New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-10-28

gram: ,,.,s, soid to nv
Golf sy IT ,b muss r De bs naA W. They'd do
for mine. too, for the matter OF that
Then, it seemed to flash through my ora,n 'a ma
had the ring before NO, ~ cpu at sr, "e
And vet there was something about 10 tha' secheu
strangely familiar What was itp
How tircsomc that cannot remember" SAID
aloud "Ah. have itl' Like q sudden S glea I'm
of light, il came back to me- III Is the seal on
NV hands tremblcd with excitement IN
locked my bag. in which had put the parcei wneI
I came aboard and took the parcel out Yes,
was right The seal Of the RING. fitted the I'M
preston on the sealing wax exactly. l was as
tonshed. thunderstruck. az A.
What can il all mean p l CRIED the
pcrnicious shadow and influence of the fat man
with the thin face to follow me to the middle OF
the Atlantic ocean, ,,.
In the midst of my bewidered calculations,
Westerfeldt entered As by sort Of suddn in;
spiration, I slipped the ring into my pocket ana
said nothing about it.
thought Westerfeldt had troubled look Oh
his face. .,,
in n rather uneasy voice; What is ~"
By an effort of will I pulled myself together.
I saw that I must dissemble, il only to satisfy
myself as to him: and felt somehow that it was
my duty to myself to act guardedqy, at last after
Nothing" said as quietly as could Pm
not feeling quite right, that's all 1t seems to be
getting rough" go
Yes, the baromcter's been dropping like shot
it, now, we've got into the roaring forties.' Been
washing your hands?
Yes. Why?" l answered looking up at him
suddenly.
His eyes fell
"Oh, never mind I thought of washing
mine; but reckon / won't. Some one has been
using my BASIN"
1t wasn't me, I can assure you" I said. Il
used my own. / thought you had been down here
before me and used 1t yourself; because, when
l came in l found"
stopped, and began brushing my hair.
"What?" he asked, quickly.
didn't answer at once, but went on brushing.
What? You found what?" he repeated, i'm
En- ?" turned round sharply, and looked him
found your basin full of soapy water. which !
let down through the escape pipe. Why. what
is the matter with you?'
Nothing" he said. with forced smile. '" |
was only annoyed, that any one should have had
the impertinence to come IN here and WASH MS
hands. ! wonder who it could have been
I'm sure l can't imagine L said, carelessly:
I'm going up TO luncheon now. must try ana
keep on my legs as long as | cam
Westerfeldt didn't follow me until was nearly
down. But. when he sat down ut the table,
all traces of his recent agitation had vanished,
and he talked and laughed with his old animation
and spirits. i felt satisfied that Appleton was
right After what had seen, it was clear that
Westerfeldt was playing his part in game OF
some sort. What, remained yet to be seen. mat
I-purposely or accidentaly-was, or was TO be
mixed up with IT IN some way See dtr TO u ee
whatever means that lay IN my power TO un-
mask him. To achieve this end, ! would have
to wear mask myself, and much as 10 we da
termined to let Westerfeldt see no change IN my
feelings or behavior toward him: BY thus throw
ing him off his guard, he would be less cautious
and give a better chance of Discovering him.
Perhaps | shall be thought weak and Nac.llaiing
when l say that had sort of doubt as TO the
ring. l mean Westerfcldts connection with It,
Could not Appleton have put it there? l knew
no more of him than of Westerfeldt, and he had
that very morning asked me where my room
was. Was it not some plot of his to lnlure
by the printed list of passengers. Inc
monogram would do for him. All these Things
passed through my mind. But they did not
alter interpose with my purpose to keep my
eyes open with Westerfeldt. could also be
on the alert with Appleton. In justice to both
men | would be right in doing So
During the afternoon the wind freshened and
kicked up a biggish sea. Big enough it was to
roll the Albania about IN fashion which, under
different circumstances, would have sent me be-
low without ceremony. But the suppressed ex-
element and anxiety under which was laboring
acted like sort Of antldote, and Danshed
every thought and feeling CT seasickness An
idea struck me that L would felgn sickness 10
Westerfeldt
Il thought you'd have to give up at last
he said as he gave me his arm from the dinner,
table and down the companion ladder. And
take my advice" he added, before leaving me
at the door of the stateroom. land get INTO your
bunk quick you can. i guess tins won't
be much of blow, after all and you'll be able
to come up to breakfast in the morning.:
1t was rather hard times having to lie there
in my berth when wasn't bit ILL But CON
soed myself with thinking, what good might
come of il, | couldn't exactly say how. i had
formed no definite plan of operations TO catch
Westerfcldt. | Just thought | would let events
take their course, and follow any SUGGESTIONS
that might come into my head from time to
time. In about hour I got up, put on
large ulster which Westerfeldt had never seen
me wear, turned the wide collar up about my
face, and drew a travelling cap down over my
eyes. Thus attired | made my way on deck
1t was blowing a gale. and the life lines were
stretched along the deck, No one seemed to be
about except sailor or two: but bright lights
streamed through the windows of the smok-
ing room from which came loud shouts OF Taught r,
which rose at short intervals above me Swlsh OF
rigging. Westerfeldt was in there, no doubt. re-
gazing the assemblage of old =" salts, like him
safe in going in? Why not? He would not
recognize me, and even if there should be clew
in my dress, be would never believe 1t possible
much difficulty and clutching the life-lines, |
staggered the slippery deck, and, taking adj
vantage OF propltious roll in the right direction,
opened the door. another friendly launch sending
me bang, into the middle of the room, where l
brought up somewhat bruised against one of
and for the moment, my entrance put stop to
the hilarity, A glance showed me where Wester-
feldt was. and finding seat as far from, him as
could by chance next to to Appleton G VINO didn't
=" Wal now. if that amt too cussed bad Who'd
a thought il in these here days p
/ jumped to my feet, and, holding on by the
table il 'front.' looked eagerly about me. II was
the voice of the fat man with the thin face had
heard; Yet. it couldn't be- 1t was impossible
oh. sit down." cried several angry voices,
while Appleton pulled me down into my seat again.
q and don't interrupt the story"
Why, who spoke Just now?" said TO Appleton
What's the matter with you? Westerfeldt |
IF course He's telling of his. Yankee stories
lie can talk like real down-Eastern,' can't he
Listen. But l guess you have stopped him with |
your antics"
oh, 90 on, go on" sounded all sides |
while scowling glances were leveled at me for
causing the interruption.
l looked over at Westerfedt. lie had stopped
and was gazing intently at me. IL evident
he suspected me- l fancied he recognized me- l
saw l had made a great mistake in what /
had done Recovering my presence of mind,
Joined with the others, and shouted as hard as
could in n gruff voice not my own