The herald., 1896-02-20
Copyright 1896, by Bacheller johnson L Bachelor


SYNOPSIS
Richard Morley is commissioned with the
sale OF a very valuable necklace. He
sails for London on the steamer Venice"
carrying with him the necklace in an in
side vest pocket. There is on board. recon-
mended to the captains care, a very at
tractive young lady. On the third day out
Morley protects her from an apparently in
tentional rudeness on the par, of villain
Gus looking second cabin passenger, at
sight of whom the girl shows agitation.
Morley falls in love with the girl, Made
line Perrine, by name, tells her about his
errand. and proposes to her, while leaning
over the rail dividing the first and second
cabin decks. She does not answer, but
urges him forward to the cabin. That even
ing she accepts him, and gives him her
portrait which she places in his inside vest
pocket. Morley strolls back to the second
cabin rail- While musing there, the sec
ond cabin passenger falls rudey against
him. and pulls him about. On retiring he
: misses his diamond necklace, and his sus-
picions rest first on the second cabin pas
senger, then involuutarily on Madeline.
He puts the latter suspicion aside, and in
forms the captain, who summons all on
board to be searched the next morning,
meanwhile detailing men to search the
state rooms. While the search Is going
on, it is announced that the necklace has
been found.
PART II.
Instantly after the captains announce
ment of the recovery of the stolen gems
he was surrounded by an eager group Of
questioners to whom he would give no
information. This crowd was soon at
tracted from his side by a new sensation
the falling of woman in faint
Morley was trying to elbow his way to
the captain when she was carried out, and
he was filled with distress when he saw
that the unfortunate sufferer was Madeline
Perrine. He saw to it that she was placed
in the hands OF doctor and a stewardess
in deck cabin and then, satisfied that the
news that his Jewels we're to be restored
to him, had been too good for her to COM
placently bear land loving her the more for
IT. and being assured that her illness was
not important, he hurried back to the
captain.
The oficer bade him go to his cabin and
wait. In a moment he Joined him there,
and, after handing him his lost treasure
which examination showed had not been
harmed, he began to question him anew
about the persons with whom he was ac-
quainted on board ship-particularly the
women. In the meantime he refused to
answer any questions himself. He had
soon drawn from Morley the story Of his
acquaintance and love for Madeline. His
next speech was extraordinary.
II am sorry to hear this, but am sorrier
you concealed it from me at first" said
the captain. may 1 ask il your love for
each other has reached the point where
you have-ah-embraced herr"
"It did. sir, last evening" said Morley
filed with a. horrible fear. And then re-
luctantly, he told the story Of the photo
graph and how Madeline had put it in the
pocket with the jewels.
THAT Isl all I wished to know" said the
captain. II am horrified-no, not word
Comeiwfth me and I will take you face to
face with the person in whose cabin, care
fully concealed beneath the velvet OF the
cushioned seat, your jewels were found"
Morley followed the captain. He was
filed with forebodings too terrifying to
permit speech. These were confirmed when
the captain opened the door of his own
private cabin, and when Morley saw, sit
ting within, her face stained with tears
and her eyes almost wild in their express
sion. her face as pale death and her
hands working convulsively-his sweet
heart, Madeline Perrine.
For asmoment Morley recoiled in horror
The shock was frightful one. Even after
the vague suspicious which the events Of
the past twelve hours had forced into his