San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-17

gazing round him with very grave
face Everything seemed in its place.
Dresses swung from pegs upon the bulk.
head. The hat the young lady had been
in the habit of wearing was in the up
per bunk, along with bandbox or two,
parasol, an mbrella and the like.
The apparel she had removed ON the
previous night lay neatly folded on a
chair. The surgeons solemn eye wan
dered to it and fastened itself there. He
exclaimed:
"Would Mrs Storr step imp
Mrs. Storr," said the captain.
That lady hurriedly left Mrs Pea
cock.
Mrs. Storr," said the surgeon, edo
you think you will be able to tell us by
looking round you if the young lady
was dressed when she left her cabin?"
Mrs. Storr very carefully viewed the
interior. She examined the dresses and
said, pointing to one, that it was a
light summer gown-the girl had worn
it since the stormy weather. That be-
ing so, she considered that Miss Mansel
would have put on that particular dress
again this day; then, after looking about
her bit farther, at the hat in the upper
bunk and the clothes folded upon the
chair, she gave it as her opinion that
the girl had not left her cabin dressed
for the deck, although" she added, 81
don't see her dressing gown, and I miss
flannel petticoat from those clothes
there.
A short silence followed this. The
lady's statement seemed to convince the
captain.
''She must be in the ship" said he,
and he gave Trickle and John, the un.
dersteward, certain directions, whisper
ing them.
Until we know" exclaimed the
doctor in low tone, that his words
might not reach the people in the cud
dy, that the young lady is not in the
ship speculation is hopeless. Yet it is
worth your while observing, Captain
Benson, that Miss ManseI must have
quilted the cabin of her own free will.
The appearance of the place warrants
the idea. "
81 should hope she did, SIR" grum-
bled the little skipper, thunderstruck
by the subtle, dark significance of the
DOCTOR words.
"a third chair was empty this morn
ing" said the doctor. ''Mr. Mark DAY.
enire evidently does not require my
services. 1t is nevertheless my duty,
acting on your commands, captain, that
l should look in upon him to see how
he does.
$50, sir; quickly, if you please"
gasped Captain Benson. Perhaps his
cabins empty"
The skipper remained in Miss Man.
sells cabin in conversation with Mrs.
Storr, her husband, and the Dents. A
group of fellows were lighting their
pipes on the quarter deck under the re-
cess. Already the news that the young
lady passenger with the fine eyes had
mysteriously disappeared was got for
ward, and by putting your head out of
Miss Mansel's cabin door you might
have seen through the cuddy windows
the whole strength of the ships COM
pany gathered in a heap about the
windlass end. Indeed Mr. Poole on the
poop conversing with Captain Trollope
and Mr. Caldwell was too much aston
ished and frightened by the report from
below to give heed just then to the dis
ciplne of the vessel.
The captain went slowly up the COM
panion steps, and when he had gained
the top of the hatch he stood with his
hand upon the hood, laboring somewhat
with his breath. The mate came up the
lee ladder and approached slowly. He
saluted with flourish of his thumb,
said he had searched in all directions,
but saw no signs of the young lady.
'YOu had the first watch, sir" said
Benson, with tinge of gray sitting into
his complexion and speaking somewhat
brokenly. when did you last observe
her?"
Il can't say that took any notice of
her at all last night, sir. don't re-
member seeing her in the cuddy, nor do
l recall her as having been up here"
where have you looked?"
Mr.. Matthews named the several
parts of the ship he had explored.
The captain called Poole TO him. Dis
may was fixed upon this young mans
face.
''You have the middle watch, sir?"
says Benson.
eyes, sir, answers Poole.
did you SEQ anything of Miss Man.
sci in your watch?"
mo, sir. :"
"No sir. And why?" Numbered old
Benson Because, in all probability, she
came on deck when you were forward
instead of aft, which was your post, and
she may, for all you know, have tum-
bled overheard, while you Who had
the wheel in the first two hours of your
watch?'
johnson, sir. "
"Send him aft. Send aft the man
who had the second trick. Send aft all