The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-02
JENNIE BAXTER: JOURNALIST
By ROBERT RARR.
IME MINISTER'S INDISCRETION.
Copyright. 1899. by the Author.1

her mind some agitation as TO what tie de-
tective would think of her sudden flight She
was convinced that, up to the moment of
leaving him SO abruptly. he had not the
slightest suspicion that she herself to
whom he was then talking was the person
he had been searching for up and down
Europe. What must he think of enc who.
while speaking with him, suddenly. without
word of leave taking. disappeared as if
the earth had opened and swallowed her.
and all because the handle of the door to
the inner room had turned? Then the ex-
Cuse she had given for not wishing to meet
Lord DOnal must have struck him as
Tidiculously inadequate When she reached
her desk and reflected with more caImness
over the situation, she found no cause to
censure herself for her hasty departure
Although she had acted on sudden iI..puIse
she saw there had been nothing else to do.
Another moment and she would have been
face TO face with Lord Donal himself.
Next day brought note from the de-
tective which somewhat treasured her. He
apologized for having made the appointment
without her permission and explained that
Lord Donais unexpected arrival in London
and his stubborn unbelief that it had been
the princess herself whom he met at the
ball seemingly left the detective no alterna-
tive but TO call on the person who had so
persistently advanced the theory, to ca plain
IL 10 the one most intimately concerned 1t
had not occurred to him at the time TO think
that Miss Baxter might object to meet Lord
Donal, who was an entire stranger to her.
but now he saw where he was wrong, ETC.
This note did much to convince Jennie that,
after all, the detective had not seen the
clews which appeared to be spread so plain
" before his eyes. Cadbury Taylor. bow
ever, said nothing about the search being
ended and a few days later Jennie received
a disquieting letter from the Princess Won
SteinheimeT.
My dear Jennie" her Highness wrote. II
am sure the detectives are after you, and so
1 thought it best 10 send you a word of
warning. OF course it is only surmise on
my part, but for days there has been
woman lowering about the castle trying to
get information from my servants. My maid
came directly to me and told me what she
knew. The woman detective had spoken to
her. This inquisitive person, who had come
from Paris, wished particularly to know
whether 1 had been seen about the castle
during the week in which the Duchess of
Chiselhursts ball took place, and so this
leads me TO suppose that some one is max
ing inquiries for you. 1t must be either
Lord Donal Stirling or the Duke Of Chisel.
hurst, but 1 rather think it is the former
have written an indignant letter to Lord
Donal. accusing him of having caused de-
tectives TO haunt the castle. / have not yet
received reply. but Lord Donal is truth
ful person, and in day or two 1 expect to
md out whether or not he has a hand in
this business. Meanwhile. Jennie, be on
your guard, and / will write you again as
soon as 1 have something further to tell"
no Of eft in
creased Jennie's fears, for she felt assured
that. stupid as the men undoubtedly were,
they verged so closely on the brink Of dis
covery that they were almost osrtain to
stumble upon the truth if the investigation
was continued. She wrote hurried note to
the princess, imploring her to be cautious
and not inadvertently give any clew that
would lead to her discovery. Her letter evil
IDENTIFY crossed one from the princess her
self. Lord Donal had confessed, said the let
ter, and promised never, never to do
it again. He says that before my
letter was received ne had stopped
the detectives, who were doing no good
and apparently only annoying innocent peo-
pie. He says the search is ended, as far
the detective is concerned, and that L
need fear no more intrusions from inquiry
agents, male or female. He apologized very
up hopes of finding the lady who disap-
peared. And now, Jennie, / hope that YOU
will admit my cleverness. You see that l
only had word two from my maid as a
cew, but 1 unraveled the whole plot and at
once discovered who was the instigator OF
1t. So L think 1 wouldn't make bad detec-
tive myself. i am tremendously interested
in episodes like this. / believe if ] had
known nothing OF the impersonation and if
the case had been put in my hands should
have discovered you long ago. Can't you
think of some way in which my undoubted
talent for research may be made use off,
You don't know how much / envy you in
your newspaper office, always with some
mystery on hand TO solve. 1t must be like
being the editor of a puzzle department
wish you would let me help you next time
You have something important to do Will
you promise?
When you write again please send your
letter &c Vienna, as going into resi-
dence there. my husband having been unex-
pectedly called TO the capital. He holds an
important position in the government as
perhaps you remember"
Jennie was delighted to know that all in
quiry had ceased, and she wrote long let
ter of gratitude to the princess. She con-
S4UuSu ner eplSlie Dy SdylilS- II iS PSAASSHS
absurd of you TO envy one who has 20 work
as hard as /. You are the person to be
envied. 1t is not all beer and skittles In
newspaper office, which is good thing, for
i don't like beer, and / don't know what
skittles is-or are. But 1 promise you that
the next time / have an interesting case
on hand 1 shall write and give you full par
ticulars. and 1 am sure that together we
shall be invincible''
But one trouble leaves merely to give place
10 another in this life. Jennie was disturbed
To notice that Mr.. Hardwick was becoming
more and more confidential with her. He
sat down by her desk whenever there was
reasonable excuse for doing so, and he
consulted her on matters important and on
matters trivial. An advance of salary came
TO her, and she knew it was through MS
influence with the board of directors Al
though Mr.. Hardwick was sharp ana de-
cisive in business matters, he>proved an
awkward man where his affections were
concerned, and he often came and sat py
the girls desk, evidently wishing 10 say
something and yet quite as evidently having
nothing to say, and thus the situation De-