Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1895-12-27

hat night. 1t is quite q mistake, by
he way, to think that we pursers
have no more onorous duties to per-
orm when at sea than to wstch over
be passengers comfort, read prayers
Sunday and keep q store of nauti-
al information at our finger ends for
be benefit of every curious voyager.
owadays the purser of crack Amer.
an liner-ma aking, perhaps, record
sssage of six, days or so-has his
ork pretty we'll cut out for him dur
g the entire voyage.
On the present occasion I had
Arcely got my accounts fairly in
Ind when I was interrupted by a
ght tap at the door. 1 arose at
ce aud opened it, and there stood
Mrs. Melhurst's Canadian maid, with
fus she'd face and nervous, agitated
dinner.
els there anything wropgf" J. asked,
with some surprise, when she had de-
livered her message. 80
"rhere is, sir, she replied hastily.
"All l know"
She was about to make some eager
statement, but pulled herself up sud-
denly, and tripped along the deck
without another word.
I switched off the electric light,
locked the door and hurried away after
her. When I got 20 Mrs. Melhurst's
state oom l saw OF once that some
thing had occurred to cause her seri-
Gus anxiety. The berths, the couch
and even the floor were Uttered with
the contents of cabin trunks and hand
bags. In the midst of the confusion
stood the lady herself, looking decid-
edly perplexed and annoyed.
"This is very singular, Mr.. Morse,
she said. pointing to an empty jewel
case which lay open on the upper
berth. "My diamond ornaments are
missing"
"You don't say sol" exclaimed In
sheer astonisment
81 do say so! !" she replied sharply.
You can see for yourself that they
are gone.
How did it happen"
''I cannot positively tell you. At
dinner this evening l happened to
mentiop to Mrs. Latimer that I had
picked up certain crescent shaped
brooch on the Continent. She ex-
pressed wish to see IL. When the
tables were cleared I came in here,
took out the brooch end left the
level case lying on the bert. I was
careful to lock the cabin door. but
when l got back the case vas empty"
GLOW long were you hbsent?'
"Not more than hall az hour"
"You are sure you hsd the key in
YOUR possession all the time?"
"Positive. never let it out of my
hand while I vas in the saloon"
1 was totally staggered. examined
the lock carefully, but there was ab.
solutely nothing to show that il had
been tsmpsred with. [ could hit upon
no better suggestion than that Mrs.
Melh,rst N Aht possibly have mislaid
the Jewels s5aewhele. This had the
sole effect OF exasperating the lady to
such degr4e-for it seems that she
had already searched every nook and
corner in the cabin--that ] WAS glad |
to beat retreat in order to lay the
matter before the captain.
1 had just got to the head OF the sa.
loon stairs when ] heard some one
bounding up after me. three or four
steps at time. 1 tn ned and saw Mr..
Carter who, by the way, had made
several voyages with US on previous
o ,clsions.
~ say, Morse" he said, taking me
by the arm, "gou've
got some queer customers on board |
this trip"
"How so?"
"Why, some ones gone AMI walked
OF with my silver cigarette case,
couple OF rings and pair Of gold"
"'Tbe deuce
"Well, it looks uncommonly like as
if the individual you refer to had a
hand in the business, for | don't see
how any ordinary mortal 'coultt yetsf
INTO ones cabin, with the door boltel
% the inside, unless he managed to
squeeze through The portfolio. -
''TeIl me exactly what has hap.
,enel."
"My dear fellow, how can /? It's
.noush to puzzle Philadelphia lava
yer! You see, went to my staterooq
alter dinner-I can swear to ts~*