The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-14
sun, COUNTY. FRIDAY, a. 1900 NO

eyes.
He fumbled for moment and brought
forth letter from his pile of docu-
ments
"Here is note from st. Petersburg,
written by Lord Donal himself, saying
the princess had sent him the compan-
ion glove to the one you have now in
your hand. He says he is sure the prin-
cess knows who her impersonator was.
but that she won't tell, and, although
had read this note, it never struck me
that the princess herself was the wom-
an Miss Baxter. you have solved the
puzzle"
81 should be glad to think SO, re-
piled the girl, rising, "and I am very
happy if have enabled you to give up
futile chase"
cit is as plain as daylight, replied
the detective. "Lord Donal's descrip-
tior fits the princess exactly, and yet /
never thought of it before.
Jennie hurried away from the detect
ives office happy in the belief that she
had not betrayed herself, although she
was not blind to the fact that her escape
was due more to good luck than to any
presence of mind of her own, which had
nearly deserted her at one or two points
in the conv arsation. When MIR. Hard
wick saw her, he asked how much space
he would have to reserve for the ro-
nance 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 Cadbury Taylor, asking her to
call at his office next day promptly at 4
o'clock. 1t was very important, he said,
and he hoped she would on no account
disappoint him. Jennies first impulse
was not to go, but she was so anxious
to learn what progress the detective had
made in the case, fearing that at last
be might have got on the right track,
that she felt it would be unwise to take
the risk of not seeing him. If his sus-
picions were really aroused, her absence
might serve as an excuse to confirm
them. Exactly at O clock next after.
noon she entered his office and found
him, to her relief, alone. He sprang up
from his table on seeing her and said in
whisper: 81 am SO glad you have
come. I am in rather quandary. Lord
Donal Stirling is in London on flying
visit. He called here yesterday"
The girl caught her breath, but said
nothing.
81 explained to him the reasons
have for believing that it was actually
the Princess 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 sending him
the picture of housemaid as that of
the lady he had met at the ball. used
all the arguments which you had used,
but he brushed them aside as Of no
consequence, and somehow the case did
not appear to be as clear as when you
propounded your theory
swell, what them" asked the girl.
s'Why, then asked him to come up
here at o'clock and hear what an as
sistant of mine would say about the
case
eat o'clockl" cried the girl in ter
ror. ''Then he may be here at any mo-
ment
HE is here now; he is in the next
room. Come in, and will introduce
you, and then want you to tell him
all the circumstances which lead you
to believe that it was the princess her.
self whom he met am sure you can
place all the points before him so terse-
" that you will succeed in bringing
him round to your own way of think
ing. You will try, won't you. Miss
Baxter2 1t will be very great oblige-
ment to me- -
''Oh, no, no, nor cried the girl. 'I
am not going to admit to any one that
/ have been acting as a detectives as
sistant. You had no right to bring me
here. Imust go at once. If Ihad known
this, would not have come"
''It won't take you five minutes"
pleaded Cadbury Taylor. HE is at this
moment waiting for you. / told him
you would be here at 4, :"
~ can't help that. You had no right
TO make an appointment for me with
out my knowledge and consent
Taylor was about to speak when the
handle of the inner room turned.
81 say, detective. remarked Lord
ponal in voice of some irritation,
tsyou should have assistants who are
more punctual am very busy man
and must leave for st. Petersburg to-
night, SO can't spend all my time in
your Office, you know"
81 am sure beg your pardon, my
lord" said the detective, with great OBJ
sequiousness. "This young lady has
some objections to giving her views,
but I am sure you will be able to per-
suade her.
He turned, but the place at his side
was vacant. The door in the hall was
open, and the girl had escaped as she
saw the handle of the inner door turn.
Taylor looked blankly at his client with
dropped jaw. Lord panal laughed.
"Your assistant seems to have disap-
peared as completely as the lady at the
ball Why not set your detectives on
her track3 Perhaps she will prove to be
the person am in search Of.
81 am very sorry. my lord. stam- |
mered the detective
stOh, don t mention it'll am sure you |
have done all that could be done with |
the very ineffective clews which unfor-
tunately are our only possessions. but |
you are quite wrong in thinking it was
the princess herself who attended the
ball, and don't blame your assistant |
for refusing to bolster up an impossible |