DEAR ABBY

Inquiring minds may want to know what National Enquirer editors had in mind when they ran a story on actress Abby Dalton with a headline that screamed: “Axed Abby Dalton Asks Enquirer . . . Please Help Me Save My Role on ‘Falcon Crest.’ ”

The article claims that Dalton was “heartbroken and dismayed” after learning she’s being written off the show after the first five episodes of the upcoming season.

But a spokeswoman for Dalton maintains the actress never spoke with the tabloid (despite being extensively quoted). “Abby is talking to her attorney now. She wasn’t dumped or axed from the show as the article says,” said the rep. (Our calls to the tabloid went unreturned.)

Said Dalton: “It’s caused me anxiety and hurt my credibility. The story was low-class and shabby.”

Over in the “Crest” camp, story consultant Bill Schmidt said the staff was surprised by the story, which included a coupon readers could clip and fill out to “keep Abby on the show.”

Joked Schmidt: “Some people on the staff have thought of buying copies of the magazine and sending in our own ballot. I think we would be evenly split on the results. Abby should know nobody ever dies on a prime-time soap.”