Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-05-12

Sure enough, It was q mighty fne
smoke. and / said so. jokingly re-
marking that they were better cigars
than / could AFFORD. We walked and
smoked our cigars to the tips, and
then. finding our pockets empty, Back
us invited me to his stateroom for a
fresh supply. Needless to say this was
the very chance / had been looking
for.
He switched on the electrics-his
was deck-cabin while mine was on
the deck below-and produced an
opened box originally containing so
of those ideal Perfectos from which
perhaps half dozen had been used.
We were both standing when a
peculiar thing happened; the steamer
gave a sudden lurch and a roll at the
instant when Backus was extending
the open box. / staggered. threw up
my arm to steady myself, and purely
by accident knocked the box out of
his hand. The cigars went flying all
some under the berth, and on the
floor. others here and there like
things possessed.
! raped out an apology for my
clumsiness, but nevertheless caught
something very like an oath from my
fours. ducking and bending nither and
yon, picking up his precious cigars.
He seemed more scrupulous about
recovering every blessed one of
them, even to arranging them neat
ly In the box and counting them
over and over to see that none were
missing. When apparently satisfied
that all were salvaged he shut the
lid and tossed the box In his berth.
saying that he'd give me one out Of
a fresh lot-those that had been on
the floor were probably broken and
not fit for a gentleman to smoke. and
so on. Accordingly he produced an
unopened box from his Gladstone bag,
and we had our smoke.
At the moment and for some time
thereafter / gave no further thought
to the incident But when / had
turned In that night the extreme
solicitude with which Backus had res
cued and counted those spilled cigars
struck me as peculiar. to say the least.
Suddenly the true explanation flashed
into my mind, and broke out into a
cold sweat. The more l pondered
over the matter the more I believed
/ had solved the mystery of the SNUG
a cd 40 Dc 40
careful work to make sure, and in or
der to verify my suspicious / needed
full access to Backus stateroom.
Above all things he must not suspect
me. or tell my work, for months past
would go for nothing. After lying
awake half the night mapped out
plan that thought would work.
We were very full ship. that trip.
and most of the single male passen-
gers we're doubled up" two in a
room But 1t happened that myself
for obvious reasons-and Backus had
double-berthed rooms to ourselves;
mine being on the lower deck My
plan for its success demanded the Co
operation of the ships purser. So to
him ! went directly after breakfast
next morning.
Disclosing my real identity, and ex-
planning as much of my errand and
my suspicious as were necessary.
besought his help. Briefly my scheme
was to get myself billeted on Backus
for the remaining As hours of the
voyage.
The purser was a somewhat stolid
Englishman, but finally prevailed.
''Er--er-how do you propose to
manage it?" he .queried. What ex-
cuse can you offer for leaving your
own quarters?''
why, you see," / explained, Il very
carelessly left my portfolio open last
night. and this morning green sea
poured in and soaked everything
mattress. bedding, and carpet / was
literally afloat, and it'll take at least
a couple Of days to dry things thor
oughly. In such an emergency you
might properly insist on3 Mr. Backus
letting me have his upper BERTH"
Il see. see." said the purser, with
a ponderous wink. Leave 1t to me-
He's only paid for half a state
room anyway. I'll see him after
breakfast"
Whether Backus liked the change
or not, 1t was his cue when we met on
deck to seem perfectly delighted and
to welcome me. When / went below
to freshen up for luncheon l found
that a steward had transferred all my
traps, and l was regularly installed in
the enemys camp.
Every hour brought us nearer to
New York and 1t behooved me to
work quickly. All that wanted was
a look at the box Of cigars that had
been so unexpectedly spilled al over
the cabin. yet 1t needed all my finesse
to secure that end OF course Backus
could not always be below at the
same time as myself. and really he
seemed totally unsuspicious of my
true errand and character
had noticed that on every voyage
he always travelled light"-carrying
no trunk, but merely a roomy bag.
Hence / knew that the cigars want
ed were probably in that receptacle,
seeing that the fresh box remained in |
full sight on the table. And probably
the Gladstone bag would be locked
So 1t proved when my chance came. |
, bolted the stateroom door against |
the possible return Of brother Backus.