Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-02-23
NARRATIVE OF
ADAMS
Copyright, by w. G. Chapman.)
ective Diplomat -

midnight l Woult arm myself, put on
my stewards coat, and boldly enter
his cabin and search for the treaty.
cowing Stapfhaus with my revolver.
When | had found it-and l did not
u that it would be about his per-
son or under his pillow-or, if it
should unhappily be necessary, when
had taken his life, l would run with
all haste to my cabin, doff the stew
ards coat, throw it through the port
hole, and assume the role Of the
wealthy gentleman whom the agonies
of sea sickness had hitherto prevent
ed from leaving his cabin. The plan
was perfect and could hardly fail me.
At midnight on the third night I
put my plan into execution. 1t was
my turn off duty. The lights were
low; the passengers, not yet accli-
matized, were all In bed, except a small
group in the smoking room. Wearing
my stewards coat l went. noiselessly
to the door of my enemy's room. 1t
was not closed, being fastened by the
interior hook that permits about two
inches Of space for the purpose of ad-
hitting air. l listened stealthily
outside. There was no sound from
within-not even the sound of breath
ing. Very cautiously l thrust my hand
within the aperture and pulled out the
hook. The door swung open with the
lurch Of the ship. A light was burn
ing inside. Still there vas no sound.
l looked in; the cabin was empty!
Yet, only 20 minutes before l had
seen him, dressed in his pajamas and
a dressing gown returning to his room
from the bath. Had he dressed and
gone UP to the smoking room? There
seemed no other solution of the mys-
terry. But l had 40 time for specula-
ton. In an instant l had securely
locked the door from within and was
down upon my knees, delving into his
cabin trunk, his grips, pulling apart
he bedclothes, rummaging under the
mattress, beneath the carpet, every
where that l thought the ingenuity of
man could have devised as a hiding
place for the treaty which meant so
much to both of us. l searched the
pockets of his clothes, the lining of
his shoes-I rel tore apart the
stitches of his garments in my futile
efforts. And when, IS minutes later,
l arose, bitterly disappointed, I had
at least the consolation of knowing
that the treaty could not be in his
cabin. The only solution then must
be that it was about his person. He
must carry it upon his body, day and
night.
My first plan then was to lie in wait
for him upon his return. But what If
he should discover me? There was no
place within the cabin to hide, except
under the bed, and that afforded only
the most cramped quarters. Besides,
should he stoop to his trunk, he must
discover me. And then-I could never
rearrange his clothes. must escape
at once, and leave him to think that a
! thief had been in his cabin. Would
he suspect my presence? Somehow I
must waylaw him and get what I
sought-perhaps next night in the
dark of the deck. l opened the door
and hurried down the corridor toward
my room. AS 1 went | noticed that
the air had grown uncommonly cold,
as though icebergs were in the vicin-
ity, which, at that period of the early
summer, was a thing to be prepared
for. The ship was %plunging along I'M
der an increasing gale. l turned the
just as l was about to enter, the door
opened, and out stepped Stapfhaus!
He smiled at me in an evil way
when he saw me. My hand went to
my pocket, but the German was the
speedier. In an instant I was looking
! into the muzzle of an automatic pistol.
My hands dropped to my sides. When
one is helpless and at he mercy of
another, there is nothing to be gained
by a show of bravado. And %Stapfhaus
was not reputed to be slow with his
weapon. 49,
He motioned me into my cabin, and
I went in first, Stapfhaus following. In
the mirror in front of me 1 could see
that his aim never wavered. To my
establishment the place had been ran
sacked even as l had ransacked his.
Stapfhaus motioned me to be seated
upon the bed. He himself took the
chair.
Where have you been, Adams?'
he asked, grimly. I could see that my
life hung upon only the fimsiest
thread. l answered promptly.
"Ransacking your room, Stapfhaus."
He started. "Ransacking my room?'
he cried. What the devil for?'
What for?" l reiterated, bitterly.
I felt bitter toward him. Even if he
spared my life, at least l knew that
my career was over. / could never
face my sovereign again. And here
he was hooking me.
Il ~ransacked your room,' l replied,
"to find the treaty. Why do you sup
pose | Gamer" I saw him start. The
pistol auivered in his hand. DO you
think l followed you for a jest. or to
play puss-in-the-corner?"
do not know what he would have
done. He seemed to take deliberate
aim at me. Then l heard wild, des-
perate cries from the deck above. A
, blast of icy air seemed to strike me
and suddenly there came a tremen-
dous shock which flung Us from our
seats with terrific violence. I heard
the pistol explode as it left Stapfhaus'
fingers. Then, stunned and dazed,
picked myself up from the floor, to
find thai the sea was pouring through
he portfolio and that l was wading
in a foot of water, which swilled from
side to side of the cabin as the ship
rolled heavily in the trough of the sea,