. You saved us from a bad smash-up."

Ruth colored. Hot words rose to her lips. But she feared to say too much. She looked at Mr. Duval gravely. "I think, Mr. Duval," she remarked, as suavely as the Frenchman could have spoken, "it will be wise for you not to run a motor car unless you learn how to handle it better. You are right. We were exposed to great danger from your carelessness."

Madame de Villiers now gazed sternly at Monsieur Duval. "Have I the pleasure of your acquaintance?" she inquired coldly, turning her lorgnette on the Frenchman.

Monsieur Duval lost some of his self-a.s.surance in the presence of this beak-nosed old lady. "I met you at Mr. Stuart's picnic, Madame," he explained. "Good-bye, ladies." Monsieur Duval bowed low. Then he turned to the countess. "I will deliver my news to you, Countess Sophia, whenever you are pleased to hear it." A moment later the Frenchman disappeared. But on his way back to his hotel he smiled. "If life were not a lottery it would be too stupid to endure. Yet this is the first time in my career that a group of young girls have tried to beat me at my own game."

When the Frenchman had finally gone the countess turned to Mollie, and kissed her. Then she looked affectionately at Bab, Grace and Ruth.

"You saw my signal, didn't you?" she asked, smiling. "What an energetic society to come to me in such a hurry! I really have something to tell you. It is something serious. Yet I must ask you to trust me, if I tell you only part of a story. I cannot tell you all. As it is much too beautiful to stay indoors, suppose we go to my pavilion down by the water."

On the way to the boathouse, Ruth stopped to embrace Mollie. "Mollie, darling, forgive me!" she whispered. "I promise you never to doubt our lovely countess again. She is perfect."

When the Countess Sophia and the four "Automobile Girls" were safely in the boathouse, the young hostess sighed. "I am sorry to talk about disagreeable things to-day," she murmured. "You cannot understand what a pleasure it is to me to know four such charming young girls. I have had so few companions in my life. Indeed I have been lonely, always."

The "Automobile Girls" were silent. They hardly knew what to reply.

"I must try to tell you why I sent for you," the countess went on. "I want to warn you----"

"About the Count de Sonde?" cried Mollie, who had never gotten over her first prejudice.

"Yes," replied the countess slowly. "I think I promised to help you save your girl friend Maud Warren. I am afraid she and the count are more interested in each other than you girls imagine." The countess faltered and looked fearfully about her. "You must not let Miss Warren marry the Count de Sonde," she murmured. "You must stop such a wedding at all hazards. The Count de Sonde is----"

"Is what?" asked Barbara.

The countess shook her head. Again she blushed painfully. "I cannot tell you now," explained the countess. "But I know this. If Miss Warren marries the Count de Sonde she will regret it all her life."

"But how can we prevent Maud's marrying the count if she wishes to do so?" queried practical Bab. "Unless you can tell us something definite against the count, we cannot go to Mr. Warren or Maud. Mr. Warren has already forbidden Maud to have anything to do with the Count de Sonde, but Maud continually disobeys her father."

"I am sorry," said the young countess hesitatingly. "I wish I dared tell you more. But I can explain nothing. Only I warn you to be careful."

"Need we to fear the Frenchman, Monsieur Duval?" Ruth asked thoughtfully.

The countess was silent for a moment. Then she said slowly, "You must fear him most of all!"

CHAPTER XII

MAUD REFUSES TO BE RESCUED

When the "Automobile Girls" chaperoned by Miss Sallie, descended to the hotel ball room that evening, where a hop was in progress, the orchestra was playing the "Blue Danube" and Maud and the Count de Sonde were waltzing together. The spectators seated along the wall smiled in spite of themselves for the count's style of dancing was far from graceful.

His idea of waltzing consisted in whirling his partner round and round, and as Maud was at least four inches taller than the count and very thin, the effect was indescribably ridiculous.

"How absurd the count looks!" Bab exclaimed to Ruth. "Just look at those high heels and that strutting walk! Do you suppose Maud Warren can really care for him?"

"No; I don't think she cares for him at all," Ruth returned. "It is the lure of his t.i.tle that has fascinated Maud. The t.i.tle, 'Count de Sonde'

is like music in her ears."

"Do you think Mr. Warren would disinherit Maud, if she married the count?" asked Bab.

Ruth shook her head. "Mr. Warren gave Maud half a million dollars in her own name a year ago," Ruth explained. "So, you see, she is an heiress already. Besides, Mr. Warren would never forsake Maud. He simply adores her. I think he went off on that fishing trip with father just to keep from seeing Maud carry on. He thinks Aunt Sallie may be able to influence her while he is gone. But do look at Miss Sarah Stuart, Bab!"

Miss Sallie swept down the ball-room floor in a handsome black satin and jet evening gown, with Mrs. De Lancey Smythe in her wake.

There was the fire of battle in Miss Stuart's eye. On the widow's cheeks burned two flaming signals of wrath.

"Maud Warren was left in my care by her father, Mrs. Smythe," declared Miss Sallie. "In Mr. Warren's absence I forbid Maud's going about unchaperoned with the Count de Sonde."

"Miss Warren is not a child, Miss Stuart," replied Mrs. De Lancey Smythe angrily. "If she chooses to go about with the count I hardly see how you can prevent it. The Count de Sonde is a n.o.ble, trustworthy young man."

"Miss Warren shall not go with him against my wishes," replied Miss Stuart quietly, "and I fail to see how the matter can possibly interest you."

Mrs. De Lancey Smythe's voice trembled with rage. "You appear to be excessively strict with Miss Warren, Miss Stuart," she returned, "yet you allow your niece and her friends to a.s.sociate, every day, with a woman who is entirely unknown to you, a woman about whom this entire hotel is talking."

"Whom do you mean?" Miss Sallie demanded. She was exceedingly angry.

"Mean?" Mrs. De Lancey Smythe laughed mockingly. "I mean this so called Countess Sophia von s...o...b..rg. She is no more a countess than I am. She is a fugitive and a swindler. She will be arrested as soon as there is sufficient evidence against her."

The "Automobile Girls" had moved up close to Miss Sallie. They waited to hear what she would say in regard to the countess.

"I do not believe the countess to be an impostor. She is our friend,"

replied Miss Stuart. "I think we need have no further conversation. Miss Warren will do as I request." Without answering the other woman moved away with flashing eyes and set lips, leaving Miss Sallie in triumphant possession of the situation.

In a few moments Maud Warren came over to where Miss Sallie and the "Automobile Girls" were still standing.

"Maud, won't you come up to our room to-night after the dance?" Ruth urged. "We thought it would be jolly to make some fudge in a chafing dish."

"Can you cook?" laughed Maud. "How funny! It is awfully good of you to ask me to join you, but I have another engagement for this evening."

"Maud," said Miss Sallie firmly, "your father left you in my charge. I cannot permit you to keep an engagement with the Count de Sonde."

Maud was speechless with astonishment. No one had ever forbidden her to do anything in her life. Her father had always tried persuasion and argument. Ruth's eyes twinkled as she saw the effect Miss Sallie's firmness had upon Maud. Greatly to her surprise Maud Warren answered quite meekly: "Very well, Miss Stuart. I will not see him if you do not wish it."

The "Automobile Girls" breathed a sigh of relief. They had feared another battle between Miss Sallie and Maud.

"This is jolly!" exclaimed Maud Warren, an hour later. The five girls were in Ruth's sitting-room. They were eating delicious squares of warm chocolate fudge.

"I am glad you are enjoying yourself," replied Ruth. "We would be glad to see you often, but you always seem to be busy."

Maud tried to look unconscious. "It's the count's fault. The poor fellow has a dreadful crush on me," she sighed.

"Do you care for him?" asked Barbara bluntly.