Omaha daily bee., 1907-01-13

H ond cup Of coffee and was living
back In an easy chair in his
EHdSH Washington square apartments
49, when he received a telegram stat
ing that Abernethy, who evaded the GUS
toms with the South African stones was
on the Pelican. The chief inspector 1T a
stogie and stood at his window looking
down at the marble arch in the square I'm a
reflective manner The metropolis was
asleep yet, but the old man realized that II
he was to accomplish any results that day
he would have to be out and doing.
With a sigh and last glance at his COM
Portable room the chief hurried out into the
cold air Of January morning. CLANCY
Joined him on the boarding tug. and the liz.
tie craft, though hampered on all sides by
ragged blocks of ice. ploughed its way
bravely toward the sea
Barnes wore a fur cap and a seasonabls
ulster, which reached down to the tops OF
his fashionably clad feet. There was a
lustre In his eyes which might have been
caused by the nIppng air or the subdued
eagerness which he always felt at the prus-
pect Of a clash with his natural enemy-the
smugglers. Clancy looked at him inquir-
ingly once or twice, but forebore to ask the
question which quivered on the end of his
tongue.
who are you after?" finally queried the
curious assistant. after a long silence.
ApcTUtlngt hdlu lHe Olu Hhi SnOTtIY.
The name was Greek to the young one
but he persisted.
rs he a PROFESSIONAL"
YES" said Barnes, meditatively. Hes
got speclalty-its unset dlamonds.".
Does he anticipate trouble?"
We'll, he's not the chap to hunt for Il,
but he'll get his wits to work the moment
he sees that warning" And the chief
pointed significantly to the blue and white
revenue flag which ioated commandingiy
from amidship.
"Abernethy might know you'd spot his
name on sight"
True; but I'm told he's dropped his dis
tinguished cognomen and Is now travelling
under the alliterative II not alluring name
Of William Woodside However. that's to
be proved. Hello therel 1 believe the
Pelican's In sight"
A great mass OF black bow obscurIng
the horizon, was hearing down upon them
slowly and maJestically. The tug piped out
three shrill, tenor like shrieks. The steamer
replied with three rumbling roars. For a
moment there was danger of a collision.
The great unwieldy steamer. like a huge
bully of the sea, seemed about to crush the
diminutive government craft But the
pilot on the boarding boat was not idle.
He gave his wheel a sudden twist, the
tug executed a flank movement and drew
up saucily alongside the Pelican For a
middle aged man, careful of his dignity.
Barnes went UP the rope ladder with ama1-
ing swiftness. Clancy was at his very
heels. Solicitations had scarcely been ex-
changed with the captain before the chief
was examining one of the printed pas
senger lists. He nodded trumphantly to
Clancy and placed his finger a particu-
lar line. 1t read thus:
"stateroom No. 10 (outsde) William
woodside."
A half dozen inspectors, following the
chief and his assistant seated themselves
at the heads OF the tables in the dining
room, prepared to take the declarations
Of the passengers. Men from the stew
ards mess went through the vessel ring
ing dinner bells and calling on the travel
7 lers to appear before the customs officers.
The inspectors work expeditiopsly. The
vessel moved swiftly. too, but by the time
the spires and roofs OF the city appeared In
sight the declarations were finished.
Wher they were compared with the
steamer lists one name was missing-wll-
liam woodside
Barnes looked significantly at Clancy.
The captains attention was called TO the
omission. He swore softly
He's a queer chap. He's acted mys-
teriously all the way over. Scarcely ever
appeared in the dining room or on deck.
Come with me and I'll rout him out"
captain to room 49, which was located near
the stern of the boat. The door was
locked, The chief gave three vigorous
knocks.
No response.
Clancy kicked with the heel OF his boot.
Nothing but the echo of the blows
The captain called out at the top of his
iusty voice.
Only dead silence.
The three men looked at one another.
Barnes answer Characteristic.
Break down the door,"
Three pairs of sturdy shoulders effected
immediate results. The lock broke and the
door few open. They all rushed in. The
next moment the three faces were study.
The room was empty.
Barnes was the first to recover HIS wits.
He made hasty survey OF the stuffy little
apartment The upper berth was undis-
turbed. The lower one was in disorder,
showing that II had been occupied the night
= before. A soft felt hat and a coat lay on
the bed. pair OF rough looking shoes
were beneath the bunk. dress suit case
OF cheap material was spread out on the
floor. II contained a few pieces Of soiled
linen. The large window OF the stateroom
was wide open. The space between the
window and the rail on the side OF the boat
was less than two feet in width. The iron
cloth. corresponding IN texture and pattern
10 the coat I'm the stateroom These things
were apparent at a glance. newspaper
erumpled up. lay In a corner of the ROOM
Barnes examined It minutely and then
placed 1t carefully in his inside pocket. He
turned TO the washstand and noticed a
sheet Of note paper partly covered with
writing. The chief picked it up. Clancy
and the captain peered over his shoulder
nNIo xvbi he rpnd a 4 eOiiOyVR.
o magic sleepl o comfortable birdi
That broodest DER the troubled sea OF the
mind
Till 1t is hushed and gone
Barnes smiled grimly at these unfinished
lines, and calculated one sarcastic word:
"Poetie."
Clancy, laboring under great excitement.
n threw up his hands, and. unable 20 restrain
himself. cried out;
"suicidel"