The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-01-13


smiled within myself, for knew tn,
well that the ugly wound in the cap
tain's face had never been inflicted b,
falling on the edge of stair. But re
manned silent, being content that the,
should endeavor to mislead me.
After dessert had been served we rose
and in the summer twilight, when al
the ports were opened, Horribly took m,
over the vessel Everywhere was abund
ant luxury--a veritable floating palace
To each of the cabins of the owner ant
his guests bathroom was attached will
sea water or fresh water as desired
while the ladies' saloon, the boudoir, tn,
library, and the smoking room were fur
nished richly with exquisite taste. Al
he was conducting me from his owl
cabin to the boudoir we passed dool
that had been blown open by the wind
and which he FASTENED to close, not, how
ever, before / had time to glance within
To my surprise | discovered that it was
an armory crammed with rifles, revolver'
and ammunition.
1t had not been intended that I should
see that interior. and the reason why thu
customs officers had been bribed was now
apparent.
| / passed on without remark, making
believe that | had not discerned any
thing unusual, and we entered the bou
dOir, Chatter having gone back to the sa
loon to obtain cigars.
The dainty little chamber was un
holstered in carnation pink silk with
furniture of inlaid rosewood, and bore
everywhere the trace of having been ar
ranged by woman's hand, although NJ
lady passenger was on board.
just as we had entered, and I was
admiring the dainty nest of luxury
Chatter shouted to his host asking fol
the keys of the cigar cupboard, and
Horribly, excusing himself, turned back
along the gangway to hand them to his
friend, thus leaving me alone for a few
moments.
| stood glancing around, and as | did
so my eyes fell upon quantity of photo
graphs, framed and unframed, that were
scattered about-evidently portraits OF
Hornby's friends Upon a small side
table, however, stood a heavy oxidized
silver frame, but empty, while lying or
the floor beneath a couch was the pOtO
graph it had contained, which had ap
parently been taken hastily out, torn
first in half and then in half again, and
cast away.
Curiosity prompted me to stoop, pick
up the four pieces and place them to-
gether, when I found them to form the
cabinet portrait of sweet-loOking and
extremely pretty English girl of eighteen
or nineteen, with bright, smiling ex
preston, and wearing fresh morning
blouse of white pique. Her hair was
dressed low and fastened with a bow OF
black ribbon, while the brooch at heI
throat was in the form of heart edged
with pearls. Whether it was her sweet
expression, or whether the curious look
in her eyes had attracted my attention
and riveted the face upon my memory,
know not. Perhaps it was the mystery
of why it should have been so hastily
torn from it's frame and destroyed that
held my attention.
1t seemed as though it had been torn
up surreptitiously by someone who had
been sitting on that couch, and who had
had no opportunity of casting the frag'
mcnts away through the portfolio into
the water.
looked at the back of the torn pho.
tograph and saw that it had been taken
by well.known and fashionable firm in
New Bond Street.
About the expression of that pictured
face was something which cannot de.
scribe--a curious look in the eyes which
was at the same time both attractive and
mysterious. In that brief moment the
girls features were indelibly impressed
upon my memory.
Next second, however, hearing
Hornby's returning footsteps, flung the
fragments hastily beneath the couch
where had discovered them.
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