The Penn's Grove record., 1896-01-17
c,e, 10 I found my trintet, had vnD

tshed."
Pom my word. things were beginninA
o look serious and no mistake! lost
20 time In hunting up the captain ana
made him acquainted with the state OF
Affairs. He was just as much puzzled
as I was myself. The first thing next
morning he sent a message to Mrs. Mel
hurst. requesting a private interview
In his cabin on deck. He also signihed
Ills wish that ! should be present. we
both questioned the lady closely, ou'
her replies did not tend to throw any
light upon the singular occurrence.
Nevertheless we determined to keep
1 close watch upon the stateroom ID
future. 1t was pretty evident we had a
''black sheep on board-probably an
old hand at the business. For the next
few days we had no further complaints.
The thief was evidently Lying low
waiting until tranquility was restored
before making a fresh attempt. Mean
while I kept my eyes open. observed
the little peculiarities of the different
passengers, and took particular note
Of the n In which they occupied
their time.
On board ship when you and a man
who shows a marked preference for his
own society above that Of the loungers
on deck or habitues Of the smokeroom,
one is Inclined to jump at the conclu-
sion that he has some solid reasons for
his exclusiyeness. II, In addition to
this, he happens to be Of an uneon-
munleative disposition, with.black hair
and swarthy complexion. given to wear
Ing a SLOUGH hat and long co~at-rightly
Or wrongly. you put him down as a de
| .idedly suspicious character.
Now, we happened to have a passen'
ger on board-a Brazilian named De
Castro-who tailed In every way with
this description. But for the fact that
/ had conclusive evidence to show he
could not have been directly concerned
In the robberies-for Inquiries proved
he had remained on deck the whole
evening-he certainly would have been
treated to a private interview in the
captains cabin. AS It was, l was fore
ed to conclude that black hair, swarthy
complexion, SLOUGH hat and cloak were
quite compatible with a mans limo
eence.
Nothing further occurred TO excite
suspicion until the last day or two of
the voyage. Then. one evening after
dinner, word was brought to me that
three other staterooms had been riied
10 the same mysterious manner.
Watches, tewelry and even money had
disappeared, though in all three cases
the passengers stoutly declared they
mad left their doors locked.
When the alarm reached me l hap
pened to be standing in my desk office
I had in my hand twenty soyereigns,
which 1 had just taken In exchange for
American money to accommodate n
Of our passengers. didn't wait to lock
up the gold; l simply placed it on my
desk, switched off the light and hurried
away. l had no fear for the safety of
the sovereigns, my door having a par.
ticularly intricate lock, In which took
good care to turn the key before lear.
ing.
1 remained below for an hour OF so, II
vestigating these fresh complaints, but
as in the other cases. / was utterly un.
able to make head or tail of them. yex,
ed and ~bewildered, l went back to my
isffice. unlocked the door, turned OIL
the light, and mechanically stretched
out my hand to take the sovereigns
from my desk. My hand closed upoL
nothing more solid than thin Army
little pile of gold had vanished!
For a minute or two | stood there gaz'
ing blankly before me, SO utterly con.
fused and dismayed that l could scarce
ly bring my wits to bear upon the mys.
FERROUS 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 portfolio, which stood wide |
open, the weather being oppressively
lot.
/ regarded the innocent looking port.
lole with the air Of a veritable Sher.
rock Holmes. 1 went outside and
thrust my arm In through the opening, |
but my hand did not reach within fully |
two yards of the desk. Still, 1t 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 prac.
deal test.
l 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 a young American |
gentleman who / knew had q great
many trinkets In his stateroom and
was rather careless, too, In the way he
left them lying about.
Don't show any SURPRISE" I whis.
pered, glancing AROUND at the other oc-
:upants Of the saloon. -but might l ask
whether your stateroom IL lockedT
ut is"
"And the portfolio openT'
AehouAd soy oo' uoh want W uuu /
the place as stufy as the engine room
when l 90 to turn In"
well, just pass me your key; I wan.
try a little experiment. Wait till
I'm gone and then stroll up on deck.
Let yourself be ssen-on the lower deck
particularly-but don't pay too close at.
to anyone you may notice lott.
sr1ng there"
he fell In readily with my scheme.
/ went and shut myself In his state
room, ~crouching down 20 that I could
lust keep an eye on the portfolio over
the top Of the lower berth. I remained
that cramped position until my limba
lched, and I was half inclined to give u
up as q bad job.
But. suddenly. Al I glanced up at the
'orthole, my blood "a cold, and in all
ny life / never had such difficulty to
leep down a yell. In the dim light III,
law a long, thin, hairy arm thrust in
through the opening. The next moment
small black hand had fastened upon