The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-11-16

awaiting her
solve them to mel he snapped
rudely snatching the packet from he
hands She still clung to the separat,
piece of paper and said nothing Th
prince stood by the window and undit
the packet with trembling hands H,
examined one and then another of tn,
letters turning at last toward the gir
with renewed anger in his face
''You are trifing with me. my girl.
he said
''No, am not;' she said stoutly.
.'These are my own letters, writer
by me to my wife before we were mar
riedl"
..Of course they are What other
did you expect These are the only let
ters. as far as have learned, that any
man has written to her and the only
letters she cares for of all the thou
sands she has ever received. Why. yor
foolish, blind man. had not been il
this castle a day before saw how mat
ters were. The princess is breaking hel
poor heart because you are unkind t,
her, and she cares for nobody on eartl
but you, great stupid that you are. :
SIS this truef Will you swear it
trues" cried the prince, dropping tn,
packet and going hastily toward tn.
girl. Miss Jennie stood with her bacl
to the wall. and putting her hands be
hind her she said
No, no, you are not going to touch
me again OF course it's true. and il
you had the. sense of u U-year r-old chile
You would have seen it long ago And
che paid 100000 of your gambling
debtsl'
ssWhat are you talking about2 The
princess has never given me penny Of
her money; l don't need it. Goodness
knows. I have money enough of my
own.
.'Well, Cadbury Taylor said that you
oh, I'll warrant You. it is like all
the rest of his statements, pure moon
shine"
"Of whom are you speakingf And
why did my wife protect that wretch,
whom she knows has stolen her dia-
monds? p
''You mean Won Schaumherga'
'sYes.
II believe the princess does think be
stole them, and the reason the princess
protects him is to prevent you from
challenging him. for she fears that he,
being a military man, will kill you, al
though / fancy she would be well rid
of you"
''But he took the diamonds-there
was nobody else =
'sHe did nothing of the kind. Read
shatl''
The prince, bewildered. took the
sheet that she handed to him and read
it, wrinkle of bewilderment corrugat-
ing his brow.
II don't understand what this has TO
do with the case, he said at last. "It
seems to be an order on the bank at
Vienna for the diamonds, written by
the princess herself. y
''Of course it is Well, if the dia-
monds had been delivered, that paper
would now be in the possession of the
bank instead Of in your hands.
"Perhaps she mislaid this order and
wrote another. =
Perhaps. Still 1t might be worth
while finding out. y
"Take this. then. to the princess and
ask her."
''It Is not likely she would remem-
ber. The better plan is to telegraph at
once to the Vienna bank, asking them
to send the diamonds to Meran by spe-
cial messenger. No one there knows
that the diamonds are missing.
u will do SO at once cried the
prince, with more animation in his
voice than Miss Baxter had previously
noticed. His highness was becoming in
terested in the game.
After luncheon the princess came to
Miss Baxter, who was seated at her
desk, and handed her letter.
''There is an invitation from the
Duchess of Chiselhurst for grand ball
she is shortly to give. 1t is to be very
swell affair, but l don't care enough
for such things to go all the way to
England to enjoy them. Would you
therefore send her grace my regretsf'
II will do so at once. :"
At that moment there came a mes
senger from the prince asking Miss
Baxter to meet him In the library. The
girl glanQed up at the princess. "Have
your permission to GOT" she said.
The princess looked at her steadily
for moment. just the faintest suspi-
cion of frown on her fair brow.
II do not suppose you need my per-
mission. Her highness spoke with slow
deliberation. my husband condescends
to take considerable interest in you.
Passing along the corridor this morn
ing, ] heard your voices in most ami
mated conversation.
'Had you sufficient interest in our
discussion to stop and listen to what we
said, Princess Won Steinheimer r.
"Ahl Now you are becoming inso-
lent, and l must ask you to consider
your engagement with me at an end.
s'Surely you will not dismiss me in
that heartless way. princess. think I
l-am entitled to months notice. or is
it only a week'sf"
II will pay you years salary or
two years. if that will content You. !
have no wish to deal harshly with you.
but desire you to leave at once, said
the princess, who had little sense of
humor and thus thought the girl was
in earnest when she asked for notice.
| Miss Baxter laughed merrily and re-