Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1890-02-25
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:
"wAsrEp.-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, q pleasant home In the
country. Private family (mother and daughter.)
| Best OF references required. A personal inter
view b. appointment through correspondence.
Address, J. B., Meteor oilce"
n pleased Miss Gardiner 10 become an In
mate Of this pleasant country home; and
she accomplished her purpose, with results
delightful to all parties concerned. MIRA
Malcolm, the advertiser, and her daughter
Jessie, were very pleasant, lovable loving
women, with penty of money, plenty oi
servants and plenty Of room. The adver
tisement had been kindly device Of Mrs
Malcolm's to relieve the loneliness of theli
handsome country home, and at the same
time afford happy opportunity 70 soms
poor girl Of refinement.
When the device brought them Grace
Gardiner, they gained the companionship Of
q 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 Of
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 summsr Mrs. Malcolm's
carriage brought Grace Gardiner from the
railroad station every afternoon, and took
ter 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-
ner. She had sent note, saying that she
was detained over night, but would be home
us usual the next day. 1t was o lonely even
ing without her; and she was greatly missed
ut the breskfast-table next morning. But
In short time her absence was almost for
Cotton In the presence OF great excitement
which engulfed the entire household.
While the lsdies 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, 1t
was supposed, had been stupefled with
for they had known nothing
of the invasion until morning. Every nook
and rece-s of the house had been ransacked
and rifed. Every thing Of value, oven to
wearing apparel had been seized upon; and
q wagon load OF booty had been secured.
All this was very interesting. but the con-
clusiUn OF the story was strangely perplex-
Ing. All the stolen property had been COM
pactly bes owed In bags and bundles, ready
H.. l.. n
away without the bags and bundles. Not
the smallest article had been taken out Of
the house. Every thing was found Ia the
on the floor Of the hail, close TO the
front door, which was standing part y open.
7 he thieves had evidently been frightened
away at the last moment; but in that re-
tired neighbt rhood, what had frightened
them awayl Here was fine field for specu-
lation.
When Miss Gardiner came homo 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 II was noticed, however,
that she was palo and looked wearicd 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 DO in the city during
the day"
20. you poor childr' Mrs. Malcolm ex-
claimed, kissing her. 'of course ought to
know II, 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.
I'VE need hardly trouble ourselves" he
said. ~ think Miss Gardiner has plans of
her own. It wi be best to say nothing
further to her oil the subject"
A few mornings later, as Mrs. Malcolm
was leaving her room, sho encountered Miss
Gardiner coming to her. The girl was pale,
and evidently In pain.
~ would not trouble you II could help
It." she said; "but after you had oil gone to
Ded iast night had an accident. caught
Wy manu- IN soino "af' anu ~ nurt ine 30
'nat Jerkeo !. 'oose, ins'eau oi ireeinR IL
sentiy, ana 80 'ore 'ne ssn'
She heId out ner mana az snc spoke ana
Ine snapely nenoer was oiscoiored WIN
oruises' anu Daoiy swoiien' wniie IN one
pface the nesh wa' iacerated. Inc oid iady
'ried out Win ho-ror' ana tnen proceeded 70
oatneahu oihd up tne wounded naho'
~ n.y. she said, III looks almost as II IL
nad oeen bitten don't see now you man
aged 10 hurt u 80. wen. theros no gong
70 =, tne city tor you To-Day win Wd' manu.
Aaaus deiiued." -,
-. ou mus 30 oto-day--to-day OF III daysr
'ne girl cried' venemehliy. ana tneh, ~ II
recol reg ec,lhg herself, she iaughed pieasan.y,
,n"s unu sslu; Ihete are TWO or three tninss l