The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-05-22

his equal. He was, besides, such a
| kind and considerable fellow toward his
fellow-passengers
When the three elderly gentlemen
| who imagined their fortunes made were
| afflicted with sea-sickness, he was the
first to come forward and help them
about while they slowly recovered. He
would insist upon their taking his arm,
weak as he was himself, and he would
lead them about on deck, with a firm
ness that spoke volumes in favor of his
"sea-legs.'
do not remember any voyage ever
passing so quickly as the one when the
pleasant passenger was on board. l
could, with infinite pleasure, make a
long pause at this juncture in the
thread Of my story, to dwell upon the
pleasant memories l still retain of
Reginald Moore.
We were within weeks sail of Mel
bourne. Mr. Moore had all but COM
pleted model of the "Janet's Pride, -
which he purposed presenting to me
the night before we landed.
| Now, he worked at the model prin-
cipally on deck, and, strangely enough,
he had chosen for workable the top
of one of the empty water-casks that
stood on deck abaft, and under the
shelter of the bulwarks.
While he worked through the day,
you were sure to see him surrounded
by some of the passengers or sailors.
The amount of industry he displayed
was truly wonderful, for he was invari-
ably at work in the early morning,
long before any of the other passengers
thought of turning out of their snug
berths.
AS | have already stated, we were
but six days sail from Melbourne. For
the first time in our experience of him
the pleasant passenger appeared at the
dinner table with a solemn, downcast
expression of face and silent tongue.
Before dinner was over l asked him
what troubled his mind and caused
this unhappy change in his wonted
cheerful manner.
At first he tried to evade my queries
by replying that it was nothing: but |
pressed him persistently until 1 won
from him an explanation.
Perhaps, after all, it is only fair
that l should explain a little" he an
severed. 1.-The fact of the matter, my
friends, is that my watch has been
stolen"
''Stolen!' we all exclaimed.
Undoubtedly. But l pray you, cap
tain" he said. turning to me, Il pray
you not to say 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 mother On
that account alone | would not have
lost it for any amount of money. How
ever it cannot be helped, and therefore
it is useless to cry over split milk, as
the old adage has it.
My only request in the matter, my
dear captain, is that you will leave the
thing entirely in my hands. and think
it very probable that | may recover it.
This request am sure you will oblige
me by granting"
"Why, certainly, my dear SIR 1 re-
piled; but still
Exactly" he interrupted, with one
of his pleasant smiles. You would
ike 10 luke Ille LdIUer III ndnu ana III
vestigate it to the utmost of your
power: l know that, my dear captain,
full well. But l can trust you to keep
your promise and leave the case en-
tirely in my own hands, can | not?''
How could l refuse him?
You may readily imagine what con-
stcrnation this event gave rise to
among the other passengers. The
three old gentlemen instantly pro-
ceeded to explain that they possessed
| jewelry to the value of at least three
hundred pounds, which they usually
kept locked up in d brown leather
writing case; but, unfortunately, at
the present time the lock was out of
order.
Mr.. Moore suggested a safer deposit
! for their valuables.
The young married couples an
nounced the fact of their owning at
least two hundred and fifty pounds
worth of jewelry, and they, too, con-
suited Mr.. Moore as to the safest plan
for secreting it.
The kindhearted brother and sister
had, it appeared, more valuables in the
way of jewelry than anyone on board,
since fifteen hundred pounds had never
purchased what they possessed.
The whole of the evening was occu-
pied in specializing as to the probable
| perpctrator 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 in full possession
of 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 charmed and enlivened us with his
| vivacity and anecdotes. All the day
| long he worked on the model of the
''Janets Pride still using the top of
the empty water caSll for work table.
That night we retired to rest with
minds far more at ease than on the pre-
vious one. Alas! what scene of anger
| and distress came with the morningl
Every passenger on board, possessing
jewelry, had been robbed during the
night.