Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1872-09-28

Slouch had selected very repulslve dis
guise, and might have been seen, as the
steamer left the pier, awkwardly stridlng
about among the passengers, the most
perfect semblance Of sneak thief l ever
raw. As a precautlon, he bore a letter of
Introduction to the master Of the vessel,
indorsed by the Chief of the New York
police. SLOUGH and were, of course, ap-
parent strangers, and were as widely as
possible separated on board the ship.
Only few days Of our voyage had
passed before had succeeded In winning
the good opinions of my companions in
the cabin, while my partner, in the same
time, by his manners and appearance, had
made himself an object of suspicion and
distrust to the whole steerage. There
was an unusual small number Of us In
the cabin, and among them not a single
person whose demesnor could create a
suspicion of crime. The women, without
exception, were extremely ladyllks and
entertaining, and was inclined, In their
society, to forget the grand purpose Of my
voyage but SLOUGH got me occasionally
aside, and talked business so intensely,
that became little more vigiiant and
and attentive.
Among the male passengers was one
who especially engaged my observation.
He was person of conspicuous appear
ance, not unhandsome in face, faultless In
figure, and rather foppishly attlred. He
wore dark imperial and moustache, a
large biilliut upon his scarf, two or
three diamond rings upon his fingers, and
carried u delicate rattan cane with a deal
of grace. There Was an assumed air of
dignity, and patroni2ing manner about
him that disgusted me, the more as could
detect In his expression Ct features a weak
and shallow mind. This person gave his
undivided attention to the lady pass engers,
was prodigal In compliments to them, and
was fast becoming favorlte. He appear
ed a perfect stranger to me until about the
sixth day out, when, seeing him early one
morning before his toilet was made, his
face became invested with an old famlliari-
ty. ] became suspicious at once that he
was playing a false part, and / began
Watching him more closely. On the first
occasion that offered / engaged him In
conversation, and ii required no little skill
to bring out his assertion that he, too, was
travelling for pleasure.
| noticed, also, that he had lively eye
upon certain quiet and very handsome
lady, who was apparently without u pro-
tector, and whose costly silks and album
dInt jewels indicated no lack of funds.
He was free to tell me that his name was
Ross, and was particular to hint on every
occasion how fortune had favored him
with wealth The lady spoken of had
attracted my attention, and | confess TO
feeling at the the time little tender par
tiality toward her. The reader will, there
fore, not be surprised that was obseryant
of Ross galantries to her, and that | was
somewhat annoyed when | saw that she
seemed to regard him with favor. Per-
haps il was the stimulus of rival, per.
haps the woman's charms alone that
aroused me to regard her but at any rate
fell 10 gazing upon and thinking Of her,
and that, too, after two or three short and
rather cool interviews, wherein | utterly
failed to exchange II single tender look
Meantime, Ross, to my utter discontinue,
was admitted by her TO the most cOntden-
tial tetc.a-tetes.
It was about this time that began to
scrutinize Ross more closely, with view
OF detecting his completely In the crime
was employed to discover. The more
reflected the more became convinced of
reasonableness of my suspicious. He
wis, in my opinion, person not likely to ac-
eumulate wealth. His habits were too er
travagant for that, and besides, the vulgar
inclination he had of alluding to his abun-
dant means, denied the probability of his
nherilng money If such person really
had much money it was quite likely TO
have been unlawfully obtained. It ap-
peared significant fact to me that this
man eyaded all my hints TO discover his
source of wealth. His business, whatever
It might have been, was never once allud-
ed to by him, and any method by which
could obtain clue to il was to be sought
for. Did he understand the art of photo
; graphing If he did, one good point was
made had failed in every attempt to
lind his occupation, until the following
opportunity occurred, in availlng myself
of which claim some credit for sagacity.
Ross came limping 10 Inc one evening,
bearing an expression Of pain inquired
what the matter was, at which he dropped
into a seat beside me, and in a coarse
manner began cursing bis RorRs, WHICH
appeared 10 have been the cause Of his
lameness. While he was lamenting his
misfortune an idea occurred me. | had
been troubled with corns myself, and had
= eradicated them with nitrate of silver, q
= chemical much used In photographing
d "Mr. Ross" said |, ''you can be etlectual'
i ly relieved by an article that you have
f probably used, and quite likely have
r with you"
e "N hat is u" il quired he, anxlously.
= 1T is Il chemical tsst stains the skin
and hair black" said 1.
/ Indeed" said Ross with forced suI
D prise, and apparently very uneasy.
g "lt is IN article quite indispensable tc
y the art of taking pictures by the solar
light" said |, gazing directly into his eyes
d eyes" replied Ross, wthoqt inquiry.
e "NitrOte Of silver. Did you eyer use
C itl' l inquired
/. NO." said he, curtly, and dropping hls
l eyes before my gaze, he arose and left me-
= unmlstakably embarrassed and annoyed.
= This interview nearly settled the ques
b. tlon in my mind in regard to bis criminali
y ty, aud the prospect Of bringing him tc
d justice pleased he, | observed him closer
] than ever. iie appeared less lame th'
|. evening after had suggested the Femgdy
y and Oh che second day his lameness has
a entirely disappeared. J ventured 10 ask
N after congratulatiug him upon his improve
10 ment, whether he had obtained the ehemi
1t cal aboard, and although he denied It,
a had but little doubt shat he had availe'
e, hlmsejf of my remedy. Fortunately, Il
in discover w4eth6F he had, was completed!
l. within my power. n Ross had applies
\ IL