The Cape Girardeau Democrat., 1896-01-11
quite compatible with a mans limo

Watches, jewelTy and even money had
disappeared, though in all three cases
| the passengers stoutly declared they
| had left their doors locked.
When the alarm reached me I hap
pcned to be standing in my deck Office.
had in my hand 90 sovereigns, which
had Just taken in exchange for Ameri-
can money to accommodate one of our
passengers. 1 didn't wait to lock up
the gold; simply placed it on my desk,
switched OFF the light and hurried
away. l had no fear for the safety Of
the sovcreigns, my door having a par
ticularlv intricate lock, in which l took
good care to turn the key before leav.
ing.
I remained below for an hour or so,
investigating these fresh complaints,
hut, as in the other cases, l was utterly
/ unable to make head or tail of them.
Vexcd and bewildered, 1 went back to
my Office, unlocked the door, turned on
the light, and mechanically stretched
out my hand to take the sovereigns
from the desk. My hand closed upon
nothing more solid than thin Army
little pile of gold had vanished!
For a moment or two | stood there
gazing blanlly before The, SO utterly
confused and dismayed that l could
scarcely bring my wits to bear upon
the mysterious affair. Then managed
to pull myself together, and took a look
around my little cabin. In the course
OF my observations my eye happened
To rest upon the port hole, which stood
wide open, the weather being oppres-
sirely hot.
regarded the innocent looking port
hole with the air of veritable Sher-
lock 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 l de-
termired to put my theory to practi-
cal test.
hurried down into the saloon, where
most of the passengers were congre-
gated. AS yet few of them were aware
OF the robberies, for we had kept the
matter as secret as possible. l went
straight up to young American gen.
tleman who l knew had a great many
triukets in his statcroom and was
rather careless too in the way he left
them lying about.
Don't show any surprise" 1 whis-
Percd, glancing around at the other Oc-
cupants of the saloon, but might ask
whether your stateroom is locked?"
1T is"
We'll. just pass me your key: want
to try little experiment. Wait till
I'm gone and then stroll up on deck
Let yourself be seen-on the lower deck
particu!arfy-but don't pay too close
attention to anyone you may notice
lettering there"
went and shut myself in the state
room, crouching down so that 1 could
inst keep an eye on the portfolio over
the top of the lower berth. l remained
in that crampcd position until my limbs
fairly achcd, and was half inclined to
give it up rs bad job.
But suddenly, as I glanced up at the
portfolio, my blood ran cold, and in all
ray life | never had such difficulty to
keep down Il yell. In the dim light 1
saw long, thin hairy arm thrust in
through the opening. The next mo-
rlent small black hand had fastened
upon a leather case lying close to the
window and withdrew it as quick as
thought almost.
l sprang to my feet and bolted out
side into the passage. | dashed up the
saloon stairs and made for the lower
deck. There, just about the spot where
| judged the stateroom to be situated,
] came face to face with the brazilian.
De Castro. In spite of the heat he was
wearing his long cloak with the deep
cape, and had his eternal cigarette be-
tween his teeth. He looked at me with
an air of frank surprise, and looked at
him with an air of profound suspicion.
Suddenly a happy thought flashed
through my mind. l turned round and
sprang down the saloon stairs, running
full tilt against the chief stewart, who
was standing at the bottom.
Get me handful of nuts-quick!"
l cried.
When he brought them I hurried
back on deck. The Brazilian had moved
away n little toward the stern. l went
close up, stood right in front of him,
and then began deliberately to crack
the nuts.
He regarded me with pitying sort of
look but paid little attention to him.
Presently saw a corner of the cape
drawn aside and behind a pair of small,
cleaning eyes fixed greedily upon me.
1t was enough. My suspicious were
confirmed. flung the rest of the nuts
in the sea, and walking straight up to
De Castro. said:
Il must ask you to accompany me to
the captains cabin
'Vot you mean?" tie asked, drawing
back
I was determined to stand no nom
sense, and straightway took him by
the shoulders. The moment 1 laid my
hands upon him heard a vicious snarl
under his cape; it was pulled suddenly
aside and out flew a monkey.
The little brute went at me tooth and
nail. l saw the gleam of a knife, too,
in the Brazilian's hand, but let him
have my fist straight between the eyes
l L. = L.