Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1894-02-03

your power, 1 know, my dear car
! tain. But / Can trust you to kee]
your promise and leave the thing en-
tirely in my hands, cannot r."
How could I refuse him2
You may readily imagine what con
sternation this event gave rise Il
among the other passengers. TIL,
tn ee old gentlemen at once began u
explain that they owned jewel y Il
the value of e400 which they usual.
kept lockedfup in a b own leathe
writing case; but unfortunately, al
the present time the lock was out Of
order.
Mr.. May suggested a safe deposit
for tn cir valuables
The young married couples an
nounced the fact of their having at
least 9200 worth Of jewelry, and
they, too, consulted Mr.. May as to
the safest plan for secreting it.
The kind-hearted brother and sis
ter had, it appeared, more valuables
in the way of jewelry than any one
on board, since FL, 500 had never pur-
chased what they possessed.
The whole evening was occupied in
specializing as to the probable perpe-
traitor of the theft, and in condoling
with Mr.. May on his loss. Every
one turned in that night in an un-
easy state Of mind, and it was with
establishment that they found them.
selves in the morning in full posses
sion of their worldly goods. This
improved condition of affairs seemed
to reassure our passengers, who at
once again began to look cheerful
| and at ease.
Reg maid Mays face wore it's
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
ship, still using the top of the empty
water cask for work table.
That night we retired to rest with
minds far more at ease than on the
previous one. Alas! What scene
OF anger and distress came with the
morn .ng! Every passenger on board
owning jewelry had been robbed dur
ing the night.
The three old gentlemen. the
young marie / couples and the kind
hearted brother and sister found
themselves minus every article they
possessed. Even the grumbling old
gentleman had lost his gold snuff
box
There was no keeping matters
quiet this time. The thief must be
traced and brought to justice. What
was the wisest method of procedure?
What would Mr.. May suggest?
II would suggest, though most re-
luctantly, that every sailor and every
sailors luggage be carefully searched"
he said.
81 agree to see to that" remarked.
''This," be continued, must be
most humiliating to the feelings of
your crew, captain, and therefore, in
common fairness to them as our fell
low men, let me suggest that every
passenger and passengers luggage be
also thoroughly searched"
A little hesitation on the part of
one or two of the passengers was
shown before acceding to the last
proposal, but our pleasant passen- er
soon contrived to bring those who
first demurred to his way of think
lug.
'Of course there is not a passenger
on board who is not above suspicion"
he said; 'yet, in justice to the feel
ings of the crew, it is the least we
can DO"
This delicate feeling and thought
fulness on the part of Mr.. May rem
dered him more pleasing in our eyes
than ever.
Many Of the crew objected strongly |
TO being searched, but all were COM
PEELED to submit. The old boatswain
was wild with anger, and vowed that
II it cost him his life he would trace
the thief who had caused him to be
searched like common. ri kpocket.
Even the pleasant passenger utterly
failed to soothe his deep sense of in
Jury.
Well, thorough search was made
BY myself and the kind-hearted old
gentleman and his sister, Every
ones traps were ransacked from top
to bottom without success Further
search was useless. What was to be
lone?
That night all having Teen made
snug and every one having turned in,
went on deck, it being what we
call at sea 1.-The Captains watch"
About o'clock in the morning l
turned in, the second officer then
com ng on duty. My cabin was sit
uated amidShips on deck. and from
my windows l could see to larboard !.
and starboard and from stem to
st IN.
Somehow l could not rest so dress
ing myself determined to up and
smoke. l drew aside my Curtains i
and looked out. 1t was the gray
light of the early morning and there
was stiffish breeze hDwng. To
my great surprise ! beheld heginald
May on deck. ] was about to open
my cabin door and invite him to join
me n my unrest when the peculiar
nature Of his proceedings riveted
my attention. He looked timidly
around as If afraid Of attracting oh
G q walton. Then Suddeniv az If a.