Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-19

DOdy. And this was awkward, TOT Aoh
sieu- Deschamps was unable to speak
word Of any language but his own. TIL
matter presently coming 10 Dolly's ears
she volunteered TO have a GO" Il was.
she said. IA couple OF years at school a
Rouen; and n / CAM patter their lingo
/ reckon I'm due for the leatheries
medal on board this canoe" 50, trip
pring across the bridge that separated
the two classes, Dolly went up to the in
valid and ~began-much to everybody;
admiration-to discourse with eloquent
volutslity and gesture. Listening a min
ute, the Frenchman, appearing TO recog'
nize the real thing at last. sat up and
waved his hands and shrugged his
shoulders. and smiled with n delight and
qualification beautiful TO witness. And
after this. nearly every day Dolly went
along and cheered the poor fellow up, in
terpreting his symptoms 20 the doctor
and his wants TO the stewards.
In most ocean liners there Is posted w
somewhere a notice advising passengers
TO deposit their valuables with the purser
for safety during the voyage. a small
percentage being charged for the accom-
notation. Many people object TO pay
this; others are too lazy TO 20 TO any
trouble; others too careless. SO that,
very often, until something Is missing,
the caution IS a dead-letter. Il was so
on the 1llimani. But one morning Dolly,
returning from her usual visit 10 her
French friend, found the saloon a scene
Of the utmost co~ufuslon-ladies running
about with empty jewel-cases. stewards
protesting. purser threatening. and the
chief stewardess I'm Mysteries. The
Countess of Trebibond had lost a diamond
necklace and a set of priceless pearls:
Lady Trotter de Globe was minus her
family jewels-sapphires, opals, and
diamonds-yalued at $4,000; the Hon.
Mrs. Monopole's diamond earrings
they were fashionable them, tiara. and
necklet was gone. In fact. II appeared
that nearly everything worth having was
gone. There was a lot OF paste and
Palais Royal Enthusiastically
done-but all such had been rejected
with the nice appreciation Of an expert,
or at least an intimate. And, TO compli-
cate matters. nothing was forced-ever
lock intact and the keys in their owners
pockets. The excitement and commo-
ton were intense. The Captain alone
Kept calm; and when the male relatives
Of the victims talked about suing the
company, he suavely drew their attention
TO the notice aforementioned. Dolly was
demurely sad, and condoled, even wept.
viii her aristocratic friends. Her own
Things, "A set OF pearls and a few diamond
ornaments, she explained, had been in the
purser's big safe from the commencement
Of the voyage. Her uncle had insisted
on Il.
But who was the thief?
Public opinion pointed TO some one
among the stewards. And the first thing
done was TO ransack the "~glory-hole," as |
their quarters were called. Nothing was
found. Then "s~earch-~Y" was proclaimed
throughout the Ship, much to the indigna-
ton Of the second and third classes. It
took some considerable time to overall
the effects Of nearly 400 people. Nor was
It a pleasant matter, as the purser. the
chlef steward, and their assistants dis
covered. Not a trace of the lost jewelry
was TO be found. But the Captain grew
anxious. He had been quite certain that
the things would be found. Although he
was not liable, the ships reputation would
be ruined, 50 far as carrying passengers
was concerned. And this was a serious
consideration. Still, what more could ne
do? Then, suddenly he remembered that
watson was waiting at Colombo TO 20 on
Will him to Melbourne. If anybody could
help II was Watson! Wherefore, those
who troubled about the daily runs. no
that the Illimani was taing driven
at almost top speed across The Arabian
Sea. In those days she was a decidedly
uncomfortable ship with~in-suspicion writ
Iarge on every face Of all her great COM
each one doubtful Of his neighbor,
all secretly watching, and so it SEEM
thinking about the reward offered by
he victims and the executive OF the ILL
nani-E5O0-contributed to by Captain and
boy alike, and very willingly. Dolly
Agnew ave go to the fund. and her
'riend, Monsieur Deschamps, when made
WARE of what was going on, insisted on
down his name for IS. But no.
hing came of 1t.
At Misunderstanding after a record
was indignation when it was
Ound that the Captain had stopped all
foregoing, and also barred the usual
Of dealers. jugglers, etc, from
Oming near the ship.
Only one passenger came on board at ?
'olombo-an old, gray-headed, gray
man, who walked with a stoop, {
nd peered dimly at people through tint {
d spectacles. He was accepted as a tea |
an old friend of the Captains
DING TO Australia on business. Speaking
tile himself. Mr.. Johnson was. never !
heless, a perfect godsend TO the ship |
: large; and into his ears was dinned by d
be passengers again and again the story '
T their losses and wrongs. :
We'll" asked the skipper a few days I.
ter as Mr.. Johnson strolled into the for y
ler's state-room, any news yet?' =
Not much" was the reply; only that .
ou've got at least one artist on board :.
ne OF the most skilful cracksmen in Lon y
)n-which Is saying Il good deal" h
(Which is he2" asked the Captain. II
fellow in the steerage, l suppose" r
Not much,' replied the other, laugh a
~. The only wonder IS that he is not L
the saloon here. It's the fellow in the o.
who gammons sick, and sits IN
le big chair all day" n
"Ha, ha.' laughed the Captain; you're Y
1t of it this time, old man. That poor N
is a Frenchman-can't speak a word 81
anything else!' n
rs that sor' replied the other calmly. u
Well, in any case, he's the man who can ~
II you where the stolen stuff is" .,
Nonsense" said the Captain. Hes a,
.ver been for'ard the whole passage. 81
ny, II it hadn't been for Miss Agnew
king to him he'd have had to stay dumb q
together. ~
Fine - looking, fresh - complexioned bf
rly-haired gir-lots OF side and sauce "
D.. p. pof<A
Right" replied the skipper. Austria c,
n native. She's in my charge. Knows VI
+ way about. though, too well to want m
y looking after" m
Him. grunted his companion, light n
z a fresh cigar. You told me, I think. mr.
at you had searched the ship?' m
Every corner and every soul IN bOard,' ",
Dlied the Captain proudly. II
"Tchk, tchk." said the other, between nC
and teeth. What a pity. Tony
nkins IS a genius, though! A commoner no
,uld have chucked the things overheard. 90
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