The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under Southern Skies

by Laura Dent Crane

  CHAPTER IX

  A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY

  Early the next afternoon the picnickers sallied forth in twoautomobiles, going first to the villa for the Countess Sophia and Madamede Villiers, then the two cars sped along the country road in thedirection of the ostrich farm. Marian, Mollie, Mrs. De Lancey Smythe,Miss Stuart, Barbara, Maud and the Count de Sonde were in the foremostcar, while the remainder of the party occupied the car first rented byMr. Stuart, with Ruth as chauffeur.

  "Why don't you start a song?" called Ruth over her shoulder. "Grace,sing something. Sing 'My Old Kentucky Home.'"

  Grace sang the plaintive old melody in her sweet, high soprano voice.

  The Countess Sophia was enchanted. "What a charming song!" she declared."What an exquisite melody. I have not heard it before. Is it not one ofyour old southern songs?"

  "Won't you sing, Countess?" begged Mr. Stuart.

  The countess shook her head and smiled. "I do not care to sing alone,"she avowed. "But I am sure Monsieur Duval has the throat of a singer.Will you not sing a song of your country, Monsieur?"

  "If you will sing a song of your land in return," answered the Frenchmanquickly. Could it be that he, too, was curious to discover to acertainty the Countess Sophia von Stolberg's nationality?

  The countess dropped her eyes under Mr. Duval's steady gaze.

  "I do not sing without an accompaniment, Monsieur," she said briefly.

  Madame de Villiers looked annoyed. Grace and Ruth wondered why thecountess should be so secretive. She spoke French, German and Englishalmost equally well. On her library table Ruth had discovered a numberof Italian books.

  Monsieur Duval did not press his request. The Frenchman had verypolished manners. Instead in a full baritone voice he sang the"Marseillaise." His audience was profoundly stirred. "You are a patriot,Mr. Duval," Mr. Stuart remarked.

  Monsieur Duval's expression changed. But he said nothing. It wasimpossible to translate his peculiar look.

  "Do sing for us, Countess," begged Grace later. "I know you have awonderful voice."

  "Remember, you are to give us a song of your country," Mr. Duvalpersisted.

  The countess made no reply to him. But in a voice clear as a bell shesang:

  "Thou art like unto a flower."

  "But that is an English song," expostulated Mr. Duval when the countesshad finished.

  "Yes, but it was written first by a German poet: Du bist wie eineblume," sang the countess, this time in German. "Shall I try it inFrench and Italian for you? The little song has been translated intoevery tongue."

  It was evident to her listeners that the Countess Sophia von Stolbergwas proficient in half a dozen languages.

  Grace thought she caught a glimpse of concealed amusement on Madame deVilliers's face. But the stately old woman said nothing.

  The motor party had now arrived at the ostrich farm. Mollie, thecountess and Bab ran on ahead. Ruth slipped her arm through MaudWarren's. The count joined them, but Ruth did not withdraw her arm. Mauddid not seem to mind Ruth's "playing gooseberry." Maud was reallybecoming fond of the "Automobile Girls." It was plain, however, that theCount de Sonde had eyes only for Maud.

  The Count de Sonde, who wore high heeled shoes to make him look taller,walked with the two girls. He talked constantly, using his hands andshoulders to emphasize his remarks.

  "You see, Mademoiselle Maud," he explained. "My parents died when I wasa mere infant. Most of my life I have spent in Paris. I do not often goto the Chateau de Sonde. But I love dearly the home of my ancestors."

  "How much land have you around your castle, Count?" asked Ruth.

  The count looked annoyed at the question. "It is a very large estate,"he answered vaguely.

  But Ruth was determined to secure definite information. "Is your chateauon a hill or in a valley?" she next inquired.

  The count shrugged his shoulders. "It is on the side of a mountain,overlooking a valley," he declared.

  The picnic party had now arrived in front of the cages containing theostriches. The great birds were strolling about in fine disdain.

  But Ruth's mind dwelt on the Chateau de Sonde. She was frankly curiousabout it. "Have you ever visited the Count de Sonde at his chateau, Mr.Duval?" inquired Ruth, who happened to be standing next the Frenchman.

  The Count Walked With the Two Girls.]

  "A number of times, Miss Stuart," answered Monsieur Duval. "The countand I are old friends."

  "Is it built on a mountain or in a valley?" queried Ruth. She did notknow herself exactly why she repeated her question.

  "The Chateau de Sonde nestles in the heart of a valley," was MonsieurDuval's prompt answer.

  He caught Ruth's eyes fixed on him with an expression of wonder. But itwas Ruth, not Monsieur Duval, who blushed furiously. The man's eyes weregray and inscrutable. "Why do you ask, Mademoiselle?" he inquired.

  "I don't know," Ruth answered lamely. The man frightened her. He seemedso brilliant, so traveled, so strong, so dangerous. And yet, he had justtold Ruth a lie. Why should he pretend he had visited at the Chateau deSonde?

  "Come, everybody; it is time for luncheon," called Mr. Stuart an hourlater, when his guests had finished their survey of the ostrich cages.

  The "Automobile Girls" opened their immense lunch basket, which thechauffeur had set under the trees. The Countess Sophia insisted onhelping the girls. She was all radiant smiles and gayety. She hummed asong to herself full of delicious, bird-like trills, in a voice that hadbeen wonderfully trained. In every way the countess showed what pleasureshe felt in the picnic. So much so that she was easily the centralfigure of the party.

  Finally the entire company seated themselves in a circle on the ground,Maud Warren and her father with flushed faces. They had evidently beenhaving a private altercation about the Count de Sonde. The count howeverlooked serenely unconscious of the fact.

  A sense of tranquility and cheerfulness soon stole over every one. Theday was enchanting. The chicken and nut sandwiches and other eatablestasted unusually good, and the party did full justice to the temptingluncheon the Stuarts had provided.

  All the guests laughed and talked at the same time. Suddenly thecountess began to sing again in a low voice: "Knowest thou the land?"from "Mignon."

  The others listened with delight.

  Down the avenue a vehicle was heard approaching. There was a cloud ofdust enveloping it. It was impossible for the picnic party todistinguish the occupants of the carriage. The countess's back wasturned toward the equipage. She did not look around. Mollie and Ruthwere glad that she did not turn, for they recognized the two foreignerswho had frightened the young Countess Sophia in the tea garden theafternoon before.

  The men drove up to a palm tree near the spot where Mr. Stuart's guestswere eating. They hitched their horse. Then they walked deliberatelyover to the picnickers. Without a word one of the men reached down. Hetouched the Countess Sophia von Stolberg on the arm.

  Undoubtedly he was German. His face looked threatening and his mannerwas insulting. His companion waited near him. The Countess Sophiashuddered as the stranger touched her. She trembled and turned pale likea frightened child.

  "Madame," said the German, "you are wanted by the police. We have beensent to arrest you."

  Mrs. De Lancey Smythe gave a hysterical laugh of triumph.

  But the young countess quickly recovered her self-control.

  "You have made a mistake," she returned quietly, to the man, whose handstill rested on her arm. "What have I done to be arrested? You have noright to annoy me."

  "You are the notorious swindler wanted by the police of two continents,"accused the German. "I am here to take you back to France where you arewanted."

  Madame de Villiers now arose. She lifted her great mahogany cane, herface dark with anger.

  "You will regret this day's work," she announced. "Be gone!"

  But she had hardly finished her speech, before Mr. Stuart was on hisfeet. He seized the intruder by the collar, and
before the man couldmore than raise his hand from the Countess Sophia's arm, he was hurledseveral feet away, landing in a heap on the ground.

  "You foreign idiot," cried Mr. Stuart, forgetting his women guests inhis anger. "How dare you come here and create a disturbance among myfriends. You are without a warrant or a policeman. The Countess Sophiavon Stolberg is our friend. You shall pay dearly for your insolence.Leave this place without a second's delay or I shall lay violent handson you."

  The two strangers did not dare defy Mr. Stuart. Mr. Warren had alsorisen and hurried to his friend's aid and the two Americans lookedthoroughly capable of enforcing their commands.

  The foreigners went back to their carriage. After a slight delay theydrove off, still muttering veiled threats.

  When they had disappeared down the avenue, Countess Sophia gave Mr.Stuart her hand.

  "I thank you, Monsieur," she said. "Madame de Villiers and I are alone.It is good to have a protector. I do not know why those men attempted toarrest me without a warrant. I assure you they had not just cause. Ibelieve they were sent by an enemy."

  "Perhaps, Countess," replied Mr. Stuart, "those two men think you aresome one else. I know there is a notorious swindler at large at PalmBeach. It is probably a case of mistaken identity."

  The Countess Sophia made no answer. Barbara, who was watching herclosely, saw a look of unmistakable fear leap into her dark eyes at themention of the word "swindler." Bab glanced quickly about her andencountered the eyes of Monsieur Duval. In them was an expression ofcruel triumph that made Bab feel certain that he was in some wayresponsible for the late unpleasant scene.