Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-12-11

tA&GxJ me at the foot of West Tenth
street, where the red and black steam.
ers of the Quebec line load and un.
load their West Indian cargoes. l had
found by reference to file of the Mar.
itime Gazette that the Parma had ar
rived on Feb. % and had sailed again
on the 9th of March, and the paper Of
the day before showed me that she
had just arrived in port again.
I hunted up the purser without de-
lay.
MAY l see your passenger list for
your last trip north" asked, "he
trip before this one"
Certainly" he responded, and pro-
duced it.
1t was not long one, and in mo-
ment | had found what was looking
for. Victor Tremaine and wife were
fifth OIL the list. But no II. Thomp-
son" appeared there. However, l had
a last resource. had scarcely expect
ed to find him entered among the pas
sengers.
as the captain aboard" inquired
Captain Hake has gone over to his
home OH Long Island for day OF
two," answered the purser. THE first
officer. Mr.. Gricc. is forward, superin-
tending the unloading
"Thank yOu," I said, and hurried up
to the deck. found Mr.. Grice with,
out difficulty. Il tall, blond young man.
with eyes Of cerulean blue. "Can
YOU spare me II moment? | asked.
after | had introduced myself.
"Why, | guess so. What is it?'
did you ever see this main beforeT
and produced the photograph Godfrey
had given me.
well. | should say sO.' he cried ut
the first glance. "And l hope III never
see him ag'in. Thompson his name is'
and we shipped him at Barbados. In
place of one of our men who deserted
there. He didn't have decent rag to
his back. so we fitted him up with some
old things out Of the slop chest"
nodded.
"IIe only shipped as far as st.
Pierre" continued the mate, but after
we'd cot there lie changed his mind and
come OH 30 New York. WHAT'S he been
doin'? Gettin' into more trouble! Hes
not been out Of Jail mOre'n three or
four weeks"
"Out Of jail?"
"Yes. He was regular fiend for
booze, though we didn't find 1t out until
after we left ST. Pierre. Where lie got
It | don't know. He didn't have any
money t buy 1t. that's sure. I've kind
o. thought one Of the passengers must
"a give it to him, though l can't i'm
agine why. But, anyway, he was half
drunk three-fourths Of the time and
dead drunk the other fourth. We'd find
him layin' In his berth and we'd yank
him out ana drop him into tub OF
water. He'd sober up quicker n any
man ever see. but he was never salts
fed unless lie had Il pint or two inside
him. When we tied up at the wharf
here he got awful bad. Wanted t 60
ashore right away. Fought the captain
when he wouldn't let him. The cap
tain handed him over to policeman,
and he got twenty days on the island
nodded again. So that was why he
was so long after TremaIne in putting
in an appearance at the Marathon.
whats the matter with him nowT'
he added.
Hes been murdered, and we've been
trying to find out something about
him. Do you think the captain would
know anything more"
"No. I don't Plant him In potter's
field and good riddance. I'll bet he
didn't get any mOre'n was comm 70
him."
With which sage reflection he turned
back to his work, while / sought the
shore.
Godfrey came into the Office that
evening just as was closing my desk
II want you to go to dinner. Will
me-" he said. II have to run down to
Washington tonight, and 1t nay be
three or folr days before get back.
want 10 talk things over"
We took cab uptown and stopped
at Riley's, and were presently ell
sconced IN a snug corner where VIC
could talk without danger of being
overheard.
"I'vc found out few things about
Tremaina" BEGAN Godfrey az the
waiter hurrie,. a;:ay with oar order.
"And | about Thompson" | said.
"You havc;" and he looked ut re III
surprise. "How In the world did you
do itY
His astonishment was distinctly com
pllmentary. aad related with consid
erablc qualification my conversation
with the mate Of the Parma.
"Well," ob'erved Godfrey when
had finished. that was bright idea
of yours. That establishes the link be
tween the two men. Our st. Pierre
correspondent wires us that Tremaint
arrived there some three years ago
presumably from South America. Ht
bought l.ttlc plantation just outside
the town nn,. settled there. He seemed
to have p!.at.' Of money when he ar
rived. but he probably spent It aii-ol