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 suspected
their lovely countess. Now she was sure of it. How absurd for Ruth to
suggest they could not use the automobile because her chauffeur was
away. The "Automobile Girls" had traveled for days at a time, with Ruth
as her own chauffeur, while the trip to the countess's villa represented
only a few miles.
"How can you be so cruel, Ruth?" Mollie cried. "You just don't want to
go to the countess's aid because you have listened to tales about her
from 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 of
mystery surrounding the Countess Sophia. There are many things that it
seems to me she might explain. I don't wish to be hateful, and of course
I can drive our car over to the countess's, though I have never taken
out such a big car alone before. Come; let's get ready."
Barbara hesitated. "Mollie," she protested, "I don't think it is right
for us to make Ruth take us to see the countess, if she would rather not
go."
Mollie bit her lips. "Ruth Stuart," she said, "you talk about the
countess explaining things. What have you ever asked her to explain? If
there is anything you want to know about her, ask her to tell you. It is
not fair to keep silent, and still not to trust her."
Ruth had a sudden conviction that she would as soon approach the Queen
of England to inquire into her private affairs as to ask questions of
the Countess Sophia von Stolberg.
"Well, Mollie, I will say this much," Ruth conceded. "I never doubt our
countess when I am with her. She is so beautiful and sweet that I forget
to be suspicious. But, when I am away from her, I have just wondered a
little, that's all! Now, don't be cross, Barbara, but come with me. I am
going to get out the automobile. Grace, will you and Mollie explain to
Aunt Sallie where we are going?"
"I'll tell you what, Ruth," Bab suggested. "Let us make up our minds not
to suspect the countess because of any gossip we hear. There seems to be
a 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 as
much as Mollie. The countess, right or wrong, but still the countess!"
"Loyal Bab!" cried Ruth, patting Barbara's hand. "See, I cast all my
suspicions away!" Ruth waved her other hand. "The cause of the countess
is my cause also. I shall fight for her, through thick and thin." Ruth
looked as though she meant what she said.
The "Automobile Girls" were soon on their way to the countess's pretty
villa. Mollie still held herself apart from the other three girls. She
felt that no one of them had risen to the defence of her adored countess
with 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 so
large an automobile.
As her car moved quietly and steadily toward its destination, another
small automobile dashed past it. Ruth glanced about quickly. The man who
drove the small car was exceeding the speed limit. He was alone. He wore
a long dust coat with the collar turned up to his ears; he had a cap
pulled low over his face, and he wore an immense pair of green goggles.
But Ruth's quick eyes recognized him. Her three companions paid little
attention to the man.
"Bab," said Ruth, at almost the same instant that the small car swept by
them, "it is Monsieur Duval who is driving that car!"
"Well," replied Bab, "what of it? I did not know Mr. Duval was a
motorist. But I am not surprised, for he seems to know almost
everything."
"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 he
was 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 to
beat him to the countess's house. If she has something important to tell
us, Monsieur Duval shall not keep us from hearing it."
Ruth put on full speed and started her car in pursuit of the flying
automobile in front of her. In a few seconds she drew near the
automobile. The little car was on the right side of the road and making
its best speed. Ruth sounded her horn. She swerved her great car to the
left in order to pass the smaller one.
Bab uttered a cry of terror. Mollie and Grace both screamed. Ruth's face
turned white, but she had no time to scream.
The small motor car just in front of her immense automobile turned like
a flash. It swept across the road immediately in the path of Ruth's
on-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 whether
the man ahead of her had deliberately risked his life and theirs in
order to accomplish some purpose. All her ability as a driver was needed
to meet the situation.
Ruth's hands never left the steering wheel of her car. In less than a
half second, she put on the full stop brake. With a terrific wrench her
great automobile settled back. It stopped just one foot this side of the
car that had crossed their path.
Ruth was white with anger. She saw, a moment later, that the driver
ahead of her had accomplished his design. For no sooner had Ruth's car
stopped, than the other motorist forged ahead. Ruth resumed the chase,
but she was obliged to be careful. She dared not risk the lives of her
friends by driving too close to the other car. The man ahead might
repeat his trick. Ruth could not be sure that she could always stop her
motor in so brief a space of time and distance.
So the smaller of the two automobiles arrived first at the countess's
villa.
The Countess Sophia von Stolberg evidently expecting a visit from the
"Automobile Girls," sat at her piano in her drawing-room, playing one of
Chopin's nocturnes. At the sound of the automobile outside on the avenue
the countess left her music and ran out on her veranda to meet her young
visitors. But instead of the four girls a heavy, well-built man in a
long dust coat and goggles approached the countess. The countess did not
recognize him at once. A suave voice soon enlightened her. "Madame," it
said. "I have come to see you on an important matter of business. I must
see you alone."
"What business can you have with me, Monsieur Duval?" asked the young
countess 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 Countess
Sophia.
"No?" her visitor replied, shrugging his shoulders and speaking in a
light 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 forward
to 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. I
cannot 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 swerved
in front of yours on the road. It was unpardonable. I offer you many
thanks for your skill. You saved us from a bad smash-up."
Ruth colored. Hot words rose to her lips. But she feared to say too
much. She looked at Mr. Duval gravely. "I think, Mr. Duval," she
remarked, as suavely as the Frenchman could have spoken, "it will be
wise for you not to run a motor car unless you learn how to handle it
better. You are right. We were exposed to great danger from your
carelessness."
Madame de Villiers now gazed sternly at Monsieur Duval. "Have I the
pleasure of your acquaintance?" she inquired coldly, turning her
lorgnette on the Frenchman.
Monsieur Duval lost some of his self-assurance in the presence of this
beak-nosed old lady. "I met you at Mr. Stuart's picnic, Madame," he
explained. "Good-bye, ladies." Monsieur Duval bowed low. Then he turned
to the countess. "I will deliver my news to you, Countess Sophia,
whenever you are pleased to hear it." A moment later the Frenchman
disappeared. But on his way back to his hotel he smiled. "If life were
not a lottery it would be too stupid to endure. Yet this is the first
time in my career that a group of young girls have tried to beat me at
my own game."
When the Frenchman had finally gone the countess turned to Mollie, and
kissed her. Then she looked affectionately at Bab, Grace and Ruth.
"You saw my signal, didn't you?" she asked, smiling. "What an energetic
society to come to me in such a hurry! I really have something to tell
you. It is something serious. Yet I must ask you to trust me, if I tell
you only part of a story. I cannot tell you all. As it is much too
beautiful to stay indoors, suppose we go to my pavilion down by the
water."
On the way to the boathouse, Ruth stopped to embrace Mollie. "Mollie,
darling, forgive me!" she whispered. "I promise you never to doubt our
lovely countess again. She is perfect."
When the Countess Sophia and the four "Automobile Girls" were safely in
the boathouse, the young hostess sighed. "I am sorry to talk about
disagreeable things to-day," she murmured. "You cannot understand what a
pleasure it is to me to know four such charming young girls. I have had
so 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. "I
want to warn you----"
"About the Count de Sonde?" cried Mollie, who had never gotten over her
first prejudice.
"Yes," replied the countess slowly. "I think I promised to help you save
your girl friend Maud Warren. I am afraid she and the count are more
interested in each other than you girls imagine." The countess faltered
and looked fearfully about her. "You must not let Miss Warren marry the
Count de Sonde," she murmured. "You must stop such a wedding at all
hazards. The Count de Sonde is----"
"Is what?" asked Barbara.
The countess shook her head. Again she blushed painfully. "I cannot tell
you now," explained the countess. "But I know this. If Miss Warren
marries 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 do
so?" queried practical Bab. "Unless you can tell us something definite
against the count, we cannot go to Mr. Warren or Maud. Mr. Warren has
already 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 tell
you more. But I can explain nothing. Only I warn you to be careful."
"Need we to fear the Frenchman, Monsieur Duval?" Ruth asked
thoughtfully.
The countess was silent for a moment. Then she said slowly, "You must
fear him most of all!"