The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-06-18
''T he Gift.
of the
Emperor

on the Tuesday morning aboard the
North German steamer Uhlan lying
at anchor in Genoa Harbor.
Not a hitch occurred. Everything
had been foreseen; everything hap
pened as l had been assured every
thing must. Nobody was about be-
low, only the ships boys on deck and
nobody on the bridge. 1t vas twenty
five minutes past 1 when Raffies,
without a stitch of clothing on his
body, but a glass phial. corked with
cotton wool, between his teeth, and
a tiny screwdriyer behind his ear.
squlrmed feet first through the VEN
tilator over his berth; and 1t was
nineteen minutes to 2 when he re-
turned. head first, with the phial still
between his teeth and the cotton
wool rammed home to still the rat
Ting of that which lay like a great
gray bean within. He mad taken the
screws out and then put them in
again; he had unfastened Won Heu-
mans ventilator and had left 1t fast
as he had found it-fast as he in
stantly proceeded to make his own.
As for Won Heumann, 1t had been
enough to place the drenched wad
first on his mustache, and then TO
hold 1t between his gapin~ lips; there
after the intruder lad climbed both
ways across his shins without elicit
Ing a groan.
And here was the prize-this pearl
as large as a filbert-wlth a pale pink
tinge like a lady's finger nail-this
spoil of a flibustering age-this gift
from a European Emperor to a South
Sea chief. We gloated over 1t when
all was snug. We toasted 1t in whis-
XIV and soda water laid in over night
in view of the great moment. But
the moment was greater, more tri-
umphant than our most sanguine
dreams All we had now to do was
to seerete the gem (Which Raffes
had priced from its setting, replacing
the later, so that we could stand
the strictest search and yet take 1t
ashore with us at Naples; and this
Raffles was doing when | turned IN.
l myself would have landed inconti-
nently that night at Genoa and bolt
ed 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
anything was discovered or suspected
before we weighed anchor, but l can
not be sure. It Is difficult to believe
that a man could be chloroformed in
his sleep and feel no telltale effects,
sniff no suspicious odor in the morn
ing Nevertheless Won Heumann re-
appeared 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;
the last fruit seller had been beaten
off with bucketsful of water and left
cursing us from his boat: the last
passenger had come aboard at the LAST
moment-a fussy graybeard who kenB
the big ship waiting while he hag-
gled with his boatman over half
Ira But at length we were Off, the
tug was shed, the lighthouse passed,
and Rafhes and ] leaned together
over the rail watching our shadows
on the pale green, liquid, veinea mar
BILE that again washed the vessels
side.
Won Heumann was having his in
nings once more; It was part of the
design that he should remain In all
day and so postpc ne the Inevitable
bored and was forever CHANGING in
hour, and though the lady looked
our direction, he seemed only too
willing to avail himself of his oppor-
tunities. But Raffles was moody and
III at ease. He had not the air of a
successful man. | could but opine
pies 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 swim p
"a bit"
"Ten miles?''
,'Ten?" I burst out laughing. Not
onel why do you ask?'
1--WE shall be within a ten miles
swim Of the shore most Of the day"
what on earth are you driving at,
Raff1es?"
Nothing; only 7 shall swim for 1t
II the worst comes to he worst I
suppose you can't swim under water
at all2"
| did not answer his question.
scarcely heard it: cold beads were
bursting Though my skin.
"Whv should the worst come 10 the
worst?' whispered. I'VE aren't
found out. are we?'
sNo"
"Then why speak as though we
were7"
1--WE may he; an old enemy of ours
Is on board"
IAN old enemy7"
mackenzie"
''Neveri'
1.-THE man with the board who came
aboard last"
Are you sureT'
"surei I was only sorry to see you
didn't recognize him, too"
took my handkerchief to my face;
now that 7 thought Of II there had
been something familiar in the old
mans gait, as well as something
rather youthful for his apparent
wears His very beard seemed I'M
N
the light OF this terrible resAlation.
looked up and down the deck. but
the old man was nowhere to be seen.
nThat's the worst Of IT, said Raj
fes. IT saw him go into the cap
tains cabin twenty minutes ago.
"But what can have brought him ?"
cried miserablv. Can II be a CO.
incIdence-is It somebody else he's
after?"
Raffies shook his head.
"TTardly this time"
'sThen YOU think he's after you7"
1--WE been afraid of It for some
weeks"
Yet there you stand"
"What am to do? ] don't want
TO swim for II before I must. I be-
gin 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 sta
tion till the last moment. That's
why he ran II so fine"
lie took a cigarette and handed me
the case, but I shook my head impa-
tiently.
II still don't understand" said I.
''Why should he be after you? He
couldn't come all this way about
Jewel which was perfectly safe for all
he knew What's your own theory?
"smply that he's been on my track
for some time. probably ever since
friend Crawshay slipped clean through
his fingers last November. There
have been other Indications l am