Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1896-06-06
Who Was The Thief.

sMrs Melhursts compliments. air,
and would YOU please come down to
her staterocm immediately"
had just shut myself into my little
Office on deck. having run through the
ships accounts before turning in that
night Ii is quite mistake, by the
way, TO think that we pursers have
no more onerous duties 10 perform
when at sea than to watch over the
passengers comfort read prayers on
Sunday. and keep a store of nautical
Information at our finger-ends for the
benefit Of every curious voyager. Now
adays the purser Of crack American
liner making perhaps record pas
sage of six days or so-has his work
pretty well cut out for him during the
entire voyage.
0n the present occasion had scarce
ly got my accounts fairly in hand when
l was interrupted by slight tap at
the door. l rose at once and opened
it. and there stood Mrs. Melhurst's
Canadian maid. with flushed face and
nervous, agitated manner.
rs there anything wrong" l asked.
with some surprise, when she had de-
liyered her message
.'There is, SIR she replied, hastily.
s.All know
She was about to make some eager
statement, but pulled herself up sud
denly and tripped along the deck with
out another word.
| switched off the electric light.
locked. the door and hurried away
after her. When l got to Mrs. Mel
hursrs sstateroom, saw at once that
something had occurred to cause her
serious anxiety. The berths, the couch,
and even the floor were Uttered with
the contents of cabin trunks and hand
bags. In the midst of the confusion
stood the lady herself looking decided
~ perplexed and annoyed.
This is very singular, Mr.. Morse"
she said, pointing TO an empty jewel
case which lay open on the upper
berth. My diamond ornaments are
missing
You don't say SOP l exclaimed in
sheer amazement.
Il do say So" she replied sharDly.
You can see for yourself that they
are gone
How did it happen?"
Il cannot possibly tell you. At din
ner this evening / happened to men
ton TO Mrs. Latimer that I had picked
up a curious crescent shaped brooch
on the continent. She expressed a
wish 10 see it. When the tables were
cleared. i came in here, took out the
brooch and left the jewel case lying
on the berth. was careful to lock the
CABIN door. but when / got back the
case wifs empty
How long We're you absent?'
Not more than half an hour"
Not more than half an hourf'
You are sure you had the key in
your possession all the timer
fositlve l never let it out of my
hand while was in the saloon.r
| was fairly staggered. examined
the lock carefully, but there was all.
solutely nothing to show that IL had
been tampered with. / could hit unon
no better suggestion than that Mrs.
Melhurst might possibly have mislaid
the Jewels somewhere This had the
sole effect of exasperating the lady TO
such a degree-for it seems that she
had already searched every hole and
corner in the cabin-that / was glad
70 beat retreat in order to Law the
matter before the captain.
had just got to the head Of the
saloon stairs when I heard some one
pounding up after me, three or four
steps at time. / turned and saw a
Mr.. Carter-who. by the way, had
made several voyages with us ON pre-
yious occasions
Il say. Morse" he said. taking me
confidently by the arm, you've got
ship"
"How so?n
Why, some ones gone and walked
off with my silver cigarette case. a
couple Of rings and pair of goldr-
'.Tbe deuce.
'Well. 1t looks uncommonly like as
If the individual you refer to had a
hand in the business, for 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 hap
penedT'
NY uedr IeilOW, now can L! It's
enough to puzzle Philadelphia law
yer! You see, went to my stateroom
after dinner. feeling a bit drowsy. /
bolted the door, can swear to that
and / remember fiinging the cigarette
case. rings and pair of gold sleeve
links Onsthe upper berth. When I put
on my dressing gown, stretched myself
upon the couch. and had downright
good snooze. When l got up, about
five minutes ago, found my trinkets
had vanished
Pom my word. things were begin.
ming to look serious, and no mistakel
! lest no time in hunting up the cap
tain and made him acquainted with
the state OF affairs He was Just as
much puzzled as / was myself. The
first thing next morning he sent a mes
sage TO Mrs. Melhurst, requesting a
private Interview i'm his cabin on deck.
He alsossignified his wish that should
be present We both questioned the
lady closely. but her replies did not
tend to throw any light upon the sing
ular occurrence.
Nevertheless we determined to keen
close watch upon the staterooms In
frturc. II was pretty evident we had
a 'black sheep" ON board--prabably