The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-02-06

FELT SURE THAT he WAS MY QUARRY
baggage on the deck and when unob-
served had tossed it on one of these
heaps. Then his attention had been
distracted. and either he was unable
to locate the pile on which he had
thrown it or it was picked up and car
ried away before he could again get
| possession of it
1t remained for me to account on
this theory for my not having both my
own and this other rug in my posses
sion. theorized In this way: The
smuggler having dropped his rug on
my pile Of hand baggage, finding an
opportunity to take it up without being
observed, had picked up mine instead
Of his own.
was well satisfied with my explana-
ton and, having settled the cause of
the episode in my mind, began to think
about the outcome. II struck me at
once that there was enough In It to
keep me interested all the way across.
The smuggler having lost his property,
would take measures to recover it.
What measures? l confess that were
In his place l would consider search
for my valuables like looking for
needle In haystack. l. too, would be
on the watch for him. Indeed, this
phase of the question promised to be
very interesting. If found him and
he was good fellow l would return
his property without asking any ques-
tons. If he acted disagreeably-wel
! could be disagreeable too. l knew
some of the customs men in New York,
and what might do could determine
before meeting them.
| made a number of acquaintance
on the steamer, and with one party-a
gentleman named Stoneman, his wife
and two daughters became quite In
|, Innate. They were wealthy and had
been seeing Europe extensively. Aft
er pledging them to secrecy told them
that there was a matter would con-
| fide to them which might interest them
Ia problem that would like their as
distance in solving. ! then told them
about the error which had thrown a
N6Aoa0AG RhOPCity AASO NY ROoCGooAOh
and invited them to observe our fellow
passengers with a view to determining
the rightful possessor.
Mr.. Stoneman didn't take to the mat
ter at all, cautioning me that it might
get me into trouble. His wife coincid-
ed with him in this opinion. and their
daughter. though interested. did not
show any disposition to take an active
part in my investigations after her
parents disapprobat1on OF sucn q
course.
However, the oldest Miss Stoneman.
being of an age to be attracted by such
q curious circumstance, the next day
| pointed out to me a man pacing the
deck whom she said she thought might
be the smuggler She had been watch
ing him, and he looked very uneasy.
She was sure he had something on bis
mind. The moment | looked at him l
was of the same opinion. Moreover, be
stared at me as l passed him. l won
dered II be could know that / was In
possession of the valuables.
After that Miss Stoneman and I. hav-
ing a secret together. spent consider
able time in each others company, sit.
ting on deck together. The man she
had pointed out walked the deck much
of the time, and whenever he passed
us would look at us uneasily. / felt
sure that he was my quarry. asked
Miss Stoneman how she came to light
upon the man so quickly, and she said
she didn't know herself. told her II
was that unaccountable power of In
tuition which women possess in lieu OF
the reasoning power of men.
But If the fellow knew that had his
property he took no steps, so far as
could see, to possess himself Of it
Every time he passed me he looked al
me harder than before. and seemed tc
have a very disturbing effect upon him
One evening approached the stern Of
the ship. Some one was looking ovel
the taffrail, but did not notice who
he was. Suddenly he looked up at me
He was the smuggler.
81 can stand this no longer" he said
81 know you are from Scotland Yard
and 1 may as well give myself up FRS
a. last"
s 'E0w do you KNOW thatr / asked