Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-30
He stopped.

/ Iau1eS ana gentlemen, DuC II can De
/ helped. May we begin with yours, Mr..
/ Greig?"
I really don't know" protested
Greig, why I should have my cabin
upset and turned out just because
: Il desire that Mr.. Greig's cabin
should be searched" said Mr.. Van
| Straaten insistently.
That settles it, then" said Henry
! Greig, carelessly. Fire away. I'll
come down with you
The crowd went below and stood in
the corridor while the examination
was progressing. Elsie Norman, hear
ing the noise, left her aunt and, rather
red at eyes came forward. The cap
tain, Mr.. Van Straaten, the chief
steward and Henry Greig reappeared
at the door of the cabin. The ola Ger
man bore leather case very carefully
in his arms.
THE diamonds have been found"
announced the captain of the Bengal
seriously. I'VE shall not have to
trouble you, ladies and gentlemen"
They were only ordinary folk, rather
bored by the tediousness of the jour
ney from Calcutta and they could not
help showing a certain relish over the
diversion.
Most painful, really"
Case found under the pillow in the
BERTH
Seemed such an honest fellow, too"
door - sold
terly, cit doesn't do to trust anyone
nowadays. You never know who's
who"
But you'd think really on F. &
o. steamship"
I'm sorry for that poor Miss Nor
man. She was engaged to him, you
know"
ooh, that's broken off quite defin-
itely. l heard her telling the old Ger
man so. The old fellow asked her
what was the matter and she told him.
He was partner of her fathers you
know, and he seemed so much con-
cerned about it. You, see, dear, l
wasn't exactly listening, but
"But you heard, dear-that's the
main point. Come into my cabin and
see my new serge dress"
They went aft, leaving Greig at the
door of the cabin. He was holding the
sides to prevent himself from falling
Other passengers went past his cabin,
keeping carefully to the other side Of
the narrow corridor. Not one of them
spoke to him, but they all spoke to
each other.
What does this mean?" cried Henry
Greig. do they all suspect me Of"
Harry
A soft, white hand was laid on his
arm with a kindly pressure. He
turned and seized it gladly.
Elsie! Aren't you, too, going to
follow them?"
''Tell me first what it all means"
1t did not take long to put the girl
into possession of the facts. Her face
famed red with indignation.
"And they dare to think that you
would do thing like that?'
We'll" said Greig, uneasily, "they
found the things there, you see. It's
circumstantial evidence of rather an
| awkward kind. But needn't tell you,
Miss Norman
"My name is still Elsie"
F'My dear girl. I needn't tell you |
should not dream of taking poor old
Van Straaten's diamonds, or anybody
e1se's."
81 am quite sure of that, Harry. I
must see him about it." She repinned
her straw hat with a decided air 1--WE
two must stand together now, what
ever happens"
''Elsie, hadn't you better let me
fight it out alone? The truth is nearly
sure to come out sooner or later,
| and"
GIN the meantime, dear, you will
have to forget our stupid quarrel Of
this morning. I was quite wrong"
$50 was l." said Greig. promptly.
A man has no business to kiss a girl
as she is ascending the gangway of a
P. & o. steamship. 1t has been done,
no doubt, on more than one occasion,
but it is nearly always an act to be
condemned by right thinking people
hitting the crime. Nevertheless, if it
is at any time to be pardoned it was in
| the instance at present in question.
''But," said the astonished Mrs. Rem
ton to her companion, 81 thought you
said, my dear, that their engagement
was all off"
"She certainly said so. Why she
should be so affectionate with him now
after this scandalous affair, goodness
only knows"
"Ah, my dear! Girls are queer Great
ures."
There were a few hours of mixed
feelings for Mr.. Greig of the eastern
bank. 1t was terrible to feel this sus
picion hanging over him; to watch the
looks cast at him by the passengers
to observe Mr.. Van Straaten's almost
comic appearance of injury; on the
other hand, it was delightful to fee
that close to him in this time Of stress
as he sat on the deck or strolled VI
and down, was a cheerful young per
son in her very best spirits. The bay
meanwhile alphabetically behaved II
a manner quite exemplary.
81 am astonished, my DEAR" said Mr.
Van Straaten, severely, that yor
should be friendly with Mr.. Greig after
what has habbened alretty. I strongly
advise you gift him up. You dold me
you had decided"
GIVE changed my mind" she saiC