The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-12-03

TO my BERTH ~
Just as you Ike. was tho nonchalent reply,
aud no turned away.
'Let mo SEQ, said tho Captain at breakfast next
morning; where's my friend who sits third down on
pe left-Mr. Listcr2 Steward, 20 and II Mr..
Lister Is unwell again--no; not again, because he
seemed to he an old sailorscc II he's In his cabin.
The steward returned with reply In tho negative;
when, supposlng him TO DO deck, tho breakfast
was brought to end, and MIR. LISTER or, as called
| him, the bag man, was forgotten.
The DAY passed and evening had arrived, when, as
was sitting In sweet Intercourse with Miss Savlllo,
'uinor's busy tongues began to announce that Mr..
Immediately recalled his promise to open my eyes
that day, and also that he had invited me to go for
ward with him to smokea cigar; and knew not why
asttange feeling Of interest made mo leave my scat
aud apologize to Miss Savllle who bowed stiny and
went below while walked forward to group, to Ind
the subject In full discussion Two Of the watch had
seen him go forward with lighted cigar between his
lips aud perch himself close to the bowsprlt but they
could not recoeot seeing him come back, though one
man had some faint idea Of something black coming
close by him, but was not sure
More excited groups formed, and soon found that
a search had been made through the steamer, and
that the Captain was IN great trouble respecting the
missing man for all pointed To one actttat theDoor
Fellow had chosen dangerous position, and had,
without giving the ALARM slipped and fallen into the
sea- TO be borne undor In an instant by the huge cut
water OF tho vessel
shuddcred for thought that, had accepted his
Invitation might have seen him fall and II power
less to stay him, stlll have given the ALARM perhaps
In time Tor boat to have been launched.
''Can any gentleman afford any Information ~
said the Captain addressing the group whore stood
testimony that MIR. Lister invited mo to 60 forward
with him, but deCned.n
"Nou did not go forward with hlm9r said the
Captain.
"No replied; aud ! have no recollection Of seeing
him come back Into the saloon. But STOP ~ said,
for had suddenly encountered close, searching gaze
directed at me, "there Is gentleman here who
talking to Mr. Lister late last night And pointed
to the second class passenger.
GLOW oyou know ~ he said calmly, regardless
Of the many eyes fixed upon him.
'Because | stood by one Of the quarter. boats
pam AZ 70 Ia nd leo 40
you go back. "
quite right, Z" said the second. class passenger.
cpd you know MFR. Lister2' said the Captain.
YES, knew him. said the other calmly.
"fhere seems to he some mystery here, ~ said the
Captain. "Was he friend Of yoursY'
"Ies, " was the almost abupt reply; and then,
after moments silence, the secOnd-clnss passenger
walked quietly up to the Captain, took him by n
button, led him apart, and whispered q few words
| In his ear.
saw the Captain glvea slight start, stare hard at
the man, and then apparently ask question, when
whatever was the answer, he seemed satisfied, and
gave orders for further search, which was how
ever, futile.
was not alone In directing curious glauces at the
second class passenger, but he was quiet, dry
looking, closet haven man. with an apparent power
OF shutting himself up within HIMSELF and he paced
the deck to and frc, with his hands behind him, In
iurllve, thoughtful way, till all searching was at an
end and the conclusion arrived at that luckless
fellow passenger had met his fate.
noticed that the quiet mans eyes were fixed on me
as went TO the saloon; and going to where Ailss
saville was seated strange feeling made me turn
my head for an instant, TO that he watching
ms from the door, but he disappeared on tho in
slant.
Full OF the event, about to tell all knew to
my companion; but with show OF real horror she
held up her hands, begging me to forboar.
cit Is too dreadful ~ she exclaimed, al cannot
bear 1t. know ALL have heard ALL Poor man
here and In health last night and now-pray, pray
say no more about IT,
She was excessively pale and agitated; so much SO
indeed that summoned the steward to bring wine,
for was AFRAID the poor girl would faint and she
drank u glass with avldity, shuddering afterward,
while the cold perspiraton stood In beads upon her
forehead
proposed u walk on deck; but 10 was declined;
and, to my great sorrow, the shock had such an eff
feet upon her that she was confined to her cabin
the end OF our rather protracted voyage.
lut the morning was bright a came In sight of
land; and as we slowly steamed In, found, TO my
great Joy, that Miss savillo was visible,
which my advances were met.
asked myself had neglected anything; had fallen
OIL In warmth. Hut no lover could have been more at
attentive or assiduous as TO her welfare. felt
wounded; but was determined not to show Il. and,
almost Ia opposition to her wishes saw to her lug
gage, and, brother or no brother waiting determined
TO see her to her home.
was ready to upbraid her for coquetry, but re-
Trained feeling 1t possible that she hal taken my
attentions as being merely Intended to last the vOy-
age; and at last cold and constrained, stood close
together, for In another ton minutes should be de-
barking.
Happening to gaze round, | suddenly became
aware OF the cass passenger standing close at
my elbow, aud could not avoid start--one which
made Miss Saville turn wonderlngly to me- at the
same time holding her veil closely to her face the
- 1t was nothing | said; ''but pray Miss sa-
vile, allow me to carry that bag; 1t seems too
heavy" And pointed to the little black travelling
bag she carried IN her hand.
mo. no, thank YOU no. =" she said; 'iudeed,
sir, can dispense with your offers of service"
LAS you please, madam / said, sharply; for
there was aisness in her voice that Jared bitterly
aud felt that 1t was undeserved.
Let me carry it, Frank smith, sad grating
voice. that had saw-sharpenng sound In its cutting
tones. And In moment the bag was wrested from
Miss Savillcs hand and thrown heavily upon the deck
"a lang na,n
back against the bulwark and the grating voice
exclaimed. "Say your hand, or by =, sir, IN
fire ~
There a swaying about, a sharp struggle and
was about TO throw myself on the second class
passenger-.a rniian who was committing an outra-
geons assault upon my fellow passenger-when n
strong hand dragged me back, Just there arose y
sharp ''cick-cck, ~ and dizzy with surprise, saw
tho wretch drag revolver from Miss Savii.es fet-
tered hand, as she lay torn and dsheveed upon the
deck.
Had not breath to speak before, my friend, ;,
SAID the second-class passenger, painting he
from one knee; 'but for your Information, Mr.
Frank smith, hold warrant for your appreheu-
sion. Bank robbery gentlemen; cool twenty thou.
sand; but I'm In hopes 1t is all here And he took
up the bag that lay upon the deck.
assisted MS prisoner to RISE and tore OFF the veil.
" very clever; very well DONE indeed, this false
mar M, ana the chignon Is very becoming, sir. must
while poor Matthews hadn't suspicion, but was
rather down on your friend.'
Take me out OF this. ~ said hoarse voice. and
would have turned and fled; but l felt myself
wedged In among the crowd forit seemed impossible
That the flushed face veined and knotted with dis
appointment and rage, could have been that which
deluded me through the voyage.
- All right sir, AS soon as we can get officer
from tue shore But there you need not mind for
few mnnutes.'
Take me below, officer, - was the husky, implor-
ing petition next uttered; and the officer was about
yielding, when a passenger exclaimed:
~ INT are you sure you are right, oGicer?n
tight SIR Yes, I'm right enough, aud hope
there's nothing backer against him; for there the
death of my poor mate to clear up yet. 1t seems
strange that lie should disappear the very night thar
our friend here suspected that he was found out and
II seems stranger still that lie should have settled
down so quietly after, and never show at all when
inc onicer VINO suspected him was gone for he did
not know was on board
glanced once more at the deathly-pa face as the
detective led his prisoner below; and then giddy
with the rush OF thought through my BRAIN i made
my way back to my cabin to stay TIL the other pas
sengers were ashore, when FASTENED to hotel: but
nor, rs hau hoped, unseen, for | encountered the
oihcer Just returning from placing his prisoner In
security.
lie took me by the button, as he had seized the
Captain and held me for n few moments.
''There, you need not be ashamed Of 1t, young
man. " he said with dry smile she's got about as
womansh face saw, and his disguise was as
clever as II was possible to be- 1 was hard pushed;
but felt pretty sure and at the last got one look
that settled 1t. Theresa resemblance between you
that, had he put on good beard would have made
him look deal like you, aud 1t that which made
my poor mate have his suspicious of one else;
but anyhow fourteen years will make him rather
different, and he won come the petticoats again
- Fourteen yearsI'' / said.
''fes. perhaps more for It's a bad case-confden-
tial clerk. -
We parted, and saw of the police ofhcer
From the report of the trial. though, learned that
the police had certain Information that the culprit
would sail from Liverpool In the ellvelly though his
disguise had been nedry clever enough throw dust
In the keen eyes of every one / was only twenty
then--a fact which plead as excuse for my want
OF discernment and no doubt formed In the cnlprits
eyes capital SCREEN and one which would make IL
almost impossible for his sex TO be for an instant
doubted.
The Sergeant was right; the prisoner brought
back To the scene of his deprelai0ns and fourteen
years penal serytude his award. As to the work
of that dark night-whether Sergeant Matthew'S
otherwise Mr.. Lister met with foul play, and was
sent to his death by push In the dark-the mystery
" mystery there was, lay u secret between Frank
Smith. prisoner at the bar, aud him who was forever
dumb.
His Revolver.
A travelling man, writing from Buffalo,
gives an account Of how two men sought to rob