Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1910-08-24


He mapped IN his berth and read
novel which he had brought with him
during the afternoon and evening. not
leaving his stateroonl. The next morn
ing he passed on deck. He expected
every moment that some man would
attempt to make his acquaintance No
man did. but Il very pretty young wo-
man sitting in q steamer chair looked
ut him as he passed her and cast down
her long Spanish lashes. Every time
he passed in pacing back and forth
she gave him the same glance and the
same downward sweep. He suspected
her at once and put himself on his
guard.
With the exception of the Spanish
woman there was no evidence of any
person or persons shadowing him. But
on the second day out an old lady with
very white hair came up the compan-
ionway and looked about for a seat.
The ship was rolling, and Maitland,
taking hold of her arm. supported her
to a steamer Chair. She thanked him.
but he would have nothing to do with
her. Surely he had reason to suspect
every one. The old lady besides thank
Ing him made some commonplace re-
mark. to which it would have been po-
lite for him to respond. but he turned
from her as though she had some in
fictitious disease.
Several times after that he surveyed
from iuto hot
she looked very peculiar Indeed, after
scrutinizing her one afternoon as she
sat doing in her steamer chair it &C.
Cured to him that she was a young
person disguised as an old woman.
When the day before the ship was
young Spanish woman sitting side by
side and talking confidentially be made
up his mind that they had Teen sent
out from Washington to steal his dis
patch and that one or both of them had
already opened his suit case. Prob
ably one did the work while the other
kept watch.
A few hours before bis arrival in port
Maitland went to his stateroom. took
the dispatch from his pocket and look
ed at it. He felt very happy. II he
had got it so far on the journey despite
those who were trying to get it from
him surely he could do what little re-
manned. Replacing it, he picked up his
cigarette case. which be had left on a
shelf, lighted cigarette and. lying
down with his novel. began to read.
He soon became drowzy and fell asleep
When be awoke the ship was in port
He felt nauseated. Something had
happened. He clapped his hand to his
side pocket.
The dispatch was gone
"Beaten after ALL" he moaned
Starting up, he staggered out and on
to the deck. No one had gone ashore.
A last hope occurred to him. He would
have the two women arrested on q
trumped up charge There they were
near the companionway. He rushed
forward and. seeing a policeman on
the dock. beckoned to him. The man
met him on the companionway. and
Maitland, slipping a ten dollar bill into
his hand. told him that there were two
women thieves on board who had rob-
bed him. When the women reached
the dock they were taken into custody.
They made great ado at their arrest.
asserting their innocence.
Il am an American" said the old
lady, land demand to be taken before
the United States consul"
II will take you to the consulate"
said Maitland. provided your confed-
crate will consent to go with u.s."
The old lady persuaded the other wo-
man to make no objection. assuring her
called carriage. and the three travel
ers entered. the policeman climbing to
the box. On reaching the consulate
Maitland insisted that the Spanish wo-
man go in with them. He did not dare
leave her in the carriage. She seemed
Indifferent about it. and the three went
in together. The consul being engaged
at the time they were placed in the
waiting room
While waiting. Maitland. facing the
old lady. scrutinized her. What was
there that was familiar about her?
Suddenly-the Spanish woman's back
was turned-she gave him smile.
He recognized his wife.
Rising. Julie went into the hall.
Maitland following her.
Don't worry" she said. Its safe"
"Where?"
In my corsage."
How did you come by it?'
i've had it all the time When I
handed you the cigar box in Washing
ton it contained dummy. kept the
dispatch"
who opened my suit case?'
THE woman in there"
How do you know?
II saw plainly that she had been
sent to delay the delivery of the dis
patch and. pretending that | was on
the same errand. won her confidence,
and we agreed to work together Aft
err she found the envelope was not in
your suit case she was sure you had
1t on your person. You were very
careless to leave your cigarettes in
your stateroom. She picked the lock
with a skeleton key. went in and re-
placed your cigarettes with those that
had been drugged When you were
asleep she robbed you"
And the dummy? What did she say
when she discovered that?'
''She cried. Had she secured the
6iSnafch chic 1vo,,l1 hovo hoop no;d