New-York tribune., 1908-08-09
XVIII-In the Absence of Sherlock Holmes


XVIII-In the Absence of Sherlock Holmes
CONSIDERATION reigned IN the Spittire
~ main saloon. That some unknown party
had abstracted the gems and substituted a
handful of dried beans. was perfectly clear u
all present. IL was likewise clear that some
one present was guilty OF the prontaole swap.
though each. when questioned. denied Al!
knowledge OF the AFFAIR IN varying degrees OF
virtuOus SCOru-
Ormond and Tracy Immediately offered up
their sacred persons 70 the humiliation of beng
searched: in fact. they seemed d trIde eager
Girard availed himself OF the opportunity.
went through them thoroughlv-and found
nothing of Importance. The cabin occupied
by these men -raS also OVerhauled- but with
out success. NorSOn-Brown. and that portion
of the Yacht hitherto honored by his Slurn berS.
received the most intimate attention \ blank
was scored. The three women elevated their
respective noses to the loftiest angle OF Su-
preme SCOrn and threw open their state Toom
doors for customs house inspection The IN
vitatiOn was declined Lima Iewett. the one
woman maid on board, offered her open trunk
and her resignation from service at one and
the same instant. Furthermore. she was
deSirouS of having her plump person patte1
all over bv CIirard himself (whO was elderly
and noncombustible) IN proof that No Sus-
piciouS humps were lurking beneath her snug
attire The privilege was wa1Ved-
Everyone on board seemed anxious u ald
in the hunt for the missing gems. Beasley IN
scrutiny and sat with his law on his palm
while his lockers were being rummaged- Even
the Seamen were willing and eager To prove
their innocence; while the ministerial AlIggS
wept openly as he led the way u his immacu-
late galley. demanding that every pot and pan
be examined mIcroscOpIca1v- Captain Joe
turned all his pockets inside out and asked
faCetiouSlV-
Who's got the thImble'
And thus for a time. It ended. The Yacht
was ranSacked from stem t. stern, but not one
gem. genuine or otherwise was brought To
light. with the exception OF VarIouS trlnNetS
belonging To various virtuOuS individuals But
the search was not an easy matter The spit
fire was wallowIng aImleSSly about IN the
trough OF heavy sea while her tall shaft was
being packed: and that Sweartul operation
continued until three in the afternoon Thus.
hunting round for pearls and emeraldS became
an exercise quite similar u Tub OF Love
at Coney Island; vet it seemed u prove one
fact concluSively: the gems were lost
NOV in the absence of Sherlock Holmes
the reader must become his own deductor
while the writer Is luSt anxious any OF the
other rascals u lend his and IN the solution OF
the problem.
To begin with then it must be remembered
that sometime during the previous night - tall
slim figure appeared IN the main saloon. aui
like the moonbeam. hirted with the little nickel
plated dial with numbers on II. First step
the safe. Next, who was the tall and slender
man.
On careful selection. this interioper might be
MorSon-Brown or Beaslev or OrmOni or the
second mate Lavine. OF even MIggS. or anyone
OF nIne Seafnen out OF the crew who happened
t. possess height and u lack inor,iInate CIR
cularIty. But watt The mysterious ngure.
being cloaked in a long high collarei dressing
gown. might have been that OF a woman
Well i man. The hight was bad. and this
inquire CrouChed as II came. though possibly,
70 disguise its actual height; and therefore
both Nalda and the placid Aunt Mary must
likewise come under the searchhght OF iuveS-
ugatlon. This Is ungallant perhaps. bat
avoidable
Out OF sixteen people, then one had robbed
the yachts safe or abStractcd the gems and
deposited them elsewhere and III the absence
ot positive fact, CIrCumstantIal evidence must
be applied to the person or persons most likely
70 be htted with cap of motive. Caution Is
suggested, however. and a timely warning
against personal prejudice. for Nalia once
tF'ed TINS line OF argument and put her father
IN ldil on seven serious ChITP-S when u1W She