The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-19

the voyage hanging on to a brown paper
parcel. My room had been secured to
myself, and was very comfortable out
side cabin. l unpacked my things, and.
repacked the candle box, first taking out
one of the bona fide candles and sticking
1t into the candlestick; then there was a
knock. and in came Dalton. You have
got fixed up quickly" he cried,
and began lounging round Now
last thing l wanted was that he or any
one else should prowl round my room, so
l answered rather shortly but his was a
nature that took heap of snubbing. Can
dles!' he said darting at it, won't be
able to burn them, though, Cd man"
Doctors certificate; can't sleep with
out" answered quickly.
Great Scot! l pity you. Now, I sleep
like top. You must have got an uneasy
conscience" Then, as l did not answer,
he ratified on, Come and see my room
next door" And as my one idea was to
get rid of the man l followed. If my room
was tidy his was the reverse; his things
were strewn in every direction. l am
methodical fellow myself, and the sight
was sickening; his bed was heaped with
clothes, pipes lay everywhere, whilst as
for pouches 1 counted no less than six.
Il suppose l am about the most untidy
transparent man in creation" he said, OBJ
into pouches to do the customs. aye.
Make you present of the patent, Old chap.
Don't look as if I'd anything to hide, do
-"
mo, no. 1 assented, then shortly took
my way on deck and smoked furiously, for
a dreadful suspicion crossed my mind. The
new detective, the man Jacobs had warned
me of. What if l had fooHshly walked
into his very jaws, and Dalton turn out to
be the one person on board the Walmer I
ought to have avoided. How anxious he
had been to chum with me; how eager to
see my room; how he had at once spotted
the candles. l had indeed fallen easily into
the trap!
So when 1 went down to dinner and found
him sitting next me, l talked away to my
other neighbor, a plump little kitten of
woman called Warren.
She was nothing 10th, and became very
confidential, told me she had been a widow
for some years, and was going home to
see her two children at school. Dalton
tried to break into the conversation once
or twice, but luckily Mrs. Warren did not
seem to have taken fancy to him and
answered very shortly.
After dinner 1 interviewed the doctor and
got permission to use my candlestick. He
was very pleasant, said I looked seedy.
thought that the time of anxiety and semi
starvation had had its use, and departed
happy in the possession of a phial of medi-
cine-anything that disarmed suspicion
was useful. Then l went to bed and took
advantage of the bad weather that follow
ed to stay there for a little | felt so safe"
But that soon passed, and we all strug-
gled up on deck and began more or less to
enjoy ourselves. 1 did, for one, at times
when l could forget. AS for Dalton, he
stuck to US like leech. Mrs Warren said
laughingly there were bets on board as TO
whether | was his keeper or he mine.
|
she added, showing her pretty teeth in
smile.
Il don't" I replied. LAS for betting.
pack of silly fools will bet on anything
from the days run to the captains age"
Mr.. Dalton is dreadfully curious" she
said, says you are so fidgetty, and can't
bear your things touched, and-Oh, lot
of other things"
Does he?" I answered. well, he needn't
talk-I don't sleep with my pouch tucked
under my pillow"
The little woman looked up. How fun
ny!' she cried. Il don't like him much Mr..
Seton; he is almost too communicative
so painfully open that I keep thinking
there must be something to conceal. You
will call me a silly little thing. l know.
But ! didn't. l called her--no matter
what Afterwards l made out the best case
/ could for Dalton. l was sorry ia done
It, though, for that evening, just as I'd
slipped off to bed, the door opened and in
he came.
Thought ia come and cheer you IN
Bit" he said, and then pumped himself
down and began to fidget round.
As fate would have it. l had had my
candle-box out, to assure myself of its
safety, and he took one out and began to
toss it mechanically from one hand to an
other A little more and he might have
dropped It, aud-it was not one of those
intended for burning.
Great heavens, man! Don't be such
fool" l cried snatching it away "The
| thing is useless if you break it,"
"You have plenty more" he laughed
More than youll need old man, for
| they are saying in the smoke-room that
! the Walmer is going 10 break the record
| this trip"
For PHYS sake don't deluge me with
| smoke-room gossip" l cried savagely for
| my nerves were all ajar. There, 90 away