The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1879-02-27

condition St affairs seemed Is fsassure ouff
passengers, Who once again began to look
Reginald Moore's pleasant il: facss wore
its wonted smile, and, as heretofore, he
enlivened If and charmed !. us with his
xivacity and anecdote. AL day through.
he worked at the model of the "Janet's
Pride," still using the top of the empty
water.eask for workable. -, Il
That night We retired to rest with minds
tar more at ease than on the previous
one. "FAlsslwhat scene Of anger and
distresslcame with the morning.! Every
passenger on board possessing jewelry
had been robbed during the night.
The three. old, gentlemen, tie young
married couples. and the kind. hearted
|'brother. and sister: found themselves
minus every article Of jewetry THAT they
had possessed. Even the grumbling old
gentleman had lost his gold snuff. box
There was no keeping matters quiet
this time: The theft must be, traced and
brought to Justice. What was the; .wisest
method ofprocedure? What would Mr..
Moore suggeat2' . ;ii:, 49, .
"IIwould suggest; though most reluct-
antly," aaid Mr.. Moore, ''that, every sailor
and every sailors luggage be carefully
searched. +: ,,,.:... - !:
To This, proposition we unanimously
"This,' he continued, ''must be most
humiliating 70 the feelings Of your crew,
captain, and therefore. in common fair.
ness to them as our fellowmen, let me al
so suggest that every passenger and every
passengers luggage be also thoroughly
searched"
A little hesitation on the, part of one or
two OF tbc passengers was demonstrated
before acceding to this last proposal, but
our pleasant passenger soon contrived to
| bring those who at first demurred to his
side of thinking.
Cor COURSE" he said, ''there is not a
passenger on board who is not above
suspicion, yet. in justice to the feelings of
the crew, 1t is, in my humble opinion,
the least we can do.''
This delicacy of feeling and this
thoughtfulness on the part of Reginald,
Moore, rendered him, if possible, more
admirsble and praiseworthy in our eyes
than ever -
Many Of td6b] crew objected strongly to
this mode of procedure, but all we're
compelled to submit. The old boat.
vain was furious with indignation, and
vowed THAT if it cost him his life he
would trace the thief who had caused
him to be searched like common pick
pocket. Even the pleasant passenger
tailed to soothe his sense OF injury.
swell. a thorough search was made by
myself, in company with the kind hearted
old gentleman and his sister. Every
| ones traps" were ransacked from top to
| bottom, but without success.
Further search was useless. What was
to be done?
That night all having been. snug, and
passengers having turned in, none of
them, as you may imagine, in very bril-
liant spirits, went on deck, it being
what we call at sea ''the captain watch"
turned in about four A. H., the second
officer then coming on duty. Ny cabin
was amidships and on deck, and from a
| window therein could command view
of the after deck of the ship.
! Somehow or other, could not rest one
atom, so, dressing myself. I determined
upon sitting up and smoking. I drew
aside the blind of the window / have
mentioned, and looked out.
1t was just the gray light of early
morning, and there was stiffish breeze
blowing. To my surprise, beheld Mr..
Reginald Moore on deck.
was about to open my cabin door
and invite him in to join me in nv rest
lessness, when the peculiar nature of his
proceedings livettd my attention. He
looked around on all sides, as if afraid of
| attracting observation.
Then, suddenly, as if assured the coast
| was clear. he made rapidly toward the
empty water.cask, on which he was &C
customcd to manufacture his model Of
| the Janet's Pride. Once more glencing
cautiously about him, he then applied
his hands to the top Of the cask, and with
Il rapid movement lifted half of the top
bodily off.
Ny establishment and MY excitement
were intense, Another hasty glance
round, and he plunged his hand down in
to the cask, then quickly withdrew it,
holding in his grasp small bag, which
he rapidly concealed in the breast of his
| coat.
Again he took hasty survey, and was
about making another dive into this
strange receptacle for hidden goods,
when he suddenly withdrew, having, with
astonishing rapidity, replaced the lid of
the cask. In another moment the cause
| Of his alarm was made apparent, as
couple OF sailors passed him on their way
to relieve the man at the wheel.
"hor =.
slant he seemed determined to at once
return to the cask, and no doubt with
draw something that the interruption
had prevented him withdrawing in tie
first instance But suddenly changing
his mind, he went down the stairs that
led from the deck to the saloon and sleep
ing cabins.
Scarcely had he disappeared, when an
other figure, steal:hily crossing the deck.
met my anxious observation. 1t was the
boatswain.
I saw him glance toward the stairs,
down which Mr.. Reginald Moore had
taken his departure. He then made d.
rect for the water, cask. It was now obvi.
GUS to me that the old boatswain had
been watching the pleasant passenger.
just d5 ut IedCileu Tic wafer CaSK, d
heavy green sea struck the ship to wind
ward, necessitating the boatswain to hold
on by a rope 50 as to keep, his footing,
and precisely at the same moment Rcgi-
maid. Moore appeared at the top Of the
cabin stairs. shall never forget the
scene.
The instant the ship had steadicd her.
self, the boatswain commenced bis exam
ination CT the water cask. For mo-
ment only, Moore stood looking at him
with as evil an expression on his face as
ever be held.
With one bound he was upon the boat
swain, before he could turn to protect
himself. I waited no longer, but flung
open the door Of my cabin in an instant,
and in another was to the rescue, and in
a few moments we had our pleasant pas
~ l.