The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-02
CHAPTER v.
SHARED.

CHAPTER V.
SHARED.
There's a schooner on the port bow
SIR" said the mate OF the Alaska, entel
ing the captains cabin one forenoon wit
the signal book in his hand. Reckon sh
wants us to stop. Made her number
Lass O. Gowrie-of Sydney-and hoiste
the urgent signal"
"All right" replied the captain. VIII
looked weary and out OF sorts. you ca
go quarter-speed up to her; I'll be on dec
in a minute" But before the Alaska ap
preached near enough to speak her tn
schooner had boat in the water maxim
rapidly for the steamer.
And presently, ON board the latter
when the news got about as to the fden
| tity OF the two fresh passengers, the stor.
of whose supposed less and all that hat
| gone before was, OF course, familiar Il
| everyone, even the great Jewel robbery
| had to take back seat for while as 6
| topic Of argument and wonder.
Captain Roberts at once had large
berth in the second saloon allotted to the
pair; also. before the Lass o. Gowrie fill
ed on her course again, the skipper had
given Barnes full history of his loss snt
implored him to use all his skill in dis
covering the thief
But at the end of a weeks questioning
discrimination. and general ferreting,
all the detective could do was to advise
doubling the reward.
Its a rum go altogether" he remark
ed. irritably. to Brown. who. with the
mustache and beard he had allowed to
grow whilst on the island. looked a very
different man to the one who had left San
Francisco. Somebody's got the things
planted all right" continued the detec-
tive. land I've a good mind TO try thor
ough personal search"
You'll most likely lose them IL you
do replied the other. What will you
give me IL tell you who was the theft"
Barnes stared at this. and remarked.
meaningly, well. at least 1t can't be the
'Toff Bird this time. although it certainly
is clean and clever enough for his work"
"All the same" replied Brown, laugh
ing, II fancy, somehow. that gentleman
has had finger in the pie: and also that
can help you to put your hand upon him.
If please"
Such was the anxiety and scrambling on
board to interview and gaze upon the sup
posed notorious murderer and burglar. that
Brown, who appeared nothing 10th to sat-
isfy public curiosity. had been kept very
busy almost from the moment of his ar
rival.
The detective. by this time. concerned
himself little about his prisoner. They
had been 50 long together and fallen so
well into each others ways. that for days
Barnes appeared quite to forget their
respective relations as warder and GRIM
inai. Occasionally. as just now. he al
lowed q reference to the fact to escape
him. But Brown only laughed and con-
tinued. well. old. man. want to do you
a good turn, and think you won't be far
wrong II YOU mark down this person as
the one you want to get hold Of and
he pointed to Lord Wardour's name on
the list Of passengers he had been con-
sulting.
why. you've never even seen him."
Barnes. ccnteTptuously; hes
about the only man on the ship that hasn't
been near you. / know that much. at any
ate. And he's given me every possible
,eIp in this business during the last
week"
Shouldn't wonder" replied the other,
lrily. However. there's my tip. Take
or leave it. as you please. I might tell
'ou more, but then, you know neither
'ou nor anybody else would believe me-"
Meanwhile. Chinese Jimmie was sorely |
uzzled. One morning, brushing the car
Jet Of Lord Wardour's cabin. he had pick |
d up a minute fragment Of torn gold-an |
Incident which. under the circumstances,
o his comprehension. quickened by very
ively feeleing of hate seemed more than
uspicious. Still. 1t would not do to make
ny mistake. His first idea had been to
how the thing to the detective. On sec
nd thoughts he resolved to play detective
imself. helped in his determination by
he doing Of little sum that turned $500
terling into dollars, and represented to
i'm huge fortune. But it was big risk.
nd Jimmie took it. quite understanding
lch to be the case. The cabin wardour
ad secured was large enc. containing
vo berths. Of which he occupied the low
:. whilst the upper was filled with mis-
,llaneous collection OF clothes. dirty lin
A, etc. Under this Jimmie late that same
ght burrowed till only an eye was WISH
e. His lordship never retired before 70
clock; and he trusted to chance to make
nod his retreat toward morning Some
ling seemed to tell him that IL discovered
IS days were numbered. Still. he knew
Re occupant of the cabin rarely disturbed
lie pile OF odds and ends accumulated |
iring the passage. and covered by which
} could see everything that took place
lso he knew that a meeting was even !
wv being held in the smokeroom to de-
rhine whether or not-the reward having |
iled-a search Of all passengers effects
ould be instituted. Therefore he chose s
is special night. c
Untroubled with nerves, Jimmie's heart $
'vertheless beat little quicker as the /
an he hated and suspected at last enter F,
locked the door behind him, and turn /
on the electric light. Then drawing a 7
lid leather portmanteau from under the r
Ser bunk he opened 1t with Chubb key q
tached to steel chain that he took 4
ON his pocket. From between the folds J
an old macintosh and some soiled !
Gets long, black. opaque eye glared :
ngrily. Many a time since the discov-
y Of tt't bit Of ragged gold the eyes
'ner t-G itched to ransack the inside of
at heavy fiat box. At last! Sitting on !,
3 couch that ran along one side OF the =
bin. his lordship threw the lid back and
ew forth a small, round, metal box The q
e winked with excitement. Then. throw
: off his coat. the man took up his posi- v
ticing as he walked that all sign of limp
vanished. Opening the box a pungent e
or spread over the berth. tickling Jim Il
e's nostrils and forcing him to cram a II
mp OF dirty sheet in his mouth to pre-
Mt a sneeZe. Then the man dabbed his a
ir here and there with a sort of oint- 4
mt from the box, paying careful atten- C
n. the watcher noticed. 20 the grey G
-ches, after which he sraEEcd it thor Z
sniy IN water. He then, taking CT his 8
sses, critically inspected his face. Then. o
rorking bottle Of yellowish liquid. he c;
,lied the contents carefully with brush II
his cheeks. forehead and chin, mutter- o.
as he worked. a
Curse the luck!" the by this time dis q
sted Jimmie, understanding nothing. p'
lrd him say. ITO think that, after all, et
" should have turned up again in such 81
ashton. 1t was worth a fortune to me C,
have got rid Of the 'Toff Bird and p
ther fellow in one act. Hard lines d.
It's what call it. However" and he II
nned az he smoke s'cId Rarnes was dufv