The daily sentinel., 1899-02-20
THE SHIPS THIEF.

room immediately"
had just shut myself into my little
office on deck. having run through the
ships accounts before turning in that
night. It is quite a mistake, by the way,
10 think that we pursers have no more
onerous duties to perform when at sea
than to catch over the passengers com
fort, read prayers on Sunday and keep a
store of nautical information at our finger
ends for the benefit Of every curious voy
ager Nowadays the purser of crack
Am erican liner-making perhaps a record
passage Of six days or so-has his work
pretty we'll cut out for him during the en-
tire voyage.
On the present occasion had scarcely
got my accounts fairly in hand when
WAS interrupted by n slight tap at the door
I arose at once and opened it, and there
stood Mrs. Melhurst's Canadian maid
with flushed face and nervous agitated
manner
Is there anything wrongP" asked,
with some surprise, when she had deliv.
cred her message.
"There is, SIR" she replied hastily
Gan know
She was about to make some other state.
ment, but pulled herself up suddenly and
tripped along the deck without another
word.
switched off the electric light, locked
the door and hurried away after her Wher
got to Mrs. Melhurst's stntcroom, saw
at once that something had occurred to
cause her serious anxiety. The berth, the
couch, and even the floors were Uttered
hand bags. In the midst of the confusion
stood the lady herself looking decidedly
perpiexed and annoyed.
"This is very singular, NJ. Morse,'' she
said, pointing to an empty jewel case
which lay open on the upper berth. "My
diamond ornaments are missing"
"You don't say soi'' l exclaimed In
sheer nstonishment.
81 do say So, " she replied sharply. "Yop
can see for yourself that they are gone. -
"How did 1t happen?'
"I cannot possibly tell you. At dinner
this evening 1 happened to mention to
Mrs. Latimer that had picked up Ger
tain crescent shaped brooch on the CONT
nent. She expressed a wish to see it. When
the tables were cleared 1 came in here,
took out the brooch and left the jewel cas
lying OH the berth, but when l got back
the case was empty"
"How long were you absentf"
mot more than half an hour"
"You are sure you had the key Of your
cabin in your possession all the timer
positive. 1 never let it out of my
hand while was in the saloon.
Iwas totally staggered. l examined the
lock carefully, but there was absolutely
nothing to show that 1t had been tam
pered with. I could hit upon no better
suggestion than that Mrs. Melhnrst might
possibly have mislaid the jewels some
where. This had the sole effect of exas.
perating the lady to such u degree, for 1t
seems that she had already searched every
nook aid corner In the cabin, that I was
glad to beat retreat in order to lay the
matter before the captain.
had just got to the head of the saloon
stairs when heard some one bounding up
after me three or four steps at time.
turned and saw Mr.. Carter, who, by the
way, had made several voyages with us on
previous occasions
81 say, Mr.. Morse,' he said, taking me
oonfidentially by tho arm, you've got
some queer customers on board this trip 4"
"How so?"
"Why, some ones gone and walked off
with my silver cigarette case, "a couple of
rings and pair of gold''-
''Tell me exactly what has happened.
"My dear fellow, how can l? 1t Ia
enough to puzzle Philadelphia lawyer.
You see, went to my stateroom after din.
ner-I can swear to that-a"d l remember
pair of gold sleeve links on the upper BERTH
Then Iput on my dressing gown, stretched
myself upon the couch and had down
right good snooze When got up about
five minutes ago. found my trinkets had
vanished.
'Pon my word things wors beginning to
look serious and no mistake. l lost no
time in hunting up the captain and made
him acquainted with the state of affairs
He was just as much puzzled as was my
self. The first thing next morning he
sent message to Mrs. Melhurst, request
ing private interv lew in his cabin on
deck. He also signilled his wish that
should be present We both questioned
the lady closely, but her replies did not
tend to throw any light upon the singular
occurrence.
Nevertheless we determined to keep a
close watch upon the stateroom in future
1t was pretty evident we had "blaoL
sheep" on board--probably an old hand at
the business. For the next few days We
had no further complaints. The thief was
evidently Lying low" waiting until tran
quillity was restored before making "a fresh
attempt. Meanwhile kept my eyes open.
observed the little peculinrities of the
different passengers, and took particular
note of the manner in which they occupied
their time.
We happened to have a passenger on
board-a Brazilian named De Castro
who was a bit of mystery to me all
through the voyage. But for the fact that
had conclusive evidence to show he could
not have been directly concerned in the
rObberies, for inquiries proved he had re.