Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-04-18
GRACE GARDINER.
The Grave Suspicious Aroused by
Her Mysterious Conduct.

Miss Gardiner, while looking through the
advertising columns Of her favorite news.
paper, the Morning Meteor, found the follow
ing lines which she eagerly scanned:
"WANTED.-A young woman of refinement
employed during the day. who can sing well
and play the piano. can have, free Of charge.
during the summer, a pleasant home in the
country. Private family (mother and daughter
Best Of references required. personal inter.
view by appointment through correspondence.
Address, J. B., Meteor Office"
II pleased Miss Gardiner to become an in
mate Of this pleasant country home; and
she accomplished her purpose, with results
delightful to all parties concerned. Mrs.
Malcolm, the advertiser, and her daughter
Jessie, were very pleasant, lovable loving
women, with plenty of money, plenty of
servants and plenty of room The adver-
tisement had been kindly device of Mrs.
Malcolm's to relieve the loneliness of their
handsome country home, and at the same
time afford happy opportunity to some
poor girl of refinement.
When the device brought them Grace
Gardiner, they gained the companionship of
young, unusually handsome girl; with
keen intelligence, a cultivated manner, and
reference was Mr.. Fletcher, the lawyer hav-
ing charge of Mrs. Malcolm's business at
fairs; and that gentleman was enthusiastic
in his praise of her. For the rest, she was
stenographer and typewriter in the highly
respectable firm of Enderby & Sons. So.
for the rest of the summer, Mrs Malcolm's
carriage brought Grace Gardiner from the
railroad station every afternoon, and took
her to the train every morning.
But after a time cloud of troubled mys-
terry rose upon the summer sky of Scotland
Lodge. One afternoon the carriage re-
turned from the station without Miss Gardi-
ner. She had sent note, saying that she
was detained over night but would be home
as usual the next day. 1t was lonely even
ing without her; and she was greatly missed
at the breakfast-table next morning But
In short time her absence was almost for
gotten in the presence of great excitement
which engulfed the entire household
While the ladies were still at breakfast
the servants brought them startling news
One of the rich houses in their neighbor-
hood had been entered by burglars during
the night. The inmates of the house, it
was supposed, had been stupefed with
chloroform; for they had known nothing
of the invasion until morning. Every nook
and recess of the house had been ransacked
and rifled. Every thing of value, even to
wearing apparel had been seized upon; and
wagon-load of booty had been secured.
All this was very interesting, but the con-
clusion of the story was strangely perplex-
ing. All the stolen property had been COM
pactly besl owed in bags and bundles, ready
Tor removal, and then the burglars had gone
away without the bags and bundles Not
the smallest article had been taken out of
the house. Every thing was found in the
morning on the floor of the hall, close to the
front door, which was standing partly open.
The thieves had evidently been frightened
away at the last moment; but in that re-
tired neighborhood. what had frightened
them awayl Here was fine field for specu-
lation.
When Miss Gardiner came home in the
afternoon she talked vivaciously about the
burglary, and on one or two obscure points
made singularly apt and lucid suggestions.
But she soon left the subject: and during
the evening she sang as she had never sung
for them before. 1t was noticed, however,
that she was pale and looked wearied from
overwork. As they were separating for the
night, she said to Mrs. Malcolm, with some
apparent embarrassment:
"You ought to know, Mrs. Malcolm, / have
left my place, and am unsettled now; al
though still have to be in the city during
the day."
20, you poor childr' Mrs. Malcolm ex-
claimed, kissing her. 'Of course ought to
know it. so that Mr.. Fletcher and can
get you another situation at oncen
But to the good lady's surprise and indig- |
nation, Mr.. Fletcher did not respond enthu- |
siastically when she spoke to him about the |
matter the next day.
"We need hardly trouble ourselves" he |
said. al think Miss Gardiner has plans of |
her own. 1t will be best to say nothing
further to her on the subject."
A few mornings later, as Mrs. Malcolm |
was leaving her room, she encountered Miss
Gardiner coming to her. The girl was pale. |
and evidently in pain.
81 would not trouble you il could helm |
It." she said; "but after you had all gone to |
bed last night l had an accident caught |
my hand in some way, and it hurt me so |
that jerked it loose, instead of freeing it |
gently, and so tore the skin"
She held out her hand as she spoke, and |
the shspely member was discolored with |
bruises, and badly swollen; while in one |
place the flesh was lacerated. The old lady |
cried out with horror, and then proceeded to |
battle and bind up the wounded hand.
s'Why," she said, lit looks almost as IL it |
had been bitten. don't see how you man. |
aged to hurt it so. Well, there's no going |
to the city for you to-day with that hand. |
That's decided"
"Ohl mast so to-day-to-day Of all daysw |
the girl cried, vehemently. And then, as il |
recolecting herself, she laughed pleasantly, |
and said: There are two or three things I |
want 70 attend to in the city to-day; and, I
indeed, am quite able to CO."
MISS Jessie was in the breakfast-room be- |
fore them, and seemed in Q somewhat grim |
and unsatisfactory humor. The morning |
greetings had hardly been exchanged when |
the ladies were startled by news Of another |
burglary. The house nearest their own had |
been entered, and evidently by the same |
parties who had committed the previous |
outrage. As before. the people had been !