The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1905-10-13

within. He had taken screws out and
put them in again; he had unfastened
Won Ileumann's ventilator and had left
It fast as he had found it-fast as he
instantly proceeded to make his own.
AS for Won Heumann. it had been
enough to place the drenched wad first
on his mustache and then to hold if
between his gaping lips; thereafter the
intruder had climbed both ways across
MS shins without eliciting groan.
And here was the prize-this pearl as
large as Il filbert with a pale pink
unge like lady's finger nail; this
spoil of a filibustering age; this gift
from European emperor to a south
sea chief. We gloated over it when all
was snug. We toasted it in whisky
ana soda water laid in overnight i'm
view of the great moment. but the
moment was greater, more triumphant
than our most sanguine dreams. All
we had now to do was to secrete the
gem (Which Rallies had pried from its
setting replacing the latter. so that
we could stand the strictest search
and yet take it ashore with us at NJ.
pies, and this Rallies was doing when
L turned in. | myself would have
landed incontinently that night at
Genoa and bolted with the spoil. he
would not hear of it, for a dozen good
reasons which will be obvious.
On the whole | do not think that anr
thing was discovered or suspected he
fore we weighed anchor, but canno.
be sure. 1t is difficult to believe that
man could I've chloroformed in his
sleep and feel no telltale effects, sniff
no suspicious odor in the mornine
Nevertheless Won Ueumann reap
peared as though nothing had hap
pened to him, his German cap over his
eyes and his mustaches brushing the
peak. And by 10 o'clock we were quit
Of Genoa. The last lean, blue chinned
official had left our decks. Tie last
fruit seller had been beaten off with
hucketfuls of water and left cursins
us from his boat The last passenger
had come aboard at the last moment
a fussy graybeard who kept the big
ship waiting while he haggled with his
boatman over half a Ira. But at
length we were off, the tug was shed.
the lighthouse passed and Raffies and
| leaned together over the rail watch
ing our shadows on the pale green,
liquid, veined marble that again
washed the vessels side.
Won Heumann was having his in
Iings once more. 1t was part of the
design that he should remain in all
day and so postpone the inevitable
hour, and, though the lady looked
bored and was forever CHANGING in our
direction, he seemed only too willing
to avail himself of his opportunities.
But Ratiies was moody and i'll at ease.
He had not the air of a successful man.
/ could but opine that the impending
parting at Naples sat heavily on his
spirit.
He would neither talk to me nor
would he let me go.
stop where you are, Bunny. I've
things to tell you. Can you swimY
"a bit"
"Ten miles?'
"Ten?" / burst out laughing. Not
one. Why do you ssk:'
1--WE shall be within a ten miles
swim of the shore most of the day"
"What on earth are you driving at,
Rafiles?"
Nothing Only l shall swim for it
If the worst comes to the worst. i
suppose you can't swim under water
at all?"
l did not answer his question.
scarcely heard it. Cold beads were
bursting through my skin.
"Why should the worst come to the
worst?" l whispered. 1--WE aren't found
out, are WEI"
"No"
"Then why speak as though we
were?"
1--WE may be. An old enemy of ours
is on board"
"An old enemy"
mackenzie"
"Never!'
"The man with the beard who came
aboard last"
care you sure"
"Sure | was only sorry to see you
didn't recognize him too."
/ took my handkerchief to my face.
Now that l thought of it there had
been something familiar in the old
mans gait as well as something rather
youthful for his apparent years. His
very beard seemed unconvincing now
that | recalled it in the light Of this
horrible revelation. l looked up and
down the deck, but the old man was
nowhere to be seen.
"That's the worst of it," said Rallies.
81 saw him go into the captains cabin
twenty minutes ago"
"But what can have brought himT
cried miserably. Can it be eoinci-
dence. Is it somebody else he's afterr
Raffies shook his head.
Hardly this time"
"Then you think he's after you"
give been afraid of it for some
weeks"
"Yet there you stand"
'What am l to do? l don't want to
swim for it before / must. | begin to
wish I'd taken your advice, Bunny, and
left the ship at Genoa. But I've not
the smallest doubt that Mac was
watching both ship and station till the
last moment. That's why he ran 1t SO
fine"
He tnnk q cipa ratte and handed me