The Penn's Grove record., 1896-01-17
THIEF ON THE SHIP.

"Mrs. MeIhurst's compliments, sir.
and would you please come down to her
stateroom immediately"
1 had just shut myself into my nttt
office on deck, having run through the
ships accounts before turning In that
night. 1t is quite a mistake. by the
way, to think that we pursers have no
more onerous duties to perform when
at sea than to watch over the passed.
gers comfort, read papers on Sunday
and keep a store of nautical informa-
ton at our f~nger-ends for the benefit
Of every curious voyager. Nowadays
the purser of a crack American liner
making, perhaps. a record passage OF
six days or so-has his work pretty well
cut out for him during the entire yoy
age.
On the present occasion l had scarce
ly got my accounts fairly In handswhen
1 was interrupted by a slight tap at the
door. l arose at once and opened 1t.
and there stood Mrs. Melhurst's Cana.
dian maid, with flushed face and nerv.
GUS, agitated anner.
SIS there anything wrongr' l asked,
with some surprise, when b a de-
Hvered her message.
There is, sir" she replied, hastily.
"All I know"
She was about to make some other
abatement, but pulled herself up sud
denly, and tripped along the deck with
out another word.
1 switched off the electric light, lock
ed the door and hurried away after her,
When i got to Mrs. Melhurst's state
room / saw at one that something had
occurred to cause her serious anxiety.
The bepths, the couch and " the
floors were Uttered with the contents OF
cabin trunks and hand bags. In the
midst of the confusion stood the lady
n~erself, looking decidedly perp,exed and
annoyed.
This is very singular. Mr.. Morse
The said, pointing to an empty Jewel
case which lay open on the upper berth.
my diamond ornaments are missing"
you don't say so?" l exclaimed In
sheer establishment.
E5"I do say sor' she replied, sharply.
-You can see for yourself that they are
gone"
How did it happen"
81 cannot possibly tell you. At din.
ner this evening l happened TO men.
ton to Mrs. Latimer that l had picked
up a certain crescent-shaped brooch or
the continent. She expressed a wish to
see it. When the tables were cleared
i came In here, took out the brooch and
left the jewel case lying on the berth.
but when 1 got back the case waI
IMPLY"
"How long were you absentT'
mot more than half an hour"
"You are sure you had the key In
-FOUR possession all the timer"
Positive. l never let it out of M
hand while | was In the saloon"
l was totally staggered. l examined
khe lock carefully, but there was abso-
lutely nothing to show that 1t had been
tempered with. l could hit upon no bet.
ter suggestion that that Mrs. Melhurst
might possibly have mislaid the Jewels
somewhere. This had the sole effect
of ex%asperating the lady to such q de-
g%ree-for 1t seems that she had already
searched every nook and corner In the
cabin-that l was glad to beat a retreat |
In order to lay the matter before thu
captain.
I had just got to the head Of the sa- |
loon stairs when l heard some one
bounding up after me, three or four
steps at a time. / turned and saw Mr..
Carter-who, by the way. had made
several voyages with US on previous oc-
easions.
II say, Mr.. Morse" he said, taking M
c~onidentially by the arm, you've got
some queer customers on board this
trip"
How sop
why, some ones gone and walked
of with my silver cigarette case, a cou
pie Of rings and a pair Of gold
THE deucev
well, 1t looks uncommonly like as
If the Individual you refer to had a
hand in the business, for I don't see
how any ordinary mortal could get
into ones cabin. with the door bolted
on the inside, unless he managed to
squeeze through the portfolio"
Tell me exactly what has happened
MY dear fellow, how can I? It's
enough to puzzle q Philadelphia lawyeri
You see, l went to my stateroom after
dinner-I can swear to that-and 1
remember singing my cigarette case,
rings and a pair Of gold sleeve links
on the upper berth. Then l put on my
dressing gown, stretched myself upon
the couch and had a downright good
snooze. When l got up, about ave min