The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach Part 26

"No," she replied quietly, but there was a threat in his tone that boded evil. Then this red domino slipped away in the crowd.

Meanwhile, a third red domino was peering from behind a screen of palms when she felt her arm seized and, turning, encountered the angry little mask that had been pursuing red dominos until his brain reeled.

"Mademoiselle," he hissed, "you are cruel! Why do you avoid me so?"

"Ah, Count, can't you wait so short a time?" and the third red domino was lost in the crowd.

The fourth red domino had been amusing herself like a wilful b.u.t.terfly on a summer's day. But it was getting late, and she paused at length to look about her. As she pa.s.sed a grotto in the garden, formed by palms and orange trees, she heard the low chatter of voices speaking French. A vine-covered trellis screened her from view. One of the voices she recognized as Monsieur Duval's. She heard him say:

"In three quarters of an hour we shall start. The maid tells me the officer is asleep. She saw to that. The young one is on the veranda with the older one, and they never retire until after midnight. We must have that paper to-night, even though we use violence." The fourth red domino did not wait for more.

"I must find Father," she told herself. "How shall I ever get him in time? They're talking of the countess, and Monsieur Duval intends to go to the villa!"

But what of the fifth red domino, the hostess of the great ball?

Time had hung rather heavily on her hands. No one recognized her, and, not being a graceful dancer, she was somewhat neglected.

CHAPTER XX

CONCLUSION

At about half-past eleven Barbara concluded that she had better deliver the letter to Mrs. De Lancey Smythe. Summoning a bellboy, she went to the woman's room. On the way she showed the boy a dollar bill.

"This will be yours," she said, "if you do exactly as I tell you. If, when you deliver this note, the recipient should ask who gave it to you, say 'some one in a domino,' then come away quickly. Do you understand?"

"Yes, ma'am," replied the boy, his eyes on the dollar bill.

In a few minutes the room was reached. Mrs. De Lancey Smythe, in a black silk domino and mask, responded to the knock on the door.

"Now," whispered Barbara, who kept out of sight, and the boy delivered the note which read:

"Meet me at the Casino gate. Same time. Have found it necessary to change meeting place."

"Who gave you this, boy?"

"Some one in a domino," he replied, turning away.

"Wait! What did the person say?"

"Just 'take this note to room 601 and give it to the lady there.'"

"It's from the count," and, satisfied, she reentered the room.

Meanwhile, Ruth, forgetting Maud Warren, searched frantically for her father. In and out of corridors, smoking and supper rooms, ball room, verandas, and garden she hurried. The recollection of Maud returned, however, when over the hum of talk and laughter the strains of the "Ma.r.s.eillaise" floated out.

"In honor of De Sonde," thought Ruth contemptuously.

Some one began to sing, and the place soon rang with the notes of the stirring French song. People began throwing confetti, and the air was flecked with the bright-colored stuff. It was midnight.

No one noticed two red dominos, each accompanied by one in black, steal from different doors of the hotel and disappear in the dark.

Ruth finally found her father standing in a doorway, talking to a little red domino.

"Father! I overheard Mr. Duval and some accomplices planning to rob the countess of a valuable paper to-night! Do send help at once!"

"Paper! Oh, Mr. Stuart, it must be the one the countess entrusted to me," and Mollie pulled from her bosom a chamois bag.

Mr. Stuart took a paper from the bag and glanced through it. Only a few minutes later he and four officers were speeding toward the villa of the countess.

Meanwhile, Miss Stuart and Barbara had been a.s.sisted into an automobile waiting at the east entrance. As they neared the station Barbara became nervous. Was the chauffeur a confederate of the plotters or had he been hired to make the run knowing nothing of the details?

Before the car had come to a full stop the count leaped out and turned to help his companions alight. Barbara leaned forward and said sharply to the chauffeur:

"Return at once to the hotel without the gentleman. Ask no questions.

You will be answerable to Mr. Stuart for any treachery."

The car disappeared in the darkness, leaving the count dancing and gesticulating in anger.

When Mr. Stuart and the officers entered the drawing room of the countess's villa they saw the old man who had before menaced the two women standing threateningly in front of them. Behind him was another man, evidently ready to respond to any command of the old man.

"The paper you seek is not here, Monsieur," said the countess proudly.

"I say it is here! Give it to me at once!"

"Officers, this is your man! Take him!" shouted Mr. Stuart.

Two of the officers seized and handcuffed the second man, but the old man with surprising agility leaped from the room, and the officers could find not the slightest trace of him.

"Ah, Mr. Stuart," said the countess, "I do not know what chance brought you to my rescue, but help was greatly needed and I am grateful."

"Ruth overheard a talk this evening and sent us here to see if we could serve you. The plot was instigated by Monsieur Duval."

"That old man was Monsieur Duval himself. He is a very dangerous enemy to have."

"That I already know, Countess. After we learned of your danger, Mollie gave me the paper you had put in her care. It was hardly prudent to give such a doc.u.ment to a young girl. I think we are ent.i.tled to an explanation."

"Ah, please not to-night, Monsieur! But may I ask you to bring Miss Stuart and the girls here to-morrow afternoon? Then I shall be glad to tell you my story."

"Very well," replied Mr. Stuart stiffly, displeased at the countess'

lack of frankness.

On Mr. Stuart's return to the hotel the girls overwhelmed him with questions and called eagerly for a glimpse of the mysterious paper.

Mr. Stuart unfolded the doc.u.ment. It was signed by the Prefect of Police of Paris and stamped with the official seal. Two photographs were pasted to the sheet and under each was a description of the man.