The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-25

princess, being a woman-and a young wom-
an-would naturally be very anxious TO at
tend the Duchess of Chiselhurst's ball,
wouldn't she?'
''One would think So"
And. as you have just said, she has a
bear of a husband, a good deal older than
herself, who does not in the least care Tor
such things as the function to which the
princess was invited. Is 1t not just posi-
Bile that the princess actually attended the
ball, but, for reasons of her own, desired
to keep the fact of her presence there a
secret? And you must remember that Lord
Donal Stirling had not seen the princess
for five years"
For five years." said the detective sharp
well, you know" murmured the girl,
with a gasp, that he met her last in Wash
ington. and the princess has not been In
America for five years: so, YOU see
"Oh, / was not aware that he had met
her in America at all! In fact; Lord Donai
his talk had reference to this lady who i'm
personated her"
Jennie leaned back in her chair, closed
her eyes for a moment and breathed
quickly. 49,
do not remember with sufficient mrhuteness
to advise. l would merely suggest that
Lord Donal met tho princess herself at the
Duchess of Chiselhursts ball: The princess
naturally would wish 10 mislead MIN re-
garding her IDENTITY. and so, if he had not
met her for some time-say two years. or
three years, or five years, or Whatever tne
period may belt is quite possible that the
princess has changed greatly in the inter
val, and perhaps she was not reluctant 10
carry on a Irritation with the young man.
your client. OF course she could not allow
ii to go further than the outside or the
door of the Duke of Chiselhurst's town
house. for you must remember there was
her husband in the background, a violent
man. as you nave said, and Lord Donal
must have thoroughly angered the princess
by what you term his rudenesS In tearing
off her glove. and now the princess Will
never admit that she was at the nall, so IL
seems to me that you are Wasting your
time in a wild goose chase, Why, 1t Is
| absurd TO think, If there had been a real
disappearing woman, that you, with all your
experience and all your facilities: snouio
| not have unearthed her long ago. You SAID
at the beginning that nothing was more
| difficult than to disappear: Very well; then'
why have you been baffieo! Simply oe,
| cause the princess herself attended ,he pan
aIie" 'nere mas Dee" ="
The detective, with great vehemence'
right j ! have be Completely Blinded, the
more so that / have the clew 10 the mys-
terry right here under my own eyes
He fumbled for a moment and brought
| forth a letter from his pile of documents.
Here is .rs q p note from Sims s5i r sasisg the prin-
cess has sent him the companion grove 70
the one you have now in your hand. he
avs he is sure the princess KNOWS wiz bci
imnersonator was. but that she won't tell.
and, although I had read TINS note: 1t ne.sl
struck me that the princess herself was the
woman. Miss Baxter, you have soiVeo the
II should be glad to think So" replied
the girl. rising. land l am very happy II ! !
| have enabled you TO give up a futile chase
detective. Lord Donal's description fits the
princess exactly. and yet never thought OF
Jennie hurried away from the detectives
office happy in the belief that she had not
betrayed herself alth9 sHs s she was Was d hos
more to good luck than to any presence OF
mind of her own. which had nearly deserted
ton. when Mr.. Hardwick saw her he
asked how much space he would have 10 re-
serve for the romance in high life. But she
told him there was nothing in the case, SO
far as she could see, to interest any sane
reader.
Here matters rested for a fortnight. Then
the girl received an urgent note from Sao-
bury Taylor. asking her to call at his office
next Gay promptly at 4 o'clock. 1t was very
important, he said, and he hoped she would
on no account %d;sappoint him. Jennie's first
impulse was not to 60, but she was SO
anxious 10 learn what progress the detective
had made in the case. fearing that at last
he he might saS1 nave vo,, gSt S Sn t anw isgni TO TAX take the
risk OF not seeing him. If his suspicious
were really aroused, her absence might
serve as an excuse to confirm them. Tx
actly az 5 o'clock next Afternoon she entered
his Office and found him. to her relief, alone.
He sprang up from his table on seeing her
and said in a whisper: Il am so glad. you
have come. 1 am in rather a quandary.
Lord Donal Stirling Is in London on a n.y.
ing visit. He called here yesterday"
The girl caught her breath put SAID noun
ing: hove
for believing that IL was actually the Pm
cess Won Steinheimer whom he met. at the
Duchess of Chiselhurst's ball. He Laughed
at me; there was no convincing him. he
said that theory was more absurd than send.
ing him the picture Of a housemaid as thar
Of the LADY he had met at the ball. I
| used all the arguments which you had useo'
but he brushed them aside as OF no conse-
ouence. and somehow the case did not APP
pear to be as clear as when you propounoeo
!.Weii' what then?' asked the girl.
why. then 1 asked him to come up here
at 4 O'Clock and hear what an assistant OF
mine would say about the case .
Then he may be here at any moment"
II is here now; he is In the next room
Come in. and 1 viii introduce you. and then
want you to tell him al me e,re ~ wss the
princess herself whom he met. / am sure
you can place all the points before MIN SO
him around to your own way Of thinking:
You will try, won't you, Miss Baxter? 1t
will be a very great obligement 10 me-,
.Oh. no. no. no. cried the girl Il am
not going TO admit TO any one that l have
been acting as a detectives assistant. lou
had no right to bring me here l must go
at once. If / had known this l would not
have come"
.It won't take you five minutes pleaded
Cadbury Taylor. He is at this moment
waiting for you. / tod him you would be
here at T." - e.
II can't help that You had no right 70
make an appointment for me without my
knowledge and consent
TAYLOR was about 20 SPEAK when the nan
die OF the inner room turned -
II say. Ds:ectve.' remarked Lord ponsl