Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-05-21

eyes or the imperfect light must have
deceived me.
L knew better, however; but, finding
could not convince him, told him to
wait until the young lady should appear
at breakfast in the morning, when he
might see for himself
Two hours later the second mate
came up to relieve Tom, who then
went below. The officer, seeing me
seated in reverie on the quarterback,
walked amidships, where he stood look
ing carelessly forward.
All at once, judge of my surprise,
when, on raising my head, beheld,
leaning against the rail near me. per-
son had never seen before-a slender,
middle-aged man, of rather low stature,
with hair covering nearly every part of
the face excepting the eyes, which
glittered like freballs in the moon
light.
why. halloa! Who are you? Where
did you come from?" | cried.
Pray don't excite yourself" he
coolly answered. Il am a detective,
and got aboard in the harbor through
the connivance of one of your crew.
am not going to tell you which one
who also supplies me with food. l
have been all along in the stateroom
next to Miss Merwin's with my carpet
bag. Had you looked in the room you
would have seen me, but you probably
missed the key or thought it was lost"
THAT is true; but"
Here is my warrant" he inter
rupted, handing me paper, which, on
reading it by the lanterns light, l per-
ceived was a signed document, appar-
emily from the proper authorities, in
structing John Clews, the bearer u de-
tective, to conceal himself aboard the
Hermione and act as he might see fit
| in his endeavor to detect the murdereSS,
Mrs. Youngson, who, it was suspected,
| was a passenger in disguise aboard that
vessel.
''She is here was his confident re-
ply, when / remarked that there must
be some mistake. Il have not watched
,, through the hole l bored in the parti-
ton for nothing"
why, mani" l cried aghast, ''she
cannot be the guilty one. She is inno-
cence itself-as artless as child. Be
sides, she is ve-y tall and young;
whereas | have been told that the muir
| ~
twice as old"
He laughed in way which to me was
indescribably disagreeable.
1T is not Miss Merwin 1 allude to-"
he said. You will remember that the
stateroom of Miss Lorton is also next
| to mine
What" I exclaimed, almost as much
surprised as before, you suspect that
stout young lady who-?"
| Il don't suspect he interrupted; Il
know her to be the criIninal"'
but she is young, plain and stout;
the accused woman was slender
BAH he again interrupted. Dis
guise. That will explain all. 1t is
easy for a woman of that kind to make
herself look younger and stouter than
she really is. Should we fall in with q
good Liverpool bound ship, shall ar
rest this woman and take her on board
of it with me. 1 will go back to my
room now. You may or may not see
me again before we sight a home
bound craft
With that he glided like a shadow
into the cabin.
Now, then, had something to keep
me awake-to drive all thoughts of
turning in from my mind. So, after
all, that woman-that terrible murder
ess-was aboard my ship!
l began to walk the deck in no pleas
ant frame of mind, and the morning
light stole around me before | was
aware that the hour was SO late.
When breakfast was ready in the cab
in, Miss Merwin was absent from her ac-
customed place at the table. During
the progress of the meal, | looked more
than once at Miss Lorton-the stout
young lady who the detective had posi-
lively asserted was Mary Youngson,
the poisoner.
The quiet dignity and composure Of
her manner, the frank, honest express
sion of her face, and its undenia bic
plainness, seemed to me SO natural, SO
real, that marvelled how the detective
consrived to penetrate through so per
feet disguise.
| Feeling tired out after breakfast, /
slept until near noon.
| When | went on deck, Tom was SUI
perintending the repairing of the
spanker-boom.
1T is very strange" he said to me,
uneasily, Miss Merwin has not yet
shown herself"
The day wore on without our seeing
her. Even at supper-time she did not
make her appearance.
Tom looked pale and concerned. Fl
nally he went and knocked at her door,
calling her name. There was no re-
Spouse.
Il do not know what to make of it,
| bo sold tc mo on deck ssOh father
he added, wildly, lis it possible she car
have suddenly died?"
81 don't think So" | answered-''she
seemed to be in good health; and ther
thought to myself: ''Were it not that
we are where we are, and she a differ
emit sort of person, l might suspect that
she had absconded with your money
AS night approached, her non-ap
pearance excited general comment, and
Twas advised to break open the dsor
which was locked. L did SO, and We
found her room empty. Her trunk was
still there, but she was gone.
NV SON looked at me as pale as death
my God! what can have become OF
herr" he groaned.
In fact, it certainly was a very singu
lar case; and, coupled with my previous
observation of the strange shortening
Of the young woman 5 stature, it seemed
to me to partake almost of the super
natural.
May she not have gone on deck last
night and fallen overboard?" inquired
one of the passengers.
Impossible" l answered. 1T wa:
clear moonlight | was on deck al