The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-28

given to wearing d slouchcd hntNand long
cloak, rightly CT wrongly you put him
down as y decidedly suspicious character.
Nnw wo happened to haro passenger
on board-n BRAZILIAN named Dc CASTRO
who tailed in ovcry way with this dcscrip-
ton. But for tho fact had conclusive
evidence to show ho could not have been
directly concerned in tho robbcrics-for
inquiries proved 10 had remained on dock
tho whole evoning-ho certainly would
have been treated to u private interview
in tho captains cabin. AS it was, was
forced to conclude that black hair swarthy
complexion, slouchcl hat and cloak, were
quito compatible with mans innocence.
Nothing further occurred to excite sus-
picion. until tho last day or two of tho yoy-
ago. Then, ono evening after dinner,
word was brought TO mo thatSthrco other
statcrooms had been riflcd III tho samo
mysterious manner. Watches, jowclry
and even money had disappeared, though
in oil three cases tho passengers stoutly
declared they had loft their doors looked.
Whom tho alarm reached me, happened
to be standing in my deck o1lico. had in
my hand 90 sovcrcienS which had Just
taken In exchange for American money to
accommodate ono of our passengers
didn't wait to lock up tho gold. l simply
placed it on my desk, switched off tho light
md hurried away. Ind no fears for tho
safety of tho sovcrcigns, my door having u
particularly intricate lock, in which took
good care to turn tho key before leaving.
L remained below for nm hour or SO in
vcstigating these fresh complaints but, rs
in tho other cases, I was utterly unable
to make head or tail Of thom. Vcxcd and
bewildcrcd, 1 went back to my Office, un-
locked the door, turned on tho light and
mechanically stretched out my hand to
take the sovcrcigns from my desk. My
hand closed upon nothing moro solid than
thin Army littlo pilo of gold had van
ishod!
For minute or two I stood thcro gaz-
ing b!ankly before me, so utterly confused
and dismaycd that could scarcely bring
my wits 10 bear upon tho mysterious affair.
Then L managed to pull myself together
and tocll Il lcol around the little cabin.
In the course of my observations my eyes
happened to rest upon the portfolio. which
stood wido open, tho weather being OPP
prcssivcly hot.
regarded tho innocent looking portfolio
with the air of vcritGblc Sherlock
Holmes. 1 went outside and thrust my
arm i'll through tho opening but my hand
did not reach within fully two yards of
tho desk. Still, it struck mo rs being tho
only way by which tho thief could have
got Mt tho money, and l determined to put
l hurried down into tho saloon, whcro
most of tho passengers were congrcgntetl.
As yet few of them were aware of tho rob-
berries, for wo had kept tho matter as secret
rs possible. went straight up to n young
American gentleman who 1 know had
great many trinkcts in his stateroom and
was rather careless, too, in tho way he left
them lying about
Don't show any SURPRISE" 1 whisper
cd, CHANGING round ut tho other occupants
of tho saloon, "but might ask whethor
your stateroom is lockcdy'
cit isl
"And is tho portfolio opcn?''
II should think so! 1 don't want to
find the plnco us stuffy as tho engine room
when l go TO turn in"
We'll, just pass mo your key. want
to try little experiment.. Wait till I'm
gone, and thcn stroll up on deck. Let
yourself DO sccn-On tho lower deck par
ticularly-but don't pay too close atten-
ton 10 any ono you may notice lettering
there
Ho fell in readily with my scheme.
wcntnnd slut myself in his staterooIn,
crouching down so that l could just keep
M eye or the portfolio over thc top of tho
lower berth. l remained in Tint cramrcd
position until my limbs fnirly achcd, ard
L was half i!.ciiLod 10 give it UP rs q bad
job.
But suddenly, IS L glanced up at the
portho!c, my blood ran cold, aud in all
my life never had such difficulty to Keep
down q yell. IL .ho dim light I saw y
long. thin, hairy arm thrust in through
tho opening. TIC next moment q small
black hand had fastened upon u leather
case lying close To tho window and with
drew it rs quick rs thought almost
| m font Il I,,.1,o
the passage. l dashed up tho saloon stairs
and made fo3 he lower deck. There, lust
above tho spot where 1 judged tho state
room to DO situated, 1 came face to face
with tho Brazilian, Dc Castro. In spite
OF the heat Inc was wearing his long cloak
with the deep cape and lad his eternal
cigarette between his teeth. Ho looked at
mo with an air of frank surprise, and |
looked ut him with an air of profound
suspicion.
Suddenly happy thought flashed
through my mind. 1 turned round and
sprang down tho saloon stairs, running
full tilt against tho chief steward, who
wns standing at tho bottom.
"Nuts!" L cried, without giving him
timo to recover from his surprise.
Really lie looked Mt me with such utter
CONSERVATION verify believe hu was CON
vinccd had taken leave of my senses.
DO you hcar!" went on cxcitedly
Get mo Il handful of nuts-quics
When he brought them, hurried back
on deck. Tho Brazilian had moved away
little toward the stern went close up
stood right III front of him, and then bu.
gun deliberately to crack the nuts.
He regarded mo with plying sort of
look but paid littlo attention TO him.
was watching that cloak of his Present.
ly saw corner of the capo drawn aside
and behold e pair Of small cleaning eyes
fixed grccdly upon INC.