The Savannah morning news., 1902-01-19


a man from the deck of the little
steamer a minute later. as she came
rushing along up to where Boyd's boat
| was lying still and motionless except
! for rising and falling with the sea. "A
friend of mine threw 1t over to me-
You will see it addressed to Capt. Ru-
fus Blanchard. Boston, Steamer via
! Pigeon" he continued.
! Sure enough. in black painted letters
| the address was found as the captain
| had stated. But Boyd did not hesi-
| tate; with his jackknife he ripped the
preserver open and found narrow
piece of inch rubber hose running
throughout the center. Another rip
| and slash and the diamonds were
brought TO light
IAN right. Capt. Blanchard, I will
| come aboard" said Boyd, gleefully.
| When he climbed over the rail- he
motioned for the boats crew to follow.
which they did with alacrity. Only
| three men, hard looking aracters, were
found beside the burly red-faced cap
tain on the Wild Pigeons deck. and
| Boyd placed them all under arrest, and
| ordered the steamer headed for the
| Cunarder with the boat in tow astern
! Say, mister. come down inter the
cabin a mint" said Capt. Blanchard
| to the detective. as they We're bowling
along toward the big ocean liner. I've
| got suthin l wanter say to We.
! Boyd followed him down into the
| cosy cabin.
Il didn't intend to git in any trouble,
mister, jest jickin up that thing and
kerryin' it to Boston" began the cap
tain.
well, it looks something like, it sir,
| replied Boyd in steely tones.
II own a commandin interest in this
little fshin' steamer and have got
fambly, That Teller paid me putty we'll
and said I wouldn't git inter any trou
bic, so l did it," whined the captain.
who was it that hired you?" asked
Boyd.
"A New York Teller by the name of
Slye. l was to lay off here waitin for
the ship that he would come over in
you see he allus sent me cablegram
to Provincetown before he started.
Then l jest picked it up, put it in
box after / got to Boston and sent IL
by express to New York to Slye, I'M
der the name of John johnson, "a Kill
| mer street"
Surprising the ship came along af-
ter dark, how would you work it
them" asked Boyd.
well, we'd sight the ships lights,
give one long blast and two short ones
ourselves to let Slye know we was
around and lay to. He had a time cleo
trio machine that would burn a small,
bright light after about a half an
hour, that was fixed on a iron stand
ard on top of the preserver. Then he
ballasted the thing underneath to keep
ii upright.
IF twas thick fog, he had a electric
whistle attachment that would blow
steady half an hour after twas
throwed overheard. You see. he never
used to go over only in the summer
time, so we never struck any big
storms, and never lost a package. He
is a putty smart Teller, that Slye," and
the captain wiped the sweat from his
forehead. as he sat back in his chair
with a sigh.
Il will see that you are not very Sc
verely dealt with as you have done
what you can to repair the damage
said Boyd. But we will want you in
New York for Witness
Slye was nearly crazy aboard the
Cunarder as he saw that he had made
one voyage too many. AS the fishing
steamer arrived alongside. Boyd made
arrangements with the captain to al
low his fourth officer and the boat S
} crew to take charge of the Wild Pigeon
to New York, and he beckoned to Slye,
who, shivering and pale as a ghost,
followed him to his cabin.
well, Slye, the jig is up, it seems -
said Boyd, taking a chair and mo-
Curse you, yes growled Slye, as
he gloWered at the detective with looks
that would have killed him had it been
possible. Il was a fool not to have
waited until you we're below" he nut
tered.
1T would have been more to your
advantage" said Boyd, with a smile.
Now who is into this Slye?'
How much is it worth to know ?"
was the answer.
IF you make a clean breast of it, it
may tighten the term of sentence"
said Boyd.
81 have not been convicted yet" said
Slye, srimly. 1.-THE prison was never
built that will see me-
What do you mean?" asked Boyd,
slightly startled.
Il will tell you this much" said Slye
ignoring the question. THE man who
has received the greatest benefit is a
| party you are well acquainted with -
And he whispered name to Boyd that
| brought him clean out of his chair
"He don't know the why's, nor whens,
nor wherefores, but he has backed the
business for three years. No man living
with the exception of Capt. Blanchard
and myself knew how the trick was
done, and he didn't know what was in
the life preserVer. He judged that it
was something valuable, of course
II should have been rather afraid of
the crew." said Boyd.
The same crew never went the Sec
| ond time" said Slye. 81 was too old
bird to get caught that way. How
many years will it mean, Boyd ?"
asked Slye. his face taking on an anx-
ious look for the first time.
Twenty, 1 should Judge" said
Boyd.
Then slye became strangely silent
Finally he arose and went on deck
| without saying word.
Boyd followed him. The diamonds
had been placed in the ships treasure
vault for security. The big liner was
off Fire Island and bowling along at a
merry clip as Boyd reached the deck
| Then there came "A startling episode.
| Slye jumped to the rail and before any
one could stop him, although a multi
| tude was watching him. he pulled a
revolver pressed it against his breast
| fired and fell into the sea.
The ships engines were stopped and
| a boat lowered. but the body of the
unfortunate man was mot seen again
! The long term of imprisonment staring
him in the face evidently led him TO
| self destruction in a moment OF de-
| spondency. Boyd felt blue at the loss of
! his prisoner burt the thought of the
diamonds consoled him.
Mr.. Ramsey and the chief OF the Sc
cret Service met him at quarantine
and were dumfounded at the tale which
| they heard. 1t smacked of the miracu-
| lous, but a sight of the diamonds prov
ed 1t no fairy story.