The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-04-21
you'll like it; have them made for

yOu IL uhe II, udVo IuSu 1u0O0 AO'
me specially"
Sure enough, 1t was mighty fine
smoke, and l said so, jokingly re
marking that they were better cigar:
than l could afford. We walked ant
smoked our cigars to the tips, anc
then, finding our pockets empty, Back
us invited me to his stateroom for q
fresh supply. Needless to say this was
the very chance l had been looking
for.
He switched on the electrics-his
was a deck-cabin while mine was on
the deck below-and produced an
opened box originally containing 81
of those ideal Perfectos from which
perhaps half dozen had been used.
We We're 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. l staggered, threw up
my arm to steady myself, and purely
nv accident knocked the box out OF
his hand. The cigars went flying all
over the place-some in the berth,
some under the berth, and on the
floor, others here and there like
things possessed.
I raped out an apology for my
clumsiness, but nevertheless 1 caught
something very like an oath from my
host. In an instant he was on all
fours, ducking and bending hither 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 l 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
cold sweat. The more l pondered
over the matter the more l believed
l had solved the mystery of the SNUG
gled diamonds. But it would need
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 l mapped out
plan that l thought would work.
We were very full ship, that trip,
and most Of the single male passen-
gers were doubled up" two in
room. But it happened that myself
for obvious reasons-and Backus had
double-berthed rooms to ourselves;
mine being on the lower deck. My
plan for it's success demanded the CO.
operation of the ships purser. So to
him | went directly after breakfast
1ext morning.
Disclosing my real identity, and ex-
planning as much of my errand and
ny suspicious as were necessary,
,esought his help. Briefly my scheme
vas to get myself billeted on Backus
or the remaining 48 hours of the
rcyage.
The purser was a somewhat stolid
but l finally prevailed.
"Er-er-how do you propose to
manage it?" he queried. "What ex-
use can you offer for leaving your
,Wn quarters?"
why, you see," / explained, II very
arelessly left my portfolio open last
hight, and this morning a green sea
'oured in and soaked everything
mattress, bedding, and carpet. was
literally afoat, and it'll take at least
couple of days to dry things thor
'ughly. In such an emergency you
night properly insist on Mr.. Backus
citing me have his upper BERTH"
Il see, 1 see," said the purser, with |
ponderous wink. Leave it to me.
les only paid for half state
Dom anyway. I'll see him after
breakfast"
Whether Backus liked the change
# not, 1t was his cue when we met on
eek to seem perfectly delighted and
o welcome me. When / went below
o freshen up for luncheon l found
nat steward had transferred all my |
raps, and l was regularly installed in
he enemy's camp.
Every hour brought us nearer to |
Jew York and it behooved me to
york quickly. All that wanted was
look at the box of cigars that had |
zen SO Unexpectedly spilled all over
he cabin, yet 1t needed all my finesse
o secure that end. OF course Backus
ould not always be below at the
anne time as myself, and really he
eemed totally unsuspicious of my
rue errand and character.
| had noticed that on every voyage
q always travelled light"-carrying
o trunk. but merely roomy bag.
lence | knew that the cigars l want
d were probably in that receptacle,
eeing that the fresh box remained in
I'LL sight on the table. And probably
he Gladstone bag would be locked.
So 1t proved when my chance came.
bolted the stateroom door against
he possible return of brother Backus