The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1912-03-07

Every time he passed me he looked al
me harder than before, and seemed to
have a very disturbing effect upon him
One evening l approached the stern OF
the ship. Some one was looking over
the taffrail, but l did not notice who
be was. Suddenly he looked up at me
He was the smuggler.
II can stand this no longer" he said.
II know you are from Scotland Yard
and may as well give myself up first
as last"
How do you know that" asked
not wishing to commit myself.
ut was that young lady who put you
on to me. It's wonderful how these
women can know things"
"Well, are you ready to confessT
"Wil gain anything by confession?"
Certainly. I'll see to that"
: "Well, lost the money on the stock
exchange"
This was a surprise, but I kept my
cOuntenance.
"Then IL is all gomez"
Every cent. l can't gain anything
by restoration"
The plot was thickening. In look
ing for the owner of the property /
held, / had stumbled on criminal. !
did not propose to mix myself up in
this second affair, one was enough, 80
I said:
my friend, you have made a mis-
take. I'm Do Scotland Yard man, and
have no interest in your crime. Why
have you been staring at mel"
why have you been staring at me?'
he asked, with great apparent relief.
did not satisfy him. He had a
guilty conscience, which Miss Stone
man had observed, so the moment we
looked at him curiously he took II
for granted he had been spotted.
told him would not give him away,
for which he thanked me. didn't
think It prudent to intrust Miss Stone
man with his secret, 80 told her that
l had discovered that he was the
wrong mao.
Our last day OF the voyage came,
and / was at a loss to know what to
do with the laces and the diamonds. /
spoke to my confidante about my prop
erty, and she suggested that so long
as ! had nothing to fear from the
customs officers l might carry the
package about as It was. After doing
so the rightfnl owner might claim it.,
and then it would be time enough to
decide what action to take. replied
that the rug would probably be un-
rolled and examined by the customs
officers, whereupon she offered to take
the lace and diamonds ashore herself.
Since she seemed inclined TO this
plan reluctantly consented to 1t, yet
fearing that If she got into trouble
would be blamed. Her object seemed
to be to serve me, though fancied
she supposed in case the property re-
NAMED with me she would fall heir
to part of it for getting 1t through
free Of duty. handed 1t over to her,
and she must have concealed 1t well,
for she took it through without being
discovered.
The criminal who had mistaken me
for Scotland Yard man did not fare
so well. Officers who had been cabled
that he was on the steamer took him
In charge as he left the vessel
When ! parted from the Stonemans
the mother gave me pressing invita-
ton to call upon them In New York
before they departed for home, which
they expected to do In few days aft
er landing. l called on them at their
hotel and was graciously received.
Since my attentions to Miss Stone
presently the others one by one ex-
cused themselves and left us alone to-
gether.
'Well," said the young lady, 'have
you discovered the owner OF the prop
erty?"
mo one has applied for it"
"Probably not. since it is mine"
"Yours:"
eyes"
looked at her aghast. "You have
no need to smuggle."
"It,s the fascination of II. l was
bound to get those things through free
Of duty. When we went aboard the
ship / got fright. saw the man !
pointed out to you looking at me while
was carrying my rug. ] dropped it
and failed to find 1t again. That's all
/ knew about it till you told us it had
found its way into your stateroom."
There were two OF you" ! said.
laughing. with a guilty conscience.
though one was thief, the other only
smuggler, which seems to be quite
fashionable among the upper classes
Just now" s.
$50 it seems 80
There Is nothing more to the story
except that In time married the girl
who had fooled me. She has been
fooling me ever since.