The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1889-04-25

We wondered why
And listened spell bound to his explanations.
This lady you find fault WITH" then said he,
Whom escort to social recreations.
10 my near neighbor-lues next door to me;
And so when
Escort her home I'm home myself you Sec
And that is why
Eva Best, in Detroit Free Press.
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 we'll
and play the piano, can have, free OF charge.
during the summer, q pleasant home in tho
country. Private family (mother and daughter
Best OF references required. A personal inter-
view by appointment through correspondence
Address, j. B., Meteor office"
1tpleased 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
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
positive genius for music. Her principal
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 4 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 time cloud OF troubled mys-
tory rose upon the summer sky of Scotland
Lodge. One afternoon the carriage re-
turned from the station without Miss Gardi-
nor. 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 a 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.
hOn6 had hoon ont 1V,b
the night. The inmates of the house, i,
was supposed, had been stupefied with
chloroform; for they had known nothing
of the invasion until morning. Every nook
and recess of the house had been ransacked
and rifed. 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 CON-
l'actly hes: owed in bags and bundles, ready
for 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 hail. 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 away2 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
m ade singularly apt and lucid suggestions.
But she soon LETT 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
oveywork. As they were separating for the
night, she said to Mrs. Malcolm, with some
apparent mbarrassment:
"You ought to know, Mrs. Malcolm, I have
left my place, and am unsettled now; al.
though still have to be in the city during
the day"
20, you poor childv' Mrs. Malcolm ex.
claimed, kissing her. "Of course ought to
know it, so that Mr.. Fletcher and can
get you another situation at once.''
But to the good lady's surprise and indig-
nation, Mr.. Fletcher did not respond enthr-
matter the next day.
said. II think Miss Gardiner has plans OF
her own. It 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.
II would not trouble you il could help
It," she said; 'but after you had all gone to
bed last night had an accident. 1caught
my hand in some way, and it hurt me SO
that jerked it loose, instead of freeing It
gently, and so tore the skim"
She held out her hand as she spoke, and
the shapely 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
blthe and bind up the wounded hand.
"Why," she said, lit looks almost as if II
had been bitten. don't sec how you man.
aged to hurt it 80. Well, there's no going
to the city for you to-day with that hand
That's decided.''
''Oh must 60 to-day-to-day of all daysv
the girl cried, vehemently. And then, a. il
reoollecting herself, she laughed pleasantly
and said: 'Thore are two or three things
want to attend to in the city to-day; and
indeed, am quite able to CO."
Miss Jessie was in the breakfast-room be-
fore them, and seemed in . somewhat grim
and unsatisfactory hupor. The morning
greetings had hardly been exchanged wher
the ladies were startled by news of another
burglary. The house nearest their own had
been entered, and evidently by the sam.
parties who had committed tho previou.
outrage. A before, the people had beer
chloroformed, the house had been thor
0ughly ramsacked, and every thing Of valu,
had been bundled up, ready for removal
and as before, the property had al; been LEFT
in the ball, by the open front door. Tn,
thieves had been frightened away the secont
time.
This new affair caused genuine dismay IL
tho Malcolm household, and Mrs. Malcolm
spoke about getting special guards to sta,
in tho house at night. Grace tried to reas
sure her.
II really don't think we have much Il
fear" she said, with so many strong mon
servants % are known to sleep on the prem
ises. Burglars know what they are under
taking before tbay begin operations"
Il can net imagine why they should .fst''