The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-05-18

The same evening just before dark
went on deck. The man with the
sandy mustache was louHging about
and, presently coming up to me, asked
II could tell him the days run for
the ship. With this Us an opening
wedge he entered upon conversation
with me. turning it upon some curious
phenomena Of the sea. lie mentioned
the phosphorescent light IN the wake
II ship, saying: IT'S very pr0nounc-
ed tonight. Just come back with me;
III show 1t 10 you"
told him that | had often seen what
he referred to and. bidding him good
evening, went below.
1t was very plain to me that the wo-
mans story was true From this time
forward | had perfect confidence in
her She did not ask me the nature
Of my mission or show any curiosity
about it. | argued that If she vas de
sirous Of possessing herself Of the dia-
mond she would sooner or later lead
me to speak Of 1t in the hope that !
would tell her whore It was. But while
she sought my confidence IN other
ways she never referred 10 the object
Of my journey. | told her that | was
going home 10 a sweetheart | had not
seen In three years. and the sympathy
she gave me was delightful She seem
cd to appreciate perfectly the feelings
OF young man deeply in love. So in
terested was she In this that | told
her | would bring my dancec To see
her after reaching port, md She was
good enough to assure ne that She
would be delighted TO know her
1t was after this refreshing CONVERSE
ton. In order TO show some appreeia-
ton Of her interest in me, that | said
10 her:
Il feel perfectly safe In saying TO
you that l am carrying a very valuable
stone belonging to the Diamond com
pany to New York and wish to consult
you as to safe place to keep it."
IN that | can't advise YOU. We wo
men have methods of concea.ing such
things that do not pertain to men ]
can't think Of any safe place where d
man can put such treasure"
1.-The only safe place l know is on
my person. have 1t suspended about
my waist day and night"
MY dear boy" she said, what do
you mean by revealing such a secret to
me or to any one%"
Il have perfect confidence in YOU"
Nevertheless yo0 should not have
told me such a secret
Il shall surely til no one else II
any one can take il away from me by
force in the daytime he's welcome to
do so BY night | am locked in my
room"
u beg Of you to give your secret to
no one else"
The evening before making port my
friend while talking to me Of some del
icacies in the way Of eatables she had
1huard invited NE to come to her state
.o1m and partake of them. She said
Iere would be no improperly in my
ing So. since she would hook the door
lie opcn. accepted her invitation
'ler statcroom faced on the same aisle
raueht out some pate Of ehie'icns' liy-
,'rs and other nice things including
some real madeira Wine rarity ont
side the island Of Madeira ate Of
her daintes and drank freely Of the
wine.
In the morning | aWOke in my own
berth with Il remembrance Of ny sup
per- but with no recollection as 10 how
| got into my own stateroom. l put
my hand to my waist, and the pouch |
kept slung there was gone.
Everything being quiet and no mo
ton to the ship. arose and looked out
through a portfolio. We were locked.
Dressing myself, | went ashore. \ few
Of the passengers remained. but my
lady friend was not among them. nor
were the two men against whom she
had warned me.
When ! met my Rose after the first
transports of our meeting | said to
her.
And now you must hear the reason
Of my coming and the story connect
ed with my journey Beginning with
my meeting with my lady friend, told
her every ineident-every word so far
rs could remember the conversations
THAT had passed between me and her
When l reached the part Of my story
where had told that kept the stone
about my waist Rose could not rerreSs
the exclamation, oh, how stupid"