CHAPTER XI
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS
"Shall we go to the countess at once, Ruth?" asked Barbara.
Ruth hesitated. "The chauffeur has gone away for the day," she replied."And we have no one to take us by boat to the villa."
Mollie's blue eyes filled with tears. She had feared that Ruth suspectedtheir lovely countess. Now she was sure of it. How absurd for Ruth tosuggest they could not use the automobile because her chauffeur wasaway. The "Automobile Girls" had traveled for days at a time, with Ruthas her own chauffeur, while the trip to the countess's villa representedonly a few miles.
"How can you be so cruel, Ruth?" Mollie cried. "You just don't want togo to the countess's aid because you have listened to tales about herfrom that horrid Mrs. Smythe."
"I haven't listened to Mrs. Smythe, Mollie," Ruth answered soothingly."But I have been thinking. You can't deny that there is a good deal ofmystery surrounding the Countess Sophia. There are many things that itseems to me she might explain. I don't wish to be hateful, and of courseI can drive our car over to the countess's, though I have never takenout such a big car alone before. Come; let's get ready."
Barbara hesitated. "Mollie," she protested, "I don't think it is rightfor us to make Ruth take us to see the countess, if she would rather notgo."
Mollie bit her lips. "Ruth Stuart," she said, "you talk about thecountess explaining things. What have you ever asked her to explain? Ifthere is anything you want to know about her, ask her to tell you. It isnot fair to keep silent, and still not to trust her."
Ruth had a sudden conviction that she would as soon approach the Queenof England to inquire into her private affairs as to ask questions ofthe Countess Sophia von Stolberg.
"Well, Mollie, I will say this much," Ruth conceded. "I never doubt ourcountess when I am with her. She is so beautiful and sweet that I forgetto be suspicious. But, when I am away from her, I have just wondered alittle, that's all! Now, don't be cross, Barbara, but come with me. I amgoing to get out the automobile. Grace, will you and Mollie explain toAunt Sallie where we are going?"
"I'll tell you what, Ruth," Bab suggested. "Let us make up our minds notto suspect the countess because of any gossip we hear. There seems to bea great deal of talking going on, but nobody makes any definite charges.The countess has been delightful to us. I am afraid I am on her side asmuch as Mollie. The countess, right or wrong, but still the countess!"
"Loyal Bab!" cried Ruth, patting Barbara's hand. "See, I cast all mysuspicions away!" Ruth waved her other hand. "The cause of the countessis my cause also. I shall fight for her, through thick and thin." Ruthlooked as though she meant what she said.
The "Automobile Girls" were soon on their way to the countess's prettyvilla. Mollie still held herself apart from the other three girls. Shefelt that no one of them had risen to the defence of her adored countesswith the ardor she expected.
Ruth was running the car slowly. It was only a few miles to the villa.Ruth was a cautious chauffeur, and was not in the habit of managing solarge an automobile.
As her car moved quietly and steadily toward its destination, anothersmall automobile dashed past it. Ruth glanced about quickly. The man whodrove the small car was exceeding the speed limit. He was alone. He worea long dust coat with the collar turned up to his ears; he had a cappulled low over his face, and he wore an immense pair of green goggles.But Ruth's quick eyes recognized him. Her three companions paid littleattention to the man.
"Bab," said Ruth, at almost the same instant that the small car swept bythem, "it is Monsieur Duval who is driving that car!"
"Well," replied Bab, "what of it? I did not know Mr. Duval was amotorist. But I am not surprised, for he seems to know almosteverything."
"Bab, I think he is on his way to see the Countess Sophia von Stolberg,"Ruth announced with conviction.
"He does not know the countess, does he?" Grace inquired. "I think hewas introduced to her only through us."
"I don't know what Monsieur Duval knows and what he doesn't know,"explained Ruth. "But I should like to find out. Anyhow, I am going tobeat him to the countess's house. If she has something important to tellus, Monsieur Duval shall not keep us from hearing it."
Ruth put on full speed and started her car in pursuit of the flyingautomobile in front of her. In a few seconds she drew near theautomobile. The little car was on the right side of the road and makingits best speed. Ruth sounded her horn. She swerved her great car to theleft in order to pass the smaller one.
Bab uttered a cry of terror. Mollie and Grace both screamed. Ruth's faceturned white, but she had no time to scream.
The small motor car just in front of her immense automobile turned likea flash. It swept across the road immediately in the path of Ruth'son-coming car, and not more than a few paces ahead of her.
It was either a mad piece of foolishness on the part of the chauffeur,or a magnificent dare. At the moment Ruth did not stop to wonder whetherthe man ahead of her had deliberately risked his life and theirs inorder to accomplish some purpose. All her ability as a driver was neededto meet the situation.
Ruth's hands never left the steering wheel of her car. In less than ahalf second, she put on the full stop brake. With a terrific wrench hergreat automobile settled back. It stopped just one foot this side of thecar that had crossed their path.
Ruth was white with anger. She saw, a moment later, that the driverahead of her had accomplished his design. For no sooner had Ruth's carstopped, than the other motorist forged ahead. Ruth resumed the chase,but she was obliged to be careful. She dared not risk the lives of herfriends by driving too close to the other car. The man ahead mightrepeat his trick. Ruth could not be sure that she could always stop hermotor in so brief a space of time and distance.
So the smaller of the two automobiles arrived first at the countess'svilla.
The Countess Sophia von Stolberg evidently expecting a visit from the"Automobile Girls," sat at her piano in her drawing-room, playing one ofChopin's nocturnes. At the sound of the automobile outside on the avenuethe countess left her music and ran out on her veranda to meet her youngvisitors. But instead of the four girls a heavy, well-built man in along dust coat and goggles approached the countess. The countess did notrecognize him at once. A suave voice soon enlightened her. "Madame," itsaid. "I have come to see you on an important matter of business. I mustsee you alone."
"What business can you have with me, Monsieur Duval?" asked the youngcountess coldly. But her voice trembled slightly.
"I bring you news of a friend," declared Mr. Duval quietly.
"I have no friends whom you could know, Monsieur," answered the CountessSophia.
"No?" her visitor replied, shrugging his shoulders and speaking in alight bantering tone. "Shall I inform you, then, and your young friends,whom I now see approaching?"
Ruth's motor car was now in plain sight. The four girls rushed forwardto join the countess.
At the same moment the tap-tap of a stick was heard inside the house.Madame de Villiers appeared, followed by Johann with a tray of lemonade.
The countess spoke quickly. "No, no, you must say nothing to me, now. Icannot listen to you. Please go away."
Bab noticed that the countess was trembling when she took her hand.
Monsieur Duval bowed courteously to Ruth. "Mademoiselle," he declared,"I owe you an apology. I fear I am but a poor chauffeur. My car swervedin front of yours on the road. It was unpardonable. I offer you manythanks for your skill. You saved us from a bad smash-up."
Ruth colored. Hot words rose to her lips. But she feared to say toomuch. She looked at Mr. Duval gravely. "I think, Mr. Duval," sheremarked, as suavely as the Frenchman could have spoken, "it will bewise for you not to run a motor car unless you learn how to handle itbetter. You are right. We were exposed to great danger from yourcarelessness."
Madame de Villiers now gazed sternly at Monsieur Duval. "Have I thepleasure of your acquaintance?" she inquired coldly, turning herlorgnette on the Frenchman.
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Monsieur Duval lost some of his self-assurance in the presence of thisbeak-nosed old lady. "I met you at Mr. Stuart's picnic, Madame," heexplained. "Good-bye, ladies." Monsieur Duval bowed low. Then he turnedto the countess. "I will deliver my news to you, Countess Sophia,whenever you are pleased to hear it." A moment later the Frenchmandisappeared. But on his way back to his hotel he smiled. "If life werenot a lottery it would be too stupid to endure. Yet this is the firsttime in my career that a group of young girls have tried to beat me atmy own game."
When the Frenchman had finally gone the countess turned to Mollie, andkissed her. Then she looked affectionately at Bab, Grace and Ruth.
"You saw my signal, didn't you?" she asked, smiling. "What an energeticsociety to come to me in such a hurry! I really have something to tellyou. It is something serious. Yet I must ask you to trust me, if I tellyou only part of a story. I cannot tell you all. As it is much toobeautiful to stay indoors, suppose we go to my pavilion down by thewater."
On the way to the boathouse, Ruth stopped to embrace Mollie. "Mollie,darling, forgive me!" she whispered. "I promise you never to doubt ourlovely countess again. She is perfect."
When the Countess Sophia and the four "Automobile Girls" were safely inthe boathouse, the young hostess sighed. "I am sorry to talk aboutdisagreeable things to-day," she murmured. "You cannot understand what apleasure it is to me to know four such charming young girls. I have hadso few companions in my life. Indeed I have been lonely, always."
The "Automobile Girls" were silent. They hardly knew what to reply.
"I must try to tell you why I sent for you," the countess went on. "Iwant to warn you----"
"About the Count de Sonde?" cried Mollie, who had never gotten over herfirst prejudice.
"Yes," replied the countess slowly. "I think I promised to help you saveyour girl friend Maud Warren. I am afraid she and the count are moreinterested in each other than you girls imagine." The countess falteredand looked fearfully about her. "You must not let Miss Warren marry theCount de Sonde," she murmured. "You must stop such a wedding at allhazards. The Count de Sonde is----"
"Is what?" asked Barbara.
The countess shook her head. Again she blushed painfully. "I cannot tellyou now," explained the countess. "But I know this. If Miss Warrenmarries the Count de Sonde she will regret it all her life."
"But how can we prevent Maud's marrying the count if she wishes to doso?" queried practical Bab. "Unless you can tell us something definiteagainst the count, we cannot go to Mr. Warren or Maud. Mr. Warren hasalready forbidden Maud to have anything to do with the Count de Sonde,but Maud continually disobeys her father."
"I am sorry," said the young countess hesitatingly. "I wish I dared tellyou more. But I can explain nothing. Only I warn you to be careful."
"Need we to fear the Frenchman, Monsieur Duval?" Ruth askedthoughtfully.
The countess was silent for a moment. Then she said slowly, "You mustfear him most of all!"
The Automobile Girls at Palm Beach; Or, Proving Their Mettle Under Southern Skies Page 11
