The Republican., 1889-04-20
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, pleasant home in the
country. Private family (mother and daughter }
Best of references required A personal inter
view by appointment through correspondence
Address, j. b., Meteor office"
1t 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 a kindly device of Mrs
Malcolm's, to relieve the loneliness of their
handsome country home, and at the same
tine 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, cultivated manner, and
n positive genius for music. Her principal
reference was Mr.. Fletcher, the lawyer Eav-
ing charge of Mrsl Malcolm's busiqess af
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 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-
ncr. 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 a short time her absence was almost for
gotten in the presence of a great excitement
which engulled 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
ftlQ tiiCu' HNClJ phihS VI NdAuCs ONCu "
wearing apparel had been seized upon; and
a 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 bes; 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 hall, close to the
front door, which was standing partly open.
TIE 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
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
sYou ought to know, Mrs. Malcolm, have
left my place, and am unsettled now; al
InOuRn SIlu utVe u Uo III Iu6 CITY curing
the day.''
10, you pccr childW 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 enthu-
siastically when she spoke to him about the
matter the next day.
1--WE need hardly trouble ourselves" he
eaid. 81 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,
aud evidently in pain.
''Iwould not trouble you il could help
it." she said; "but after you had all gone to
bed last night had an accident. caught
my hand in some way, and it hurt me so
that jerl1ed it loose, instead Of freeing it
gently, and so tore the skin"
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
hathe and bind up the wounded baud.