Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1896-01-22
THIEF ON THE SHIP.


and would you please come down to her
stateroom Immediately"
had Just shut myself into my ltth
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 passeli-
gers comfort, read papers on Sunday
and keep a store of nautical informa-
ton at our finger-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 voy'
age.
On the present occa sion had scarce
ly got my accounts fairly in hand when
i was Interrupted by a slight tap at the
door. l arose at once and opened II,
and there stood Mrs. Melhurst's Cana
dian maid. with flushed face and nerv.
pus, agitated manner.
rs there anything wrong?" asked,
with some surprise, when she Lad de-
uvered her message.
There Is, SIR" she replied, hastily.
'All know"
She was about TO make some other
statement, but pulled herself up sud
denly, and tripped along the deck with
out another word.
/ switched off the electric light, lock
"a the door and hurried away after her.
When | got to Mrs. Melhurst's state
room ] saw at once that something had
occurred to cause her serious anxiety.
The bepths. the couch and even the
floors were Uttered with the contents OF
cabin trunks and hand bags. In the
midst of the confusion stood the lady
nerself, locking 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 500" / exclaimed in
sheer astonishment.
Il do say so" she replied, sharply.
You can see for yourself that they are
gone"
How did it happen"
Il 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 OF
the continent. She expressed wish TO
See It. When the tables were cleared
/ came in here, took out the brooch and
left the jewel case lying on the berth,
but when l got back the case wM
,mpty."
How long We're you absent?"
mot more than half an hour"
"You are sure you had the key ir
Jour possession all the timet"
Positive. | never let it out of my
band while | was in the saloon"
| was totally staggered. / examined
!he lock carefully, but there was abso-
luteIy nothing to show that II had been
tampered with. | could hit upon no bet
ter suggestion that that Mrs. Meihurst
might possibly have mislaid the jewels
somewhere This had the sole effect
Of exasperating the lady to such de-
gree-for it 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-
caslons.
II say, Mr.. Morse" he said, taking IL.
confidentially by the arm, you've got
some queer customers on board this
trip"
How sof'
Why, some ones gone and walked
off with my silver cigarette case. a cou
pie Of rings and a pair of gold"
The deuce"'
We'll, il 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 1? It's
enough to puzzle Philadelphia lawyeri
You see, went to my stateroom after
dinner-I can swear to that-and
remember singing my cigarette case,
rings and a pair of gold sleeve links
on the upper berth. Then put on my
dressing gown, stretched myself upon
the couch and had a downright good
snooze. When l got up, about five min