Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-04-25
The PurSer'S
Confidence
BY HUNTLEY WEYMAN
Copyrighted by f. c. PARCELS

, Defy ever pefpelEdIeu Oh LOHuOu
jewelry house. Lady Stanton was
looking at diamond tiara and being
waited on by one of the partners when
d gentleman lounged forward, famil-
iarly addressed her and, picking up
the tiara, walked out Of the store with
it. The act was so audacious that he
was given time to mix with the throng
in the street and get safely away.
1t was jewelry house that had
never been robbed before, and the de-
cision was immediate to spare no ex-
pense to run the robber down. The
case was given to the police, with
grand reward attached and Scotland
Yard put its best detectives at work.
Two or three private agencies took up
the trail for the reward there was in it,
and when clew seemed to lead to
Paris Il French detective prepared to
follow it, From some line of reasoning
not made public all the officers came to
| an agreement that the robber was an
American and that he would seek to
get away on the Blue Star liner Mon
arch. The press didn't say anything
about trails, but four of the detectives
followed their noses at least and Sc
cured passage on the Monarch. Had
one of the male passengers come to
them half an hour before sailing and
admitted that he was the robber and
held out his hands for the bracelets
none of the four would have sailed. As
it was, no one came forward, and they
felt it a duty to make the voyage to
New York and keep an eye on every
fellow passenger. They knew nothing
of each others presence in an official
way. If any one of them was to give
his confidence to any one, the purSer
was the man to unbosOm to, ard 1t was
not long before he had Il call 1t was
a Scotland Yard man. He was wear
ing false side whlskers and passing
himself off as retired English retail
grocer who was making the trip to see
his sister in New York
81 think I have a clew already" he
said as the purser promised to respect
his confidence and assist him In any
way he could "Thera is a Frenchman
aboard calling himself Dubois He
speaks English passably well and
claims to be going over in the inter
ests of the wine business, but he isn't
fooling Inspector Saunders a little bit.
He's my man or | don't know a crook
when | see one"
The next burst of confidence came
from Dubois. He identified himself as
belonging to the Paris bureau and
added:
"Pist! 1t was easy enough. l pick
ed him out from the 300 passengers al
most at a glance. He is an English
man and claims to be a retired grocer,
and l shall give him rope until we
reach quarantine on the other side.
Should he suspect me and try to jump
overheard | hope | may have your as
sistance"
Mr. Dubois was assured that the
purser and all the other officers of the
boat stood ready to lend justice all
possible assistance, and he then made
way for a detective from a private
London agency. The man wore false
stomach and Il wig ana used the Ian
cashire dialect. He introduced himself
as John Stone and asked for the purs-
er's confidence at once.
"Tve got him right between my
thumb and finger, this way" he said,
with a grin. The trail led me as
straight as a turnpike. | can't ask the
Monarch to turn back, of course. but
I'll have the darbies on the fellow as
opI
but il was dead easy! He calls himself
French name and tries to disguise his
English, but any child could spot him
off Help me to keep an eye on Du-
bois and there will be something in 1t
for you
The purser smiled inwardly and gave
his promise He thought there We're
Others to come, and he was not mis-
taken. Mr. Hiram Wilkinson next in
troduced himself as being from pri-
yate Liverpool agency He had wig
and goggles and was trying to talk
through his nose and be taken for
New Englander. He felt that he had
come to the right party in coming to
the purser. and he didn't shut his
mouth until his secret was out.
"Its the feller as calls hisself Stone"
he whispered. Il spotted him the In
stant he came up the gangplank, but
dasn't tackle him on sight. l am max
ing the voyage to play my fish. I'll
bet pounds to shillings l make him
trap hlsself in less than three days.
He claims to have a brother In the
butcher business at Albany, but Of
course that's all in your eye"
"You think he's the manW queried
the purser IN an absent way as he be-
gan to see the humorous side of the
situation.
"Say, now, take a good long look at
him yourself He looks the thief from
head to heel. Haven't you noticed his
nervousness? He's afraid he's been
followed He'll make a fight Of it
when we sight the American coast, but
I'll have the irons on him before he can
say Jack Robinson. Mum is the word,
and you will get your whack Of the re-
ward"
There was no fifth detective aboard
to ask the purser for his confidence
and assistance, but after a day or two
Mr. Abljah Absalom Barnes, as he
gave his name, asked the official to
take charge of package for him.
ITS only some glmcracks Eve been
buying abroad" he explained but
Martha ana the children will be look
Ing for presents when get home.
That Yurup is a great country. but I
hain't seen no spot like old New Hamp-
shire since | went away. Ever get up
that farT'
II never have" replied the purser as
he wondered how Uncle Abijah had
escaped the pitfalls that must have
been set for his feet.
If you ever have chance, come up
and stay with me for a week, and it
shan't cost you red cent. If you've
got wife and children, bring 'em