St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-01-07
Copyright. 1910. by W. G. Chapman,

discovered, although Lloyds has
brought all it's machinery to bear to
solve the mystery.
We, OF course, are mainly interest
ed In the fate of Arthur should say
Sir Arthur Melwood. We hope for the
cannot help us, then"
Mr.. Forster broke off with a signifi-
cant gesture. Lady Melwood, her
bosom heaving, her eyes suffused with
tears behind her veil, held out her
hands in mute appeal
Can you give me any hope, sir?"
she implored. Remember, he was my
boy, my only child"
Callister had listened impassively to
the solicitors bald narrative, betray-
ing about as much emotion as a stone
Buddha
You tell me the young man had no
reason for remaining away-no fool
ish entanglements? he queried.
None whatever" affirmed Lady
Melwood. Although his father and
uJ SCii "lSuSu Allu W lcludiu at hoii'S,
we parted most affectionately. Indeed,
Arthur promised us it should be his
last trip and she collapsed sobbin.g'
ly at the sinister recollection. MY
poor boy, my Arthur"
Callister considerably waited mo
ment before proceeding with his ana.
lysis.
You give us suffi GENTLY difficult
problem, Lady Melwood," he said
gently. 1T almost seems as if no news
would be good news. l mean," he
went on rather quickly, that GER
tainty of the very worst that might
happen would be better than further
suspense Is it not SOP"
Lady Melwood bowed her head in
assent, yet Immediately her mother
heart forced her to vehement speech.
He's not dead, sir! feel it know
it! Something tells me so! Never will
believe it until the sea gives up its
dead!"
To end a painful interview Callister
rose, saying:
I'VE will do our best, Lady Mel.
wood. We seldom fail, but do not
build your hopes on that Send me
photograph of your son, with a full
description of himself and his person
al belongings"
"And when-?" Lady Melwood was
beginning, when the master mind of
Bullivants cut her short with a quiet
smile and wave of the hand
THE instant we have any news
good or bad-we will communicate
with Mr.. Forster. Good-morning!"
And page ushered them out through
a private door.
Callister was as good as his word.
That same afternoon he was in consul
tation with one of the agency's
shrewdest Investigators, retired
quartermaster of the royal navy, who
presided over the department devoted
to marine cases, John Tarbell by
name
You, of course, recall the Calliope
case?" inquired Callister.
Quite So" assented Tarbell.
There was an unsolved sea mystery
for you. Always thought I'd like to
run it down."
Well, yyeH may have your wish"
commented the other, drily.
Tarbell raised his burly eyebrows
questioningly, but waited for further
details ....
Had you any theories?" questioned
his superior.
Plenty" was the answer, land so
did every other sailor man; the trou-
BILE was that none of them fitted"
"All the BETTER" commented Calls
ter. Cant you think of something
new"
"Everything's possible at sea-" an
swered Tarbell. "At first sight you're
up against a muddle; nothing fits;
then comes the explanation-simple
as snow sliding off a roof-and there
you are!"
Yes, I understand; but about this
Calliope now?"
well, you see;" said Tarbell, count
ing off on his finger tips, I'VE can cut
out the usual sea hazards-collision
tempest, mutiny, desertion and fire:
none of those perils happen to fit the
Calliope. There is a simple. solution,
Of course, but it'll be something out of
the ordinary. or miss my guess"
Cant you give it name?"
mot now-perhaps never" was
Tarbell's answer. But I'm willing to
try"
Callister nodded. THE case is
yours; you've got year in which to
make good. Take your own way,
spare no expense, and report when
ready. You'll find all the facts in file
o. M. S64. That's ALL"
Probably there was never so puz-
zling case in the annals of maritime
nations as that of the brig CaIliope.
There was absolutely not a single
salient fact upon which to build a pre-
mise. AS Tarbell had said, all plausi-
BILE theories, based upon the usual
hazards of the sea, failed to fit the
case. Those who might have given q
clew-captain, wife and child, passen-
ger. crew-had vanished without ap-
parent reason. So John Tarbell had a
hard nut to crack in attempting to
trace the fate of Sir Arthur Melwood.
He began his investigations at
Lloyds; then he visited the owners.
From each visit he drew a blank so