The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach Part 9

Then it made for the open water. In the boat was one man. And immediately the countess and the four "Automobile Girls" recognized him.

He was the Frenchman, Monsier Duval!

"I wonder if he has been eavesdropping?" asked Ruth indignantly.

"Oh well, he has heard nothing but make-believe," the countess replied lightly, as she led her guests back to the villa.

CHAPTER VII

TEA IN THE COCOANUT GROVE

Their beloved red automobile, companion in so many adventures and faithful friend in time of need, did not accompany the "Automobile Girls" to Palm Beach. But Mr. Stuart engaged another larger motor car with a chauffeur to run it, as soon as he arrived at the famous southern resort. He preferred Ruth to have a chauffeur at her command in case she needed him.

There was room in the new automobile for ten persons, and Mr. Stuart, Miss Sallie, the four "Automobile Girls," the Countess Sophia and Madame de Villiers seated themselves in its cavernous depths. Then the car spun out along the famous Sh.e.l.l Road, lined on each side with the tall, delicate yucca plants. A fragrant southern breeze fanned the faces of the happy party. The sunlight was dazzling, the sky a deep blue. All about were ma.s.ses of tropical vegetation that glittered in the sunshine.

"This place is truly heavenly," exclaimed the Countess Sophia von s...o...b..rg. She leaned back in the automobile and closed her eyes. "How could one help being happy, surrounded by all this beauty? I am indeed very happy to-day. Are you not happy, Cousine?" she murmured, taking Madame de Villiers's hand and looking at her with a tender, loving expression. The older woman's stern face softened.

"Very happy, my dear," she declared. "This is not a place to remember one's troubles."

The countess's face clouded at the word "troubles." She began to say something in German, but checked herself. She was far too well-bred to speak any language but English before her new friends.

"Yes; this is a small sized heaven," agreed Bab. "A kind of oasis in a desert, for over there are the Everglades."

"And what are the Everglades?" inquired the countess.

"The guide-book says they are trackless jungle," explained Bab. "They are full of wild animals; wild cats, and panthers, and deer. They have poisonous snakes in them, too. Very few white men ever venture in the Everglades, but the Indians have trails through them. They often kill deer in the jungle and sell them at the hotel."

"It would not be pleasant to be lost in such a place," suggested Mollie.

She was thinking of her own experience when she was lost in the forest in the Berkshire Hills.

"And it would not be easy to find you in the Everglades either, little sister," rejoined Bab. "So please beware! Never go into the Everglades alone."

"Oh, don't worry," laughed Mollie. "Being lost once was enough for me."

"If you ever do disappear, Mademoiselle Mollie, the secret society will never rest until it finds you. We must be very faithful to each other, dear fellow members?" laughed the countess.

"I am sure we agree to that," declared Ruth.

Walking along the road ahead of them, Barbara espied two figures.

"Do you know," she demanded, "I believe those two people just in front of us are Maud Warren and her count."

It really was Maud loitering along the road accompanied by the count.

"Stop our car, Robert," ordered Miss Sallie.

Maud explained that her motor car had broken down some distance up the road. She and the count had decided to walk on. They hoped to be picked up by friends.

"Do you mean you were out motoring alone with the Count de Sonde?"

inquired Miss Stuart severely.

"Why not?" answered Maud, looking insolently at Miss Sallie.

"Ah it is in this free America that one needs no chaperons," said Madame de Villiers innocently, but with a gleam of mischief in her eyes.

Maud made no reply. Two angry spots glowed in her cheeks.

The countess now made up her mind to intercede. She did not wish Maud to fly into a rage.

"I have had a visit from your friends, the 'Automobile Girls', Miss Warren," she said graciously. "Perhaps you will join them when they come to see me again."

Maud favored the countess with a chilly stare.

Could it be that Mrs. De Lancey Smythe had been whispering tales about the countess in Maud's ears? And had this stupid girl believed what she had heard? Ruth felt her heart thump with the embarra.s.sment of the situation. What was Maud going to say? Strangely enough Madame de Villiers' face held the same look of fear that Ruth's did. Why should Madame de Villiers look frightened instead of angry?

But Maud never uttered the insult her lips were trying to frame. Spoiled and undisciplined child that she was, when she turned her sneering face toward the countess the words suddenly failed her. For the first time Maud felt that money, after all, counted for little. There was something about this plainly dressed woman that suddenly made her feel mean and ashamed. Maud looked deep into the countess's beautiful eyes, then answered with unaccustomed meekness. "Thank you so much. I should like to come to see you."

In the meantime naughty Mollie was taking a slight revenge upon the count.

"You are quite athletic, are you not?" she asked him innocently, her baby blue eyes fastened on his.

"I, athletic?" exclaimed the little count in surprise. "Not very, Mademoiselle. Why do you ask?"

"Because you run so well," Mollie answered, with a far-away look.

"You refer to this morning, I perceive, Mademoiselle," expostulated the count. "I do not swim; therefore I ran for help. But there was no danger. Your sister was never in deep water. Yet it was a most effective scene. Doubtless the young lady will enjoy being a heroine."

Mollie flushed. "Barbara would have been in danger if Marian had not helped to pull her and the child out of the water. And, by the way, Marian does not swim either."

"Ah, Mademoiselle Marian? I saw her later," laughed the count. "How droll was her appearance and that of your sister also."

Mollie heartily disgusted with the little count turned her back on him.

"Get into the motor car, both of you," ordered Miss Sallie firmly.

A few minutes later their automobile reached the entrance to the cocoanut grove.

"Papa, let us stop here and have tea?" asked Ruth.

"A good idea, Ruth," agreed Mr. Stuart, giving the chauffeur the order.

"I am very sorry," interrupted the countess. "But I fear I cannot stop this afternoon."

"Oh, please do, Countess!" urged Ruth and her friends. Even Maud's voice was heard to join in the general chorus.

The countess hesitated. She looked at Madame de Villiers with questioning eyes. It was evident that the young countess also yearned for the pleasure of drinking tea under the cocoanut trees. Madame de Villiers shrugged her shoulders. She said something softly, so that no one else could hear. The countess dropped her white chiffon veil down over her face.