The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-14
BY ROBERT BARR.
Copyright, 1900, by Robert Barr.)

s'The Duchess of Chiselhurst's balli'
echoed Jennie. with shudder. "Oh.
dear!''
The detective looked mp at her.
"Why do You say oh. dearf'" he
asked.
because. said the girl wcarily, ~
am tired to death of the Duchess Of
Chiselhurst' ball. There seems to have
been nothing else IN the papers for
weeks past. :"
sit has excited a great deal Of COM
ment, assented the detective, land,
by the way. The Daily Bugle had one
of the best accounts of it that was
printed in any newspaper.
$50 have heard, said Jennie care
Iessly, ''but must confess that I didn't
read that copy Of The Bugle -
s'You amaze mel ! should have
thought that would have been the first
part Of the paper to which any lady
would turn. However, the report Of the
ball has nothing to do with what we
have in hand. Now, you remember the
Princess Won Steinheimer. at whose
castle had first the pleasure Of meet
ing your
''You had the pleasure of meeting me
before that, said Jennie. speaking for
the first time without giving thought
to what she said.
Really" cried the detective. drop
ping his papers on the table. "And
where was that q
fgn1, vvoI nc hox 7ek aos1
has nothing to do with this easel Per-
haps was wrong in saying you saw
me. It would be more correct to say
that saw you You must remember
that you are public character. Me-
Taylor.
"Ab, quite soi'' said the detective
complacently, turning to his documents
again. ''Now. the Princess von Stein
heimer was invited to the Duchess Of
Chiselhurst's ball. but she did not at
tend it. I"
Are you sure of thatr" said the
girl. ~ thought her name was among
the list of those present .
''It was in the list. and that is just
where our mystery begins. Some one
else attended the ball as the Princess
Won Steinheimer. It is this person that
wish to find.
''Ahl Then You are employed by the
Duke of Chiselhurst2 p
mo, ! am not. for, strangely enough.
believe the duke thinks it was actual
ly the princess who attended the ball
Only one man knows that the princess
was not present. one man and two
women. OF the latter one is the Prip-
cess Won Steinheimer and the other the
lady who impersonated her. The one
man is Lord Donal Stirling. Lord Donal
has done me the honor to place the case
in my hands. =
''Why does his lordship wish to find
this -this-fraudulent personf'' asked
Jennie, speaking slowly and with diff
GUILTY.
''Because, said the detective, with
the air of man who knows whereof
he speaks, she is in love with her,
'What makes you think thats'
II don't think ii. / know it. Listen
to his description of her,"
The detective chose q paper from
among his pile Of documents, folded.
labeled and docketed for reference.
"'The girl is Of average height. or
perhaps a trifie taller than the averages
carries herself superbly, like born
duchess. Her eyes are Of deep. velvety
black -
"Dear mel" cried the girl sHe de-
scribes her as if she were cat "
"Wait moment. said the detect
i've.
II don't see much trace of love in
that. " continued Jennie breathlessly.
''Wait moment, repeated the de-
tective "'They light up and sparkle
with merriment, and they melt into the
most enhancing tenderness. !"
"Good graciousl'' cried Jennie, ris-
ing ''The conceit of the man Is illimit-
able. Does he mean to intimate that he
saw tenderness for himself in the eyes
OF woman he had met for an hour or
two2"
That's just it, said the detective,
laughing "You see. the man is head
over ears in love. Please sit down again,
Miss Baxter, and listen. / know this
sentimental kind of writing must be
iTksome to practical woman like your
self, but in our business we cannot neg
lect even the slightest detail Let's see,
where was If-'tenderness oh, yesl
Her hair Is of midnight darkness. in
clined to ripple. with little whiffs Of
curls imperiously defying restraint
about her temples Her complexion is
as pure as the dawn. touched now and
then with a blush as delicate as the
petal of rose. ="
"AbsuEdi' cried Jennie inpatient
~. .'The complexion Of a woman at a
balll OF course she put it ON for the
occasion. "
"Of course. =" agreed the detective.
''But that merely shows you how deep
~ in love he ia Lord Donal is quite
young man. He came up to this room
TO consult with me. and Of course he
doesn't know the difference between a
complexion developed in a Surrey lane
and one purchased in New Bond street.
"Still. the blushing would seem. to
Indicate that the complexion was gen.
uine. retorted Jennie. apparently quite
Hnfattered by Mr.. Taylor's agreement
with the theory she herself had put for
ward
tOh. don't know about thati be-
ueve modern science enables an enam-