Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1901-11-02

Long was in close conversation with
Capt. Cummin when | entered the lat
ter's cabin.
"a very dlsagreeable matter-some-
thing very disagreeable," said Capt
was. Mr.. Long ellis me he has lost a
purse containing over EGO in gold-stoleG
from his cabin this morning. He left the
purse there when he and his wife went
on deck after breakfast. An hour later
they returned to the cabin, and the ar
ticle had vanished. We've hunted high
and low for it, but it can't be found any
where"
You suspect no one?" l asked the
American, when l had gathered all the
details.
mo, can't say do" he drawled Il
roun'. That man Hitchin located next
to you, is grulf as grizzly, and Miss
Engelby's mighty fond o prying about.
but | haven't the shadow of a reason for
suSpecting anybody"
'Wen," / added, turning to the cap
tain. Il don't see what can be done be
yond keeping a close watch in future.
The thief may be emboldened by his
present success to try his games again.
AS regards Mr.. Longs loss, it will be
impossible to Identify the stolen coins.
and by this time probably the purse has
been dropped overheard.
For my own part, | was inclined 70
think that the purse was simply mlslaid.
and that it would sooner or later tura
up in some corner, hitherto overlooked,
of the cabin. At all events, the matter
ceased to trouble me.
To while away the tedium of the long
and often cold evenings when we could
not remain on deck with comfort, inn
promptu concerts would be started in the
music room, and on these occasions Miss
Beslake sometimes sang. She possess ed
a rich contralto voice which held one en-
tranced-the notes sweet, sympathetic
and mellow as a black birds. Naturally,
when the great concert was organized in
the saloon, two days before we passed
Sandy Hook, Miss Beslake was asked to
take part in it. She readily consented.
AS | made my way along the main
deck toward the saloon l saw Mrs.
Beslake and her daughter just ahead of
me. Mrs. Beslake was reading a letter
she held in her hand; presently she tore
it up and tossed the shreds overheard.
A scrap of the paper, borne upward by
the wind. fell on the deck at my feet. |
could scarcely control the cry that rose to
my lips. STOPPING, | picked up the frag-
ment and placed it securely in my pocket.
The concert was an unequiyocal sue
cess: Miss Beslake especially was rap
turously applauded by the enthusiastic
listeners. Although l had never before
seen Miss Beslake wear jewelry of any
description, on this night she had a small
gold brooch at her neck and a ring set
with sapphires and diamonds on her
finger.
At the end Of the concert l crossed
over to Der. and, with host of other
people, offered my congratulations.
Il am glad you enjoyed it, Mr. Hamil-
hight tGgi she smiled fel' IKE singing to
After a short interval added, Excuse
me- Miss Beslake, but what an exceed
ingly pretty ring You are wearing.
don't remember noticing it before"
No" she said, holding it up to me.
~ haven't worn it for a long time. II is
rather pretty, isn't it?'
l looked at the ring carefully. My
fears were confirmed. The ring undoubt-
eddy was that described by the cashier of
Armitage's bank as having been upon the
hand of Mrs. Wooler, the forger of the
cheque.
| have no distinct recollection of how
got out of the saloon, but do know that
/ tossed and tumbled in my berth the
livelong night, tortured by racking
thoughts. Before the cold, gray dawn
stole in upon me my resolution was
wind, and determined to take my stand
by honor and duty.
Accompanied by Mr.. Long, | sought
the captain. Taking the torn slip of pa
per from my pocket, 1 handed II over TO
the Yankee and asked him if he recog-
nized it.
"Where did you get this ? he exclaimed
in surprise Recognize it? Why, il is
part of the last letter | had from my
son in Chicago. aud | kept it folded in
the purse that was stolen"
Il know you did" | replied. Don't
Won remember that your paternal pride
in the writer induced you to let me
read it when we were off Queenstown
"Of course. l do. But | guess my pa
ternal pride didn't go so far as to give
you the whole epistle. Then, where did
you get this?'
soon enlightened him on that point.
The establishment of my auditors. in
creased tenfold when | went on to detail
the other miSgivings that had arisen n
my mind
''It's little more than conjecture yet"
concluded: land l must ask Can't Cum
min to help me in confirming it..
.Willingly,' said the captain How
can assist you:
lyon have the keys, presume. for the
various ca binSY' | replied. Mrs. BeS-
| lake and her daughter are now on deck.
Perhaps Mr.. Long would kindly go to
them and keep them in conversation for
half an hour. In the meantime you ana
| will see what we can find.
In the cabin of two ladies my ap
prehensiOnS received abundant Contrma-