The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1911-10-26

She seemed to snuggle up to him
closer than usual. and the sturdy oak
was pleased and glad. They had
talked OF lonely lives made happy BY
just such chance meetings as this,
and he was about to ask her business
opinion Of adding cement to the other
when a message reached
him that his presence was desired IN
the captains cabin. He hastened
away. and the first 20 words spoken
to him caused him to wave his arm
about his head and dramatically ex-
claim:
Never. captain-never in this
world! Why the shame Of it would
kill her! How dare they say such
a thing-how dare they!"
But If she is innocent, the search
can do no harm. and give you every
assurance that 1t will be quietly con.
Quoted"
But 1t shall never be entered upon,
sir! Miss Clay's reputation is above
reproach in all directions. Show me
the man or woman that doubts her
dLO Will lldhS lAOlu AllS0l anu dSh
her forgiveness"
But two ladies claim to have seen
her coming from one of the state.
rooms that was robbed" insisted the
captain. They may have been mis-.
taken. hope by search to prove
that such is the case"
Captain" replied Mr.. Pennington
as he drew himself up and folded his
arms. II have known Miss Clay for
years. In fact, we are engaged. You
must and you shall not shame her
and me by any such search as pro.
posed. ! will protect her at any cost"
The speech was good, what there
was of it. Had Miss Clay heard 1t
she might have advised the orator to
go on the stage instead of going in
for cement. Being defied in his own
cabin aroused the captains ire. He
said the search should be made, and
when Mr.. Pennington got ready to
shed his last drop of blood, he was
trotted away and locked up in his
own stateroom. This had scarcely
been accomplished when the demure
Miss Clay came forward with smile
on her face and said that owing to
the embarrassing situation she would
be one of the first to ask to have her
belongings searched.
'That girl is trump" was the
mental ejaculation of the captain; and
10 minutes later 1.-THE proposed search
was being made.
Nothing whatever was found to in.
criminate Miss Clay. Nothing what.
ever was found to incriminate
dozen other ladies who insisted on
search of trunks and handbags. Then
everybody asked themselves and each
other over again: "Who can 1t be?"
The query was soon answered. Mr..
Pennington was liberated from
durance vile, and had just promised
the captain suit for $4,000 dam.
ages on arrival in England when he
instinctively thrust one of his hands
into the side pocket Of his pea-jacket.
1t was the pocket that Miss Clay had
cuddled against for hours before. He
felt package and drew 1t out, but
the captain reached for 1t and saved
him the trouble of opening it. The
package was made up of the missing
jewelry. OF course sensation fol.
lowed. OF course Mr.. Pennington
protested. 1t would have looked bet.
ter for him If chivalry had not forced
him to prevaricate about Miss Clay.
She promptly denied g having known
him for an hour before coming
aboard. As for the engagement he
had affirmed. was 1t likely that she
would marry any such man? She
was not a worldly girl, but even she
could see signs that he was hard.
ened criminal, and every one must
suppose that he was making the trip
for what he could steal
Mr. Pennington went back under
lock and key. There was no wireless
in those days. and II there had been
he had been caught with the goods
on him. Among the passengers were
seven Christian Endeavor people, five
Y. NJ. c. AS. four Prohibitionists and
nine missionaries going abroad to
convert the heather. They took turns
at interviewing the prisoner and
pleading with him to mend his ways.
AS for Miss Clay, she simply went
to the door Of his stateroom and
raped on it and called him a bad,
bad man. At Liverpool he was turned
over to the police, and though none OF
the passengers would press charge,
they found way of keeping him in
Jail for the next six weeks. He would
not have been released then had not
q detective said:
We'll, I've got her at last. She's
as slick as they make EN- OF course,
when she knew there was stir about
the stolen stuff she unloaded on you
Cut it out after this, my friend. Go
into cement, II you will, but let up
On chivalry. 1t makes you a soft
mark"