The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-06-30

will do you
at looks like clearing up" L re-
marked, for the rain had stopped.
''Don t build on that, sonny. The
glass has tumbled, and L expect after
midnight we, II have a fine dance;
hope.
Stanislas had given me the seat OF
honor at the table. on his right, put
he was too busy to put in an appear"
ance. On my other side was Senor
Gonzales, still very upset, and growl,
| ing to the steward something l could
not hear about his cabin.
The German, who kept on drinking
champagne, was the first to address me,
with the question:
"Do You play poker7"
"I never gamble. Why do you ask7'
because We might have game IN
the smoking room tonight. thought
perhaps you ID like to join.
81 will join you in a smoke | said,
"but not in the game. l never play -
"I m awfully fond of spin at po-
kerr put in NJ. Van Vloot, land so
is Becky, il her tooth does not worry
| her. How is your tooth, Becky?'
HThank you, Sol, r feel much better.
dare say little game would Just put
me right. And l don't mind the
smoke.
Mr. Knowles who had not opened his
lips at dinner, remarked in a rasping
voice:
"a sea trip without poker is like a
dog without q tail. III play, too. -
"I'll also take hand said Mr.. Lo-
PEI.
"I gamble on principle, - grunted the
comedian; cit s the only principle
have a Joke which sent Nine. Van
Vloot into g fit of imbecile laughter.
As soon as dinner was over there
was a general rush for the smoking
room, and in the saloon remained only
the priest and Mrs. Knowles, doing
book on her lap, deep in thought, with
a smile on her pretty face.
For a long time ] paced the deck
enjoying the fresh air and the still
ness around me, and having wished
Stanislas good night, I decided to turn
in, when curiosity prompted me to see
how the gamblers were getting on.
Nine. Van Vloot was standing in the
door of the smoking room, very much
out Of temper.
ttDon t you plav7' asked.
CT have played" she replied in
solemn tone, ''and j have lost my mon
ey. And so has Sol, and so has that
German gentleman. and so has Mr.
Knowles, and so has the actor with the
funny name. We have all lost our
money. Senor Gonzales has raked it
all in. What luck that man has!
never saw anything like it,
AS 1 entered the room Gonzales
passed me, He was tired, he said, and
players looking at one another, and the
atmosphere seemed charged with voice
less currents Of thought.
"He cleared lis out very nicely,' at
last remarked Mr.. Knowles.
"He did," repeated the others in
chorus.
81 II tell you what think" began
Van Vloot in an excited tone,
"You needn't express your
we all think the same thing. AS for
me, 7 don't intend to play again with
that gentleman; and I wish you all
pleasant dreams.''
81 was beginning to feel more con
tented. Our old steamer was not so
black as she was painted, and beneath
her somewhat fresh exterior she hid
few sterling qualities in the way of
comfort ] lit another cigarette and
come over the weather. Tt was blow
ing very hard, and the waves rolled in
mountains under a sky of lead. In
less than a quarter of an hour a gale
broke, and heavy seas swamped the
deck
'"You'd better turn in" said the
first officer. "it will get worse during
the night
L followed his advice, although sleep
was out of the question.
The wind howled and the water
crushed against the side of the steam.
er with deafening noise. It was any
thing but soothing to the nerves. To-
| ward D in the morning I dozed off, and
may have slept for half an hour, when
L was roughly shaken and some one
called out my name. 7 felt the wind
blow on me through the open door, and
there stood Stanislas with the first Of,
fcer behind him.
| "Come at once shouted the can.
tain, Hwe want you'll
| Having forced me into my trousers
and coat, he took me to the cabin on
the port side, facing mine. The storm
had abated, but there was still a heavy
sea- and Stanislas gripped nv arm TO
steady me. The steward stood outside
rs If On guard. Stanislas pushed him
aside, opened the door, and said:
HHLook at that!'
/ Trecoiled with horror. The cabir
was bespattered with blood.
Great heavens! Whose berth j:
this7" I asked,
",Gonzales So replied stanisIas.
But where is he7''
1--WE can Z find trace of him. Ar
hour ago the steward, fancying he
heard him call, opened the door anG
nearly dropped with fright. He at once
came to me, and, while I sent him q
every cabin to account for the passen
gers, ! mustered the crew. Only poo
Gonzales is missing Do you mipG
helping me in this business, Goron7
am so distressed 1 do not know wha
, course to take
All right. old chap said; "I dit
not come here to hunt criminals. but
will do what I cam
made careful examination O,
; everything in the cabin. Gonzales I,
watch was on small shelf near tn,
bed, on the top Of same bank notes anG
goid-probably his winnings of tb,
night before A pocketbook stuffe,
, with notes was lying next to il. ais,
his scarf, in which valuable damon,
pin was stuck
Did Gonzales not have q big ora,
ulsterf' ! asked.
Yes, he had replied my frierd