Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1893-05-16
A ROBBERY AT SEA.

1t was lovely afternoon toward the
close of September when we weighed an
Choir and sailed out of the river Mersey
bound for Melbourne. We had a good ship
--Janet's Pride-loaded with miscellaneous
articles. On board were IA passengers, and
taking them all in all pieasanter lot never
steered across the stormy seas.
There were three old gentlemen who
were going out to share their fortunes,
come what might, and which, poor old
souls, they seemed to think fashioned in
the brightest colors long before the English
coast was out Of sight.
Then there was a solitary old gentleman
who, judging from the general tone of his
conversation, was seeking the new world
tor the ostensible purpose of finding fault
with it,
There were young married couples, all
full of hope and activity, bent upon max
ing a new home far away from their native
land.
There was also a very jolly elderly broth
er and sister, neither Of whom had ever en-
tered into the bonds of matrimony, but in
stead had stuck by each other through
life.
There were three old Australian settlers
who had been over to have peep at the
old country and who were now returning
10 the land which TO them, through long
communion, had become the dearest to
them of all others-"home sweet home"
Last, though not least, was a solitary
passenger, who soon became the pet of all
on board. He was man of 2s, with clear
complexion, long beard and a silky mus
tache His name was Reginald May His
reason for taking the sea voyage was the
delicate state Of his health,
There was not the least doubt that the
poor fellows chest was considerably affect
ed, for his voice, though charmingly sweet,
was one of the weakest 1 ever heard; be-
sides, its hollowness suggested consump-
ton. He always wore a muffier round his
throat.
In all my wide experience | never knew
any one with 50 many friends and such un-
divided esteem in so short time as Regi-
Maid May. | believe there was not a sailor
ON board who did not entertain the warm
est possible liking for him. AS for the
passengers, they never seemed so happy as
when listening to his amusing anecdotes, Of
which he seemed to possess an inexhausti-
BILE store. And this delicate young English
man had made his conquest over all our
hearts before we had been three weeks at
Sea
He was, too, very clever with his hands
he could shape you anything out of piece
of wood, from an oyster to an elephant, and
at making models of ships | never met his
equal. He was besides most kind and CON
siderate toward his fellow passengers.
When the three elderly gentlemen who inn
agined their fortunes made were afflicted
with seasickness, he was the first to offer to
help them about while they slowly recov-
ered He would insist on their taking his
arm, weak as he was himself, and he would
lead them about on deck with flrmness
that spoke well for his sea legs.
do not remember any voyage ever pass
ing so quickly as the one when the pleasant
passenger was on board. Icould here make
long pause to dwell on the pleasant mem
cries l still entertain Of that young man.
We were within a weeks sail of Mel
bourne May had all but completed his
model of the Janet's Pride, which he pur-
posed presenting to me on the night before
we landed. He worked on the model ON
deck, choosing for his table an empty water
cask under the 81 o. of the bulwarks He
was always at wofk In the morning long
before any of the other passengers turned
out of their snug berths
As I have stated, we were but week s
sail from Melbourne. For the first time
the jovial passenger appeared at the din
ner table with a solemn face and silent
tongue ! asked him the reason for the
change in his wonted cheerful manner. At
first he tried to evade my queries, but /
pressed him until won from him an ex-
PLANTATION.
e"Perhaps, after all, it is only fair that
should explain little, he answered. 1.-THE
fact of the matter is, my friends, that my
watch has been stolen"
"Stolenr' we all cried.
Undoubtedly. But, / pray you, cap
tain" he said, turning to me, mot TO say
one word about it. The only thing that
renders the loss of it of consequence to me
Is the fact that it was once my mothers,
On that account would not have lost 1t
for any amount of money However, it is
adage has It,"
IF the watch is in this ship, we ought to
find it," said
MY dear captain, II you will leave the
matter entirely in my hands, think may
recover it. This request am sure you will
oblige me by granting"
"Why, certainly, my dear SIR" said,
"but still'-
EXACTLY" he interrupted, with his pleas
ant smile. you would like to investigate
the case to the utmost Of your power,
know, my dear captain. But | can trust
you to keep your promise and leave the
thing entirely 10 my hands, cannot II"
How could l refuse himi
You may readily imagine what oonster-
nation this event gave rise to among the
other passengers. The three old gentlemen
ut once began to explain that they owned
jewelry TO the value Of e400, which they
usually kept locked up in q brown leather