The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-08-04


lions now prevailing between them and
their former cronies. The Due and the
Vicomtesse were deep in conversation,
and did not appear to recognize Rad
ford Shone till he stopped; then they
greeted him with raised eyebrows, as
though surprised at his effrontery. in
making overtures.
This is indeed a pleasant and unex-
pected renountre," Shone simpered. Il
had thought that your grace was max
ing longer stay than three days in
America
''Oh. ahi" 1t is our friend the de-
tective," said De Xiouvile with naughty
condescension. Yes, we decided to re-
turn at once. to take advantage of any
developments that may follow your
clever piece of work on the outward
voyage. If my daughters necklace is
recovered through your agency, Mr..
Radford Shone. you will not find me re-
miss as a paymaster, but you will I'M
derstand that there can no longer be
any need for the intimacy which doubt
less served its turn on the outward
voyage, that intimacy must now
cease"
Shone bit his lip and passed on, Mar
tin following with a hopelessly unre-
quitd glance of admiration at the VI
comtesse de Mericourt. And then once
more my attention was diverted to my
prisoner by the soto voice
Am I on my head or my heeels?'
Nonsense, man; there's no, motion.
We're not in the open sea yet, i re-
piled, affecting to misunderstood him.
1 had not forgotten his exclamation
of two minutes ago on first seeing the
Due de Vionville. but it was not my
cue to put leading questions TO one of
his type.
Come down to the cabin, Mr.
Royds," he breathed earnestly in my
ear. You nave treated me like a gen
tleman and I'll do the same by you"
So we sought our two-berthed state
room. and there Flash Taylor unbur-
dened to me his wicked but sportsman
like soul TO such tune that l fairly
gasped. When 1t was all over ] knew
that the conveyance of the manufac-
turer of bogus notes to England was
by no means the most serious work be-
fore me on the Petunia's homeward
trip.
1t was one of the penalties of my Of
fetal position on that trip that, travel
ing now strictly on duty. / was no
longer able to use the saloon for meals
| could not well expect decent folk to
sit at table with a notorious forger, nor
would the captain have permitted it,
and | had therefore to mess in the Sc
clusion of the staterOOm with my pr1s-
oner l had not looked forward to the
prospect with much pleasure, but after
Taylor's confidence I prepared to take
full advantage of my enforced ostra-
cism.
On that first night. however, l con-
trived to take a peep into the saloon
after the passengers had taken their
places, and l saw that the Due de Won
Vile and his daughter no longer sat
with Radford Shone and Martin The
two latter had been Telegated to the
lower social depth of the doctors table,
and from ShOne's lofty air and Mar
tins voIubility I guessed that he was
being lionized as the hero of the hour
almost TO the effacement of Lord Ra-
vensbury and his bride, who occupied
the pest of honor right and left of the
skipper.
Later in the evening / obtained an
interview with Captain Smithers in the
chartroom, and asked his permission to
see Phil Lancaster. The request was
none too cordially received-for rea-
son that made me like the old man bet
Ter than 1 had ever done before.
No. he said, angriiy. There's a good
deal too much detective business going
on in this ship, what with that chap
Shone getting himself gassed among
the passengers over Lancasters dis
grace. and now you, Royds, wanting,
reckon, to trip the poor lad into some
sort of confession. No; | will take him
home for a fair trial but I'll be hanged
if he shall be badgered into talking if
he doesn't want to-"
Il have no wish to entrap Mr.. Ian
caster" I replied quietly. ION the
contrary. I do not believe that he was
in the bullion-room with guilty intent.
All 1 want is TO get an assurance from
him to that effect, to guard against
making a fool of myself, before con-
siderably startling you, captain"
What! Lancaster innocent? Shone
wrong! BY the little cherub that sits
I'D aIoft. but you shall have your pal
aver. anyhow! Come along, right here
and nowr'
And the captain clapped his god
banded cap onto his grizzled head and
led me down to the lower deck and
unlocked a door. The cabin was
cramped. and but i'll lit by an oil
lamp, but there was sufficient there
for rough and ready comfort if the oc-
cupant had been free to come and go.
But the chain at Phils ankles-the
irons" which are part even of a mod
ern shipmaster's creed-rattled as we
entered, telling of his close confine
ment. At sight of me the young mans
face cleared a little, and he rose from
the bench on which he had been sitting
dejectedly.
This is kind Of you, Royds." he said;
that is, if you're going to put me with
the other professional criminal. I'm
hit lonely and shall be glad of COM
pany.'
] saw that he was overweight, and
| sharply babe him not to be fool,
but to tell me as man to man why
he went to the bullion-room that night
and gave Radford Shone his chance.
Not a word more" 1 added, ''Only
your reason. l think / can guess ii.
but I want to be sure"
Lancaster shrugged his shoulders
YEARLY.
I'll tell you, Royds, that I'd have
bitten off my tongue rather than tell
Shone," he replied. 1T was simply
that my nerves wouldn't stand the
strain any longer. I had no faith in
the fellow. because his manner on the
first day of the voyage showed that
he suspected me. He might, therefore,
have overlooked tie real thief, and /
went to the bullion-room to satisfy
myself that nothing had been tempered
with AS God is my judge, that is the
truth. though / do not suppose that it
will avail me in court"