The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-01-12

into the library, and was soon en-
crossed in her work. There was boy
from the Gazette office waiting for me
with note from my chief. Another
bother was in store for me. was
needed for hurried expedition to po-
litical convention in Boston, and Bur-
ton, the. managing editor, wrote that
he had decided to put professional
detective on the matter of "Daisy's
Quest" and release me from the job.
Would be so good as to write out what
/ had accomplished IN running down
the thief, if anything, and turn it into
the office before LEFT town? 1t might
be useful to the detective in question.
Here was pretty picket Unfor-
tunately, l had told Burton that / was
searching the cards of the Manhattan
library for any person who might have
taken out copy of the Londoner for
1S4s. My friend, the librarian, would
give the detective the same informa-
tion. Without a doubt the man would
go over those cards again, would find
Miss Robertson 's~name, and she might
be accused of the theft. What was to
be done? ! pretended to read book
while thought it over. Luncheon
time came and | had decided upon a
course. | should tell Miss Robertson
the whole story. On their returning
the S100, the Gazette would, with my
influence, take no further steps in the
matter. If she could not return the
money, | could and would.
When the noon bell rang ! carried
Miss Robertson's books tothe desk for
her and begged for few words with
her on her way to lunch.
'.About the umbrella?" she whis-
pered.
mo; about more serious matter"
Miss Robertson looked startled, but
said nothing.
1t was an ideal spring day, and the
air was like breath of heaven after
the tomb-like atmosphere of the libra
ry. We strolled along the old-fashioned
street In which the library is situated.
1t was hard matter to begin. Miss
Robertson said but little, waiting,
somewhat uneasily, for me. plunged
in, ard take some credit to myself
for the delicacy with which | did it.
| began TIE story just as if she had
nothing to do with it. told her how
l had been asked to trace the person
who had palmed off an old story upon
the Gazette, how | had heard of a copy
of the Londoner in the Manhattan
library, and had finally discovered the
card bearing the name of the person
WHO had last taken out that copy OF
the magazine. Miss Robertson had the
valuable faculty of assuming interest
in a story whether or not she felt any:
her eyes grew big with excitement as
reached the climax. We had forgot
ten all about luncheon. What an
actress she was! Not tremor of fear,
not even blush!
= "And you actually found the card.
Mr.. Seymour! Well, do go on; what
was the name upon the card ?"
Yours" / said, slowly. / had to be
cruel. to be kind.
"Mine," she exclaimed, with a puzzled
smile.
"Unfortunately, yes" My manner
was grave. Her smile fiickered and
died out, Then suspicion Of the truth
dawped upon her.
"Well-but-then If my name was
upon that card-then you suspect
that cheated yoair newspaper"
She had stopped walking, and was
very pale. But her dark eyes flashed.
"Oh!" she went on, without giving
me time to answer, 'how could any
one suspect me of such thing? You
don't know me, but you might have
known that f. This comes of making
acquaintances in the street,"
Her tone was bitter, and her eyes
flashed scorn. She grasped the iron