The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1912-01-04

commodities, when a message reached
him that his presence was desired in
the captains cabin. He fastened
away, and the first 20 words spoken
to him caused him to wave his arm
about his head and dramatically ex-
claim:
Never, captain-never in this
world! Why the shame of it would
kill her! How dare they say such
thing-how dare they!"
"But If she is innocent, the search
can do no harm, and l give you every
assurance that it will be quietly con-
Quoted"
but it shall never be entered upon,
sir! Miss Clay's reputation is above
reproach in all directions. Show me
the man or woman that doubts her
and l will make them kneel and ask
her forgiveness
"But two ladies claim to have seen
her coming from one of the state
rooms that was robbed" insisted the
captain. "They may have been mis-
taken. hope by search to prove
that such is the case"
Captain" replied Mr.. Pennington
as he drew himself up and folded his
arms. Il have known Miss Clay for
years. In fact, we are engaged, You
must and you shall not shame her
and me by any such search as pro-
posed. will protect her at any cost"
The speech was good, what there
was of it. Had Miss Clay heard it
she might have advised the orator to
go on the stage instead of going in
for cement Being defied in his own
cabin aroused the captains ire. He
said the search should be made, and
when Mr.. Pennington got ready to
shed his last drop of blood, he was
trotted away and locked up in his
own stateroom. This had scarcely
been accomplished when the demure
Miss Clay came forward with a smile
on her face and said that owing to
the embarrassing situation she would
be one of the first to ask to have her
belongings searched.
"That girl is a trump" was the
mental ejaculation of the captain; and
10 minutes later the proposed search
was being made.
Nothing whatever was found to in
criminate Miss Clay. Nothing what
ever was found to incriminate a
dozen other ladies who insisted on a
search of trunks and handbags. Then
everybody asked themselves and each
other over again: "Who can it be-"
The query was soon answered Mr.
Pennington was, liberated from
durance vile, and 'had just promised
the captain a suit for $4,000 dam
ages on arrival in England when he
instinctively thrust one of his hands
into the side pocket of his pea-jacket.
1t was the pocket that Miss Clay had
cuddled against for hours before. He
felt a package and drew it out, but
the captain reached for it and saved
him the trouble of opening it. The
package was made up of the missing
jewelry. OF course a sensation fol-
lowed. OF course Mr. Pennington
protested 1t would have looked bet.
ter for him If chivalry had not forced
him to prevaricate about Miss Clay.
She promptly denied having known
him for an hour before coming
aboard AS for the engagement he
had affirmed, was it likely that she
would marry any such man? She
was not worldly girl, but even she
could see signs that he was a hard.
ened criminal, and every one must
suppose that he was making the trip
for what he could steal.
Mr.. Pennington went back under
lock and key. There was no wireless
in those days, and If there had been
he had been caught with the goods
on him. Among the passengers were
seven Christian Endeavor people, five
Y. M. C. AS, four Prohibitionists and
| nine missionaries going abroad to
convert the heather. They took turns
at interviewing the prisoner and
pleading with him to mend his ways
AS for Miss Clay, she simply went
to the door of his stateroom and
raped on 1t and called him a bad
bad man. At Liverpool he was turned
over to the police, and though none of
the passengers would press a charge,
they found a way of keeping him in
Jail for the next six weeks. He would
not have been released then had not
detective said
well, I've got her at last She's
as slick as they make 'em. or course
when she knew there was stir about
the stolen stuff she unloaded on you
Cut it out after this. my friend. Go
into cement, if you will, but let up
on chivalry. 1t makes you a soft
mark"