The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach Part 27

"The count and Monsieur Duval!" gasped Ruth.

From the paper the girls learned that Duval was a French criminal who had served several terms in prison, but who was usually clever enough to escape detection. His real name was Jacques Dupin. The "count," whose name was Latour, was merely a tool of Dupin's.

"This says," cried Ruth excitedly, scanning the paper, "that Dupin can a.s.sume any disguise he wishes. He is a linguist and a trained actor and is known as Gentilhomme Jacques, or Gentleman Jack. He plays only for big stakes."

"How did the countess become involved in this, Mr. Stuart?" asked Barbara, and at the question Mollie's pretty face clouded.

"The countess has asked us to the villa to-morrow afternoon to offer an explanation," replied Mr. Stuart shortly.

At noon the next day Ruth rushed up to her companions with exciting news.

"Girls, the count, or Latour, was arrested this morning when about to board a train and has confessed that he had plotted to marry Maud, obtain control of her fortune, and then desert her! Duval was the brains of the plot. Mrs. Smythe was helping them, and, listen girls, she's been arrested as a professional swindler!"

"Oh, poor Marian!" exclaimed Mollie sympathetically, to be echoed by the others. But just at that moment Marian came up to them, her face radiant.

"Oh, girls, such news! Mrs. Smythe accused me last night of spoiling her plans, and in her anger she let out that she's not my mother! My mother, who died when I was a baby, was her neighbor. Some money was left me and Mrs. Smythe was made my guardian. She used the money, of course, and kept the truth from me. My name is Marian Dale. I'm poor, but I'm free for the first time in my life, and I'll work!"

Mr. Stuart had come up and heard the last part of the tale; so he now broke in:

"You are not friendless, my girl. You must stay here as my guest with my other girls for a while, then we'll discuss your future."

"You are kind, Mr. Stuart. But I can't be a burden. I must find work at once. But, oh, I'm grateful to you!" and her eyes were misty.

"I must turn my other girls on you, I see."

Maud Warren was a changed girl when she realized the danger her headstrong conduct had placed her in. Her father, feeling that a real reformation had begun, asked Marian Dale to come to them as Maud's companion and encourage her in a saner view of life. This appealed to Maud, and the two girls became close friends, much to the happiness of both.

That afternoon when the "Automobile Girls" arrived at the countess's villa they were introduced to the Baron von Lichtenberg, who, the countess told them, bore a message from her father.

To the girls' amazement and fluttered delight, the countess was in reality the Princess Sophia Adele von Nichtenstern. The princess wished to marry the Count de Sonde; and when her father insisted that she marry instead a n.o.ble of advanced years for reasons of state, she fled to America under the protection of her cousin and second mother, the Baroness von Lichtenberg, whom the girls knew as Madame de Villiers.

"But since then, my friends, my father has met the Count de Sonde and he has also learned how greatly the man for whom he intended me has persecuted me, so he has given his consent to my marriage with the count. You can imagine my consternation when I met the false Count de Sonde and learned that he was trying to marry your friend Maud. I then sent to Paris and learned the ident.i.ty of these two men. I wish to tell you, too, that both Monsieur Duval and my other persecutors have been using my maid, and that on several occasions she has taken my clothes and impersonated me.

"Mr. Stuart, I did wrong to involve the pretty Mollie in my affairs; but my father had not then forgiven me and I feared to have him learn at that time of my whereabouts. Will you forgive me?"

The princess was to start for home almost immediately under the protection of the Baron and Baroness von Lichtenberg, but before leaving Florida she exacted a promise from each of the "Automobile Girls" and from Maud Warren as well that they would visit her when she should become the wife of the Count de Sonde.

After the princess had left Palm Beach a package was handed to Miss Stuart. In it was a gift for each of the Automobile Girls. Mollie received a handsome bracelet beautifully ornamented and set with jewels.

Inside was inscribed "S von N.--F. de S."

"Oh," cried Mollie, "the count gave her this! How she must have loved it, and she gave it to me!"

Barbara's gift was a gold filigree star of exquisite workmans.h.i.+p; Ruth's a splendid oriental scarf embroidered in gold and silver threads, and Grace's a beautiful gold chain.

The "Automobile Girls" spent two more gay and happy weeks at Palm Beach, then turned their faces northward once more, each going to her own home.

It was not until the next winter that they were together again, and what befell them then is told in the sixth and last volume of "The Automobile Girls Series" under the t.i.tle, "The Automobile Girls at Was.h.i.+ngton; Or, Checkmating the Plots of Foreign Spies."

THE END