The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1897-10-21
THIEVES ON BOARD.

| N4ibs nAcluuISt . CoApAluSuISp 6aT,
and would you please come down to
her stateroom Immediately"
had just shut myself into my little
Office on deck, having run through the
ships accounts before turning in that
night.
had scarcely got my accounts fairly
In hand when I was interrupted by a
slight tap at the door. arose at once
and opened It, and there stood Mrs.
Melhurst's Canadian maid, with flush-
ed face and nervous, agitated manner.
switched off the electric light, lock-
ed the door, and hurried away after
her. When I got to Mrs. Melhurst's
stateroom I saw at once that something
had occurred to cause her serious anx-
iety. The berth, the couch, and even
the floors, were Uttered with the con-
tents of cabin trunks and hand bags.
In the midst Of the confusion stood the
lady herself, looking decidedly perplex.
ed and annoyed.
'This Is very singular, Mr.. Morse"
she said, pointing to an empty Jewel
case which lay open upon the upper
berth. my diamond ornaments are
missing"
"How did It happenT
II cannot possibly tell you. At din.
ner this evening happened to men.
tion to Mrs. LatImer that had picked
up certain crescent-shaped brooch on
the continent. She expressed wish to
see 1t. When the tables were cleared l
came In here, took out the brooch, and
left the Jewel case lying on the berth,
but when ] got back the case was
empty"
How long were you absentW
mot more than half an hour"
"Y0u are sure you had the key OF
your cabin In your possession all the
timer
Positively. l never let It out of my
nd'while was In the saloon"
examined the lock carefully, but
there was absolutely nothing to show
that It had been tampered with.
had just got to the head OF the So.
loon stair when 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 sev.
eral voyages with us on previous occh
sions.
II say. Mr.. Morse" he said, taking
me confdentially by the arm, you've
got some queer customers on board this
trip"
How so?'
"Why, someone's gone and walked Off
with my silver cigarette case, q couple
Of rings, and pair Of gold"
"rell me exactly what has hap
pened."
my dear fellow, how can I? 1t is
enough to puzzle a Philadelphia law
yer. You see, ] went to my stateroom
after dinner-I can swear to that-and
remember singing my cigarette case,
rings, and pair Of gold sleeve links
on. the upper berth. Then put on my
dressing gown, stretched myself upon
the couch, and had downright good
snooze. When got up about five min
utes ago, found my trinkets had van
ished."
lost no time In hunting up the cap
tain, and made him acquainted with
the state of affairs. He was Just as
much puzzled as I was myself. We
both questioned the lady closely, but
her replies did not tend to throw any
light on the singular occurrence.
For the next few days we had no
further complaints. The thief was evi-
dently lying low" waiting until tran
quillity was restored before making n
fresh attempt. Meanwhile l kept my
eyes open.
We happened to have passenger on
board-a Brazilian, named de Castro
who was bit Of mystery to me all
through the voyage. But for the fact
TINT / had conclusive evidence to show
he could not have been directly con-
cerned In the robberies-for inquiries
proved he had remained on deck the
whole evening-he certainly would
have been treated to n private inter-
view in the captains cabin.
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 rIfled
In the same mysterious manner.
When the alarm reached me l hap
pened to be standing in my deck Office.
I had in my hand twenty sovereigns.
I didn't wait to lock up the gold; l sim
ply placed 1t on my desk, switched Off
the light, and hurried away. had no
fear FOR the safety Of the sovereigns,
my door having a particularly intricate
lock, in which took care to turn the
key before leaving.
l remained below for an hour or so,
but, as In the other cases, was utterly
unable to make head or tail Of them.
Vexed and bewildered, went back to
my Office, unlocked the door, turned on
the light, and-my little pile Of gold
had vanished.
Then I managed to pull myself to-
gether, and took a look around my lit
tie cabin. In the course Of my observa-
tions my eye happened to rest upon the