The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-11

had been delivered that paper would now be
In the possession of the bank. Instead of
In your hands,
perhaps. Still, it might be worth while
finding out"
her."
ct is not likely she would remember.
The better plan is TO telegraph at once TO
the Vienna bank, asking them to send the
diamonds TO Meran by special messenger.
missing"
Il Will do So at once cried the prince.
with more animation in HIS voice than Miss
Baxter had previously noticed. His high
ness was becoming interested In the game.
Baxter, who was seated at her desk. and
handed her a letter.
There is an invitation from the Duchess
ly to give. 1t IS to be a very swell affair,
but / don't care enough for such things
Would you therefore send her Grace my re-
grets?"
II will do so at once"
At that moment there came a messenger
from the prince asking Miss Baxter to meet
him In the library. The girl glanced up at
the princess.
The princess looked at her steadily for a
moment, just the faintest suspicion Of a
frown on her fair brow.
Il do not suppose you need my permis-
sion." Her Highness spoke with slow de-
liberation. My husband condescends to
take considerable interest in you. Passing
along the corridor this morning. / heard
your voices in most animated conversation"
Had you sufficient interest in our dis
eussion to stop and listen to what We said'
Princess Won Stsinheimer?"
"Ah! Now you are becoming insolent,
and i must ask you to consider your en-
gagement with me at an end" 49,.
Surely you will not dismiss me In that
heartless way, princess. i think / am en-
titled to a months notice, or is it only a
week's?"
years. If that will content YOU / have no
wish to deal harshly with you. but desire
you to leave at once said inc princess. WHO
the girl was in earnest when she asked Tor
notice.
Miss Baxter laughed merrily and replied
when she was able to control her mirtn: L
do hate to leave the castle just when things
were becoming interesting. Still, / don't
suppose l shall need TO go away in spite OF
your dismissal, for the prince this morning
offered me ten times the amount of money
you !b; are paying"
BE assured he did. II you don't believe
me. ask him. 1 told him he was a fool; but,
alas. we live in a cynical age, and few men
believe all they hear, so / fear my express
him"
Il shall not keep you longer from his
highness," said the princess. with freezing
dignity"
THANK you so much. / am just dying to
meet him., for / know he has something
most interesting to tell me. Don't you think
yourself, princess, that a man acts rather
like a fool when he is deeply in lover"
To this there was no reply, and the prin-
cess left the room. Miss Jennie jumped 10
her feet and almost ran to the library. She
found the prince walking up and down the
long, room with a telegraph message In MS
hand.
You are a most wSnderful young wom-
Il nave been told so by more observing
men than you, Prince Won Steinheimer."
from the manager of the bank in Vienna.
and it ran: Special messenger leaves with
package by the Meran express to-night."
1.-The diamonds never left the bank. / sup
pose those idiots of servants which the
princess has round her didn't know what
they took away from Vienna and what they
left. Then, when the diamonds were miss
ing. they completely lost their heads-not
that any one in the castle has much wits to
spare. / never saw such an incompetent
The prince aughed.
You think. perhaps, / have not wits
enough TO see that my wife cares for me-
W letterS?"
"Oh. you are we'll mated, The princess
o of me- a0e Think ms Of one th nGh'f AS 81 if D it wer SeaI poss
sible that | should take any interest in you.
for l have seen real men in my time"
The prince regarded her with his most
1871 NHPAN SAO
Are you not catering yourself some
what, young lady?'
oh, dear, no! take 1t as the reverse
any liking for such a ninny as you are.
Flattering. indeed And she has haughtily
dismissed me. if you please"
THE princess has? What have you been
saying TO her?"
"Oh, made the most innocent remark,
and 1t was the truth, too. which shows that
honesty is not always the best policy.
merely told her that you had offered me
ten times the amount of money she is pay
ing me. You needn't jump as If somebody
You did make such an offer"
You COMPOUNDED little mischief maker
cried the PRINCE in anger. Did you tell her
what Ii was for?"
No. She did not ask"
II will thank you to apply the clever
ness you seem to possess to the undoing
caused" -
How can /? am ordered to leave to.
night, when / did so wish to stay and see
the iamond denouement."
You arc not going tonight. ] shall speak
to the princess about 1t IL that should be
necessary. Your mention of the diamonds
law. Mr.. Briggs. informs me that a cele-
brated detective. whom it seems he has en-
gaged-Cadbury Taylor. / think the name is
will be here tomorrow to explain the dia'
mond mystery, so you see you have a com
oh, is cadbury coming? That is toe
July lOI anything. SlmpIy must S'oy onN
hear his explanation, for he Is a very IA
nous detective, and the conclusions he has
arrived at must be most interesting"
In the morning the diamonds arrived pc
special messenger, who nrst TOOK a lorna
receipt for them and then most obsequiously
took his departure. BY the same trair
came Mr.. Cadbury Taylor, as modest az
ever. but giving some indication in his bear
ing of the Importance of the discovery his
wonderful system had aided him in making
He blandly evaded the curiosity. OF Mr.
Briggs and said it would perhaps be better
to reveal the secret in the presence or tht
prince and princess.
Just what / suspected" muttered Mr.
Briggs. who had long been convinced tina
the prince had stolen the stones.
The important gathering. took place II
the library, the. prince, with the diamonds
in his coat pocket, seated at the head o
the long table. while the princess sat at tn
foot, as far from her husband as she coult
conveniently get without attracting notice
Miss Baxter stood near a window readins
an important letter from London, which
had reached her that morning.. The tall
thin detective and the porty Mr.. .Brigg
came in together, the London man bowlns
gravely to the prince and princess. MI
Briggs took a seat az the side of the table
hut the detective remained standing. lookin.
questioningly at Miss Baxter, but evidentl.
not recognizing her "a the lady who ha'
come IN upon him and his friend when the.
had entered the train.
II beg pardon of your highnesS, bu
what / have to say had better be said Wit
as few hearers as possible. l should be mucl
obliged if this young person would rea'
her correspondence in another room"
1.-The Young woman" said the prince cold
ly. lis secretary to her highness and Is en-
| tirely in her confidence.