The herald., 1896-02-20

ly. Instead Of the disorderly character re-
listing arrest, it WAS the insulted innocent,
ull of amazed dignity. that stepped into the
resence of the Captain and Morley.
The Captain bade the sailors release him
md wait outside until he called them. When
hey had gone he said:
Thompson" Chat was the name the man
lad given), you know why you were
brought here. Now what have You to say
or yourself"
The mans dignity melted somewhat
When he spoke he mixed with it suave
illness which was not prepossessing. His
manner was almost, but not quite, cringing.
lie evidenced the most complete surprise
At the Captains statement. His reply was
given in the best Of English well enunicia-
ed.
you are wrong. sir" he replied. "I
have no idea OF the reason for the outrage
us treatment to which have been subject
3D."
Come. come now" said the captain, and
Morley was surprised and pleased at the
way in which the old officer acted his diff
cult role, none of that. You know that
you have been arrested for the theft of Mr..
Morley's jewels. Now theft at sea is even
l more serious offence than is theft on land.
There are reasons. however. why am will
| ing to make your punishment less severe
than you deserve. Since you have been on
board you have plainly exhibited desire to
injure one of my passengers, most esti-
mable lady who is under my especial pro-
lection. You carried this, to me, inexpli-
cable devlishness, 10 :ts extreme, when
YOU concealed the stolen diamonds in her
cabin during her absence. not knowing
hat you had. in the meantime, dropped in
YOUR berth incontrovertible evidence OF your
.wn guilt where it was discovered by an
,fficer of this ship
Morleys heart leapt within him when he
saw the man turn ashy pale after this
speech. The captain, not waiting for him
to speak, however, went on:
Were so disposed could secure, when
we reach Liverpool. 20 years Of penal servi-
tude for you. which is the penalty for such
crime when committed on the high seas.
| am aware, however, that there must
have been a screw loose In the manage
ment of this ship or you could not have
left the second cabin ana entered this
lady's room without interference. Now,
Thompson, offer to make the charge
against you so much less serious that the
most severe penalty which you can be
made to pay shall be ten years instead OF
twenty, and promise not to protest
should it be even less than that, if you
will explain to me in detail, the way in
Of a saloon passenger.
The man, at this point started to speak,
bu: the captain silenced him with lifted
hand and added:
| Eve know how and when the robbery
was committed. You assaulted Mr.. Nor
ley on deck last night and in the struggle
passed your hand inside his wastcoat and
distracted the jewels, substituting there
for a package Of rubbish of similar size
and shape so that he should not miss
them. Concerning that performance you
can give US NO information. 1t was very
clever bit of sleight of hand.
Now. have told you what want tc
know. shall give you % minutes ir
which to tell me. You can use as much
II that time as you like for reflection
IT, when it has ended. you have not made
Il complete statement OF all the facts I ash
| for. I shall order the sailors who brought
you up here 10 shacklo you, hand and foot
and conf1ne you in the hold on bread ant
water until the ship reaches port, when
shall turn you over to the proper authori
tics. and. with Mr.. Morleys help, shal
press the prosecution without mercy
The deathlike pallor had not left thu
| mans face when the captain finished
speaking. For moment or two, he KEEP
silence and during that period Morley fel
convinced that his plan had been success
ful--that the real criminal had beeI
pushed to the wall by this clever deception
and that he was about to clear the limo
cent OF suspicion by making full confcs
sion.
But this hope dwindled and disappeared
as the man regained his self-possession ant
began to speak. When he finally openet
his mouth the faint color had returned t
naturally somewhat sallow cheeks, and hi
voice was without a tremor.
Sir he said, "you are laborng unde
a most cruel mistake. I admit that m
ignorance of steamship rules did, on tn
second day out. permit me to pass to
part OF the vessel from which my povert,
barred me, and I admit that resiste,
your sailors, thus unintentionally disturb
Ing q lady, when, without explaining m
mistake to me and thus instantly insurin
your saloon passengers against further in
trusion from my humble self, they otarte
to roughly drag me away. I have sine
been assured that your second officer di
! ,plain to me. ] do not admit this to b