The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach Part 10

"After all, I cannot resist your invitation, Mr. Stuart," the young woman agreed. "But may I ask you not to stay long?"

Presently Mr. Stuart's party was seated around a large, rustic table in the beautiful cocoanut grove. Hundreds of other people, clad in white and light clothes, were seated at other tables. In the distance a band played. During the intermissions the listeners could hear the twittering and singing of mult.i.tudes of birds, which also sojourn for the winter at Palm Beach.

The countess was the object of many glances from the people near her, although she had not lifted the heavy chiffon veil from her face. She was a woman of rarely beautiful presence. There was something regal in the set of her small head on her graceful shoulders. Her gown and hat were extremely plain and she wore no jewels; but an atmosphere surrounded the lovely countess like an aura of sunlight, Ruth thought.

She was very gentle and sweet, though there was something about her that suggested she could be equally stern if the situation required it. Ruth hoped never to incur her displeasure.

When tea was served the countess was obliged to throw back her veil.

Madame de Villiers looked at her disapprovingly. Then the old woman cast hurried glances about her, but was apparently satisfied.

As for the young countess, she took in a deep breath of the warm, soft air laden with the scent of the orange blossoms. She let her eyes wander over the grove and smiled as a burst of music floated across to her.

"I am fascinated, enchanted!" she exclaimed. "Mr. Stuart, I thank you for the pleasure of this afternoon."

There was always a slight formality in the young countess's manner which kept people at a distance.

"Do not thank me, Countess," protested Mr. Stuart. "You and Madame de Villiers are conferring an honor upon us."

"Madame de Villiers and I are two lonely women," continued the countess.

"We have not seen the beauties of this place, except from our piazza.

How exquisite this grove is! Truly, it is like paradise."

Again the young woman's gaze swept the tea garden. Suddenly her face turned white. She bit her lips, and sat as if turned to stone. Her eyes were fastened on a group of three men at a nearby table. Madame de Villiers had not noticed them. The men had not yet noticed the Stuart's guests.

The countess dropped her veil quickly. Ruth and Mollie, sitting on each side of the countess, were the only members of the party who felt that something had happened, and they were wise enough to be absolutely silent. Only the girls' eyes followed the direction of the countess's.

They, too, saw the three men, one of whom they recognized as Mr. Duval.

The other two were strangers, foreign-looking men with waxed mustaches and light hair.

All at once Mollie felt her hand seized convulsively under cover of the table. But the little girl was not prepared for the special mark of confidence that the countess was now to bestow on her. As Mollie held the countess's hand in her own, she felt a tap, tap in the centre of her palm. Like a flash Mollie remembered. The countess had given her the danger signal they had agreed upon the day before. Mollie looked quickly over at Maud Warren. She presumed the signal indicated that there was something the matter with Maud. But Maud was sitting quietly between Barbara and Grace Carter.

Then what could the countess mean? Could she be jesting? Mollie did not think so. Through the meshes of her white veil the face of the countess looked out very white and grave.

Mollie's heart was beating fast. What could she say? What must she do?

Of one thing she now felt sure. The beautiful Countess Sophia von s...o...b..rg was threatened with trouble. She should have all the aid that the "Automobile Girls" could give.

"I understand," Mollie now whispered back to her in a low voice. "What shall I do?"

"I must leave the tea garden at once," replied the countess quietly.

"But I do not wish to be observed. Madame de Villiers must go with me, but I do not wish the party to break up. That would make us conspicuous."

"Ruth and I will go with you. Don't be worried; we will go quietly.

Wait, I must speak to her."

"Ruth," Mollie spoke softly to her friend. "The countess wishes to go home without disturbing any one else. Shall we slip out with her, and see her home?"

"Why, of course," answered Ruth politely, although she was somewhat mystified.

They were about to arise quietly from the table when they were interrupted. A waiter handed a note to Mr. Stuart. Mr. Stuart read it.

His face turned very red.

Now, if there was one thing in particular that Robert Stuart loathed it was an anonymous letter. The message he had just received was not signed, and it read:

"Beware of the countess. She is an impostor."

Mr. Stuart crushed the paper in his hand.

"Mr. Stuart," said the low voice of the countess, just at this moment, "forgive my leaving so soon. But I must go at once. Mollie and Ruth are coming with me." As the countess rose from her chair she glanced hastily at the three men at the table near them. These men had also risen. But they were not looking at the countess.

The young woman started hurriedly toward the gate. Madame de Villiers quickly followed her. So did Ruth, Mollie and Mr. Stuart.

"Please wait here until we come back for you," Ruth said to her aunt.

Monsieur Duval had now crossed the s.p.a.ce intervening between the two tables. He had seated himself next to Miss Sallie. The other two foreigners were moving toward the gate.

Ruth hurried on. She gave her order to the chauffeur. The man was soon cranking up the machine. The four women had taken their seats in the motor car. At this moment one of the strangers approached Mr. Stuart.

The other took off his hat and bowed low to the countess. He spoke to her in German, but her reply was given in English. It was very plain. "I do not know you," she said.

The man spoke again. This time his manner was insolent. Madame de Villiers's face grew dark with rage.

"Hurry!" called Ruth to her chauffeur. Mr. Stuart sprang into the automobile.

The machine sped on leaving the two strangers standing alone in the road.

"Do not worry, Cousine," the countess murmured in the course of their ride. "The man who spoke to me made a mistake. You will frighten our friends if you are so angry."

Madame de Villiers said nothing. But there was fire in her small s.h.i.+ning black eyes. Her beaked nose looked as though it might peck at the next offender.

Mr. Stuart and the two girls left the countess and her companion at their villa. The two women were now composed. Indeed, the countess made Ruth and Mollie promise that the "Automobile Girls" would come to see her again the next day.

Mollie and Ruth could not help puzzling over the countess as they rode back to the cocoanut grove. Mr. Stuart kept his own counsel.

"I am certain there is some mystery about the countess," Ruth avowed.

"But, whatever the mystery is, the 'Automobile Girls' are on her side!"

CHAPTER VIII

THE WARNING

In the meantime Mr. Duval was making himself exceedingly entertaining to Miss Sallie, Grace and Barbara in the tea garden. Maud and the Count de Sonde had withdrawn to a seat near the music, and were engrossed in a tete-a-tete.

Mr. Duval had traveled widely. He told his little audience about Chinese and j.a.panese tea gardens. He told tales of many lands and gave accounts of numerous adventures in which he had partic.i.p.ated.

Barbara and Grace listened fascinated. They hardly knew how the time pa.s.sed. At last Mr. Stuart came back with Ruth and Mollie. Mr. Warren and Mrs. De Lancey Smythe had joined them, without Marian. Mr. Warren was looking for Maud. But Bab wondered how poor Marian had weathered the storm that must have broken when Mrs. De Lancey Smythe returned to the hotel that morning.