The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-01-13
Seleet gturp.
A NAVAL DETECTIVE.
From Boston Traveller.

we were lying OF Durham at the time,
and was second lieutenant of H. NJ. s.
Gadfy, third case cruiser. | was in
one of my soundest sleeps when I was
awakened by some one humping on the
door, and in answer to my query as to
what they wanted gruff voice told me
that the captain requested my presence in
his cabin. Wondering what on earth had
happened, slipped into my clothes, dis
pensing with the luxury of bath or wash
Anything to cause break in the monoto-
ny was welcome, and although 1 was one
who enjoyed my bed-I had ever found a
difficulty in falling in with the view usu-
ally urged in regard to early rising-I took
this as godsend, simply for the excite
ment of being called out at such an hour
by the captain, who was not man to give
his officers needless trouble.
s'Whatis it?'' I asked of my senior
colleague as | paused to put in few more
buttons Lt
Haven't the remotest idea," he re-
piled. ''The only thing | know is chap
which is alongside now, evidently hired
from the shore, and without stating his
business requested to see the captain.
The watch hesitated about it and called
me- / saw there was an official air about
the man, so l knocked up the skipper,
who now has the mysterious visitor with
him, but what it is all about you might as
well ask the celebrated man in the moon,
to whom people are generally referred hn-
der such circumstances, but it ought to be
something important that gets everybody
out Of bed at this unearthly hour" and
he shrugged his shoulders
swell, | suppose 1 shall soon know
something I answered, and I knocked
at the door, which was at that moment
opened by the captain.
''Ah, is that you, Mr.. Sharer p and
he called to the first lieutenant, who had
accompanied me to his door. "Show this
gentleman to his boat and he spoke a
few words of goodbye hurrie1ly. just
had time to glance at him and to notice
that he was tall, well made, gentlemanly
looking fellow, with an erect, soldierly
and with certain official air about him
which stamped him as one having author
ity and accustomed to command.
ssCome in, said the captain, ''there is
some little excitement for you this morn
ing. That gentleman who has just gone
is-well, need not waste time over that,
as it does not concern you. A large dia-
mond valued at something like 1000 or
f8, 600 has been stolen. The two men
have been tracked to Durham here, but
last night they hired small sailing boat
and have made off Their luggage has
been overhauled at their hotel, and as no
trace of the missing stone has been dis
covered it is understood that they have it
with them in the boat, their intention no
doubt being to follow the coast until they
fall in with some vessel that will get them
and their diamond to some country where
they can dispose of it. The boat, which
they hired for the avowed purpose of
pleasure trip, is about Is feet long, is
painted white, and mas one square sail,
wish you to take the steam launch and 90
after them. They are not experienced in
the use of boat. and they will, in all
probability, not stray far from the shore.
Keep a strict watch on them that they
drop nothing overheard. If they do, take
the bearings of the place so that divers
can go down, if they do throw the stone
into the water, and he made preparations
for turning in again.
| gave the necessary order about the
launch, and, with four Jacks, took my
place in the boat. The men were in ex-
cellent spirits after briefly explained to
them the nature of our work, and we were
soon steaming along at fair speed.
The morning was cold, and now that
had got over the excitement of being turned
out before daylight l was feeling chilly.
If there is anything that makes one feel
miserable and melancholy, it is that cold,
unusual gray of dawn There is an ashy
clamminess in the air which pervades
everything and seems to gain an entrance
to ones vitals.
As the silver light took possession Of the
expanse of deep could see the men were
scanning the stretch Of waters for
any signs of the boat.
We were running along about nine
knots. This was considered pretty good
then for launch.
The little wind had gone down, and the |
sea was now quite smooth. Occasionally |