The Washington herald., 1914-10-11

Great heavens!" Brooke exclaimed.
you didn't see the. fellow, did you!
The doctor shook his head He was
speaking with the utmost difhcuity.
Il saw nothing. but heard the fall
OF something just outside my door:
which was about foot open. ] dragged
myself there. picked up this"
He opened his coat; long envelope.
apparently stuffed with papers, was
lying there. Brooke gazed at II with
fascinated eyes.
@Why haven't you mentioned it be-
fore--told the captain or some one?"
he asked.
The little doetC: paused for several
/ moments 10 recover his breath.
81 made up my mind that this packet
should go straight from my hands to
the chief of police in New York" he
I said Everything is talked about on
board ship. I decided to keep silent.
Since then have been terrihed-almost
to death. Last night and the night be-
fore a man has beeh in my room. My
trunk, the cushions here, have been
searched I lay shivering in my bunk.
The packet was between my two mat
tresses."
'eWho was the mani" Brooke asked.
al couldn't reach the light dared
not have turned it on If could have
done So" was the almost plaintive re-
ply. 1T might have been steward.
/ had courage onee-but now-you see
what l am. | can't bear another night
/ want YOU to take this packet"
Once more he produced the envelope.
Brooke took IT.
What am ] 10 do with it?'
Keep it until we are safely of the
steamer" DR.. Browning begged. Bring
Il to me the moment after we land. /
shall be at No. 367, the Waldorf-As-
toria. NY room IS already engaged. !
shall lie there and wait for you"
Brooke thrust the packet into the
breast pocket of his tweed coat which
he buttoned up closely.
Very well, ;" he promised, "ru do as
you say.
The little man leaned back upon his
sofa.
Brooke tiptoed his way out of the
stateroom and sat in his steamer chair
upon the deck for an hour without
moving. Then he rose and made his
way 70 the second-class portion of the
ship, where be found Constance in a
sheltered corner
"Supposing," he said, Il was able to
help toward the clearing up of this
little affair, take it that it would be
sort of satisfaction to you?"
st would be more than that" she
answered firmly.
very well, then" he continued Il
am by way of making bargain Sup
posing I succeed, viii you lunch with
me at the Waldorf-Astoria at o'clock
on the day after we arrive, and viii you
promise to let NE know your. where
abouts for the first month Of your stay
in New York;"
She looked at him, little softened-
and yet suspicious
Il can't see what satisfaction that
would be to you," she remarked
My lookout, that, isn't itI" he re-
minded her gently. "
Il haven't any clothes to come out to
luncheon. in" she told him
IF you will wear the clothes" he re-
piled, which you wore when you came
on the steamer
well I had to have a new frock,
she interrupted, little deisntly, and
/ couldn't come abroad without a new
hat, could II"
He laughed
"It's a bargain, then"
Aren't you going to tell me any
thing?" she asked.
Not at present" he replied. "To tell
you the truth, there's so much that |
don't understand myself"
The end of the voyage, so eagerly
looked forward to by many Of the pas
sengers, was certainly not Disappointing
in the matter of sensation.
The steamer was boarded in the har-
Dor by. two detectives, whose every
movement was watched with intense
interest. They made their way at once
to the captains cabin, where they re-
manned for at least quarter of an hour.
When they returned to the deck they
came face to face with Mr.. Gordon
Black. He was smoking a large cigar
and, so far from showing any signs OF
discontinue, accosted the two men and
shook hands with them. A slight sense
Of DISAPPOINTMENT began to manifest it.
self among the passengers. They were
now almost up to the landing stage and
nothing had happened .-.... .
Mr.. Gordon Black, whose arrest by
the New York police had been looked
upon as certainty, remained very much
at liberty. The two detectives were
talking to no one nor showing any signs
OF imminent action. It seemed, too, as
though the murderer of Mr.. Blessing
were to walk of the ship unmoleSted.
Then there was little commotion at
the companionway. Two of the stew
ards emerged, carrying a steamer chair
upon which DR.. Browning was stretched
out. He was wearing a shore-going
hat, and, though his appearance was
chastity, he was doing his best to ex-
change farewells with those of the pas
sengers whom he passed.
His chair was set down close to the
gangway and within few feet of the
detectives. At that moment Brooke
strolled up. He pointed to the char.
Il give that man in charge, othcer,
he said to the nearer detective, Tor
the murder of William Blessing on
this boat"
Brooke had spoken without raising
his voice in the least, but his words had
been perfectly distinct What followed
seemed nothing short Of miraculous.
With single bound Browning was
AZ the side of the ship. He sent spraW-
ling a passenger who inadvertently
barred his path, and a seaman who
made an instructive movement toward
him he tripped up with q dexterity
which WAS simply amazing.
They saw him for a moment and
heafd a smash. Then every one rushed