The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-08-13

J CoHCe.
Nothing further occurred to excit
J suspicion until the last day or two o
the voyage. Then, one evening afte
dinner, word was brought to me thu
three other stateroUms had beer
riiied in the same mysterious manner
watches, jewelry and even money ha,
ulsappeared, though In all three eases
the passengers stOutly declared they
hhd left their doors locked.
Whom tho alarm reached mo | hap
pened to he standing in my deck Office
| had in my hnnd twenty sOvcreigns
which had just taken in exchange foI
American money to accommodate one
OF our passengers. ! didn't wait tc
lock up the gold. simply placed i,
on my desk, switched or the light and
hurried away. | had no fears for til,
| safety OF the soveroigns, my door hay.
| ing II particularly Intricate lock, in
which ! took good care to turn the key
| before leaving.
b! remained below for un hour or so
investigating those fresh complaints,
but, nS in the other cases, | was utterly
unable to make head or tniI OF them.
NeNeu and bewildereu, / went back to
my Office, unlocked the door, turned on
the light, and mechanically stretched
out my hand to tako tho sovcreigns
from my desk. My hand closed upon
nothing more solid than thin Army
little pilo OF gold had vanished
For minute or two | stood there
gazing blankly before me, so utterly
confused and dismayed that | could
scarcely bring my wits to bear upon
the mysterious affair. Then managed
to pull myself together and took a look
around the little cabin. In the course
OF my observations my eyes happened
to rest upon the port-holc, which stood
wide open, the weather being opprcs-
sively hot.
l regarded tho innoccnt-loOking
port-hole with the air Of q veritable
Sherlock Holmes. | went outside and
thrust my arm in through the opening,
but my hand did not reach within fully
two yards OF the desk. Still it struck
me as being the only way by which
the thief could have got at the money,
and [ determined to put my theory to
a practical test.
| hurried down into the saloon,
where most OF the passengers were con
gregated As yet few Of them were
aware of the robberies, for we had
kept the matter as secret as possible.
| went straight up to Il young Ameri-
can gentleman, who ! knew had a
great many trinkets in his statcroom
and was rather careless, too. in the
way he left them lying about.
Don't show any SURPRISE" ! whisp'
cred, glancing round at tho occupants
of the saloon. but might | ask wheth-
cr your statcrOOm is locked ,"
ut is
And is tho portfolio open ,"
:" should think so. | don't want to
find the place as stuily as the engine
room when go TO turn in.'
We'll, just pass me your key.
! want 10 try a little experiment. Wal
! till Fun gone and then stroll up or
deck. tcL yourself be secn--on tn.
lower deck pnrticularly-bu don't pa,
too close attention to anyone you may
notice lettering there
He fell in readily with my scheme
went and shut myself in his state
room, urouching down so that coul,
the top Of tho lower berth. remain
cd in that crampcd position until m
limbs fairly achcd, and | was half in
clincd to give it up as Il bad job.
But suddenly, as | glanced up at tn
portfolio, my blood ran cold, an.l in al
my life never had such difficulty l.
keep down yell. In the dim light
saw a. long. thin, hairy arm thrust il
through the opening. The ncXt me
mcnt a small black hand had fastcnet
upon IL leather case lying close to tin
window and Withdrawn it as quick II
thought almO:t.
sprnnG to my feet and bo'tcd on
into the passage. | dushcu up tin
deck. There, just above the spO
where | Judged the statcrOOm to b
situated, came face to face with tn,
Brazilian, DE Castro. In spite Of the
heat hc was wearing his long clOai
with the deep cape and had his ctcrna
cigarette between his teeth. II
looked at me with an air Of frank sur
prise, and ! looked at him with nn al
Of profound nuspicion.
Suddenly n happy thought hashc
through my mind, ! turned round an
! sprang down the saloon stairs, runnin
full tilt against the chief steward, VIII
: was standing at the bottom.
. Nuts !" cried, without giving hi
Q time to recover from his surprise.
t Really he looked at me with sue
| utter CONSERVATION | verify believe /
t was convinced had taken leave Of n
l senses.
$ "Do you hear ," went on excited
"Gct me handful Of nuts-quick ~
=, When he brought thom, hurric
! back on deck. The Brazilian ha
moved away little toward Inc SIerl
I | went close up, stood right in front
$ him, and then began deliberately
crack the nuts.
: He regarded me with pitying 80
Il of look, but paid little attention
:; him. was watching that cloak
his. Presently | saw IL corner Of til
. cape drawn aside and bcheld pair
" small cleaning eyes fixed greedil
upon me.
1t was enough. My suspicious wei
= confirmed. iing tho rest Of the nu
u into the sea, and walking straight II
~ to De Castro said
y /" must ask you to accompany II
10 to the captains cabin ?"
~ "Not you mean? ?" he cried, drawi.
~ back.
- | was determined to stand no no
~; sense and straightway took him by I'll
shoulders. The moment | laid II
NC hands upon him heard vicious sna
~. under his cape. 1t was pulled su
y denly aside and ont flew Il monkey.
The little brute went at mo toot
'n and nail | saw the CLEAN Of knit
vi too, in tho Brazilian's hand, but =,
80 him have my fist straight between til
! h.,f, hn Il