Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-04-30

NtoN tlotA'.~o iEc iliitit, ttiti IauStN
this unhappy change in his wonted
cheerful manner.
At first ne tried to eysde my queries
bv replying that it was nothing, moth
ing in particular" but l pressed him
persistently until | won from him an
explanation.
perhaps, after ALL" he said, at is
only fair that | should explain matters.
The fact of the matter Is, my watch has
been stolen"
stolen we all exclaimed in n
breath.
Undoubtedly" he answered; "but l
pray you, captain he turned to
met pray you say not one word
about it, The only thing that renders
the loss of consequence to me is the fact
that it once belonged to my poor moth
er. On that account alone, / would not
have lost it for any amount Of money.
However it cannot be helped. and there
fore II is useless TO cry over split milk,
as the old adage has it. My only re-
quest in the matter Is. my dear cap
tain, that you will leave the matter en-
tirely in ny hands, and think it very
probable that | may recover it. This
request | am sure you will oblige me by
granting
Certainly, my dear, sir, l replied;
"but still"
Exactly" he interrupted, with one
of his pleasant smiles, you would like
to take the matter in hand, and investi-
gate it to the utmost of your power; |
know that, my dear captain, full well;
but | cap trust you to keep your
promise, and leave the case in my
hands.
How could we deny him the requesl'
You will readily imagine what con-
sternation this event gave among the
other passengers. The three old gen
tlemen instantly proceeded to explain
that they possessed iewelry to the value
Of at least three hundred pounds, which
they usually kept locked up in brown
leather wrting-case: bat unfortunately,
at the present time, the lock Was out of
order.
Mr.. Reginald Moore suggested safer
deposit for their valuables.
The young married couple announc-
ed the tact IF their owning at least two
hundred and fifty pounds worth of jew
elry; and they, too, consulted Mr..
Moore as to the safest plan for secret
ing it.
The kind-hearted brother and sister
had, it appeared, more valuables in the
way of jewelry than any one on board
since fifteen hundred pounds had never
purchased what they possessed.
The whole OF that evening was occu-
pied in specializing as to the probable
perpetrator of the theft, and in condol-
ing with Mr.. Reginald Moore on his
great loss.
Everyone turned in that night in an
uneasy state of mind, and it was with
establishment that they found them
selves, in the morning, still in posses
sion of all their worldly goods. This
improved condition of affairs seemed
to reassure our passengers, who once
again began to look cheerful and at
ease.
Reginald Moore's pleasant face wore
its wonted smile, and, as heretofore, he
enlivened anc charmed us with his vi
vacity and anecdote. All day through
he worked on the model of the Janet's
Pride, still using the top of the empty
water cask for work table.
That night we retired to rest with
minds far more at ease than the pre-
vious one. Alas! what scene of an
ger and distress came with the morn
ing. Every passenger on board possess
ing iewelry had been robbed during the
night.
The three old gentlemen, the young
married couple, and the kind hearted
brother and sister, found themselves
minus every article of jewelry that
they had possessed. Even the grum-
bling old gentleman had lost bis gold
snuff box
There was no keeping matters quiet
this time. The thief must be traced
and brought to justice. What was the
wisest method of procedure? What
would Mr.. Moore suggest?
Il would suggest, though most reluc-
family" said Mr.. Moore, "that every
sailor and every sailors luggage be
carefully searched"
To this proposition we unanimously
agreed
"This, he continued, "must be most
humiliating to the feelings of your crew,
captain, and therefore, in common fair
ness to them as our fellow-men, let me
also suggest that every passengers lug
gage be also thoroughly searched"
A little hesitation on the part of one
or two of the passengers was demon
strated before accedng to this last pro-
posal, but our pleasant passenger soon
contrived to bring those who at first de-
INJURED to his side of thinking.
"0f coursau ba so,d utbara &c NOT a