The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
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The steward whom he addressed
seemed scarcely to hear him. Brooke
made his way'to the spot where the lit
tie group was congregsted. Something
dark was stretched across the passage
way. Brooke looked down upon il with
a shudder.
1t was the body of y mana crufnp-
led-up heap, with the head half covered
by one distorted arm. His white, bps,
from which the last groan had issued
were still parted: He could have been
dead only few seconds 4
did any one see it happen?" Brooke
demanded
The bedroom steward staggered to
his feet and. shook his head.
, Il passed along here not three min
utes ago, SIR" he declared, "and there
wasn't a sign of any one"
do you know who he Isl" Brooke
inquired.
Hes got the end stateroom a little
further along, the bathroom steward
Declared. Il dunno his name"
The mans name was Blessing.
He was of cheerful and sociabie dis
position, and appeared to have talked
/ ". GNCAy OAiC OiA OOaA0- a.r-
He had never mentioned his profes-
sion, but card in his pocketbook bore
the inscription OF "Agent," with an ad-
dress at an Office on Broadway.
He had never been seen to quarrel
with any one,
The half-torn letter in his pocket was
domestic and unimporrsnt
The staterooms opposite the spot
where he had been found we're empty
with the exception of two, one of which
was occupied by a Mr.. Baines, who was
with the doctor IN his room at the time
the affair occurred; and the other by
Dr. Browning.
Robbery was an impossible motive, as
the murdered man had frankly con-
fessed himself short of money, had
made application to the purser for q
loan, and had dispatched marconi-
gram for a clerk to meet him on the
quay with funds.
The cause of death was blow dealt
with some blunt instrument which was
not forthcoming.
Brooke listened to the gossip, listened
to what every one had to say, and made
few inquiries on his own account
They led him, however, to nothing in
the shape of definite conclusion. Then,
little later, while talking with the
captain in his room, the latter handed
I, him a marconigram.
'What do YOU make of this 7" he
asked. at was addressed to Blessing
| Under the circumstances, / felt justi-
| fed in opening II"
Brooke glanced at the himsy sheet.
| 1t consisted only of few words:
Look out. T is on board.
Unsigned" he murmured. -.
Unfortunately" the captain replied
If we only knew who sent it we
might know who 'I' was
Hard luckl" Brooke declared. "Try
one of these"
The captain accepted one of his
visitors cigarettes and parted from
him, a few minutes later, without any
very exalted opinion of his young
friends intelligence.
Brooke paced slowly down the deck
with his hands behind him. As he
neared the spot where, on the preced-
ing day, he had seen Constance Robin
son, he glanced up.
She was leaning against the rail in
almost the same position, only this time
she had turned a little sidewiSe She
was facing him, and, as he raised his
cap in salutation, she becl1oned him to
her. He crossed the dividing bridge
at once and stood by her side !.
You've heard about the murder, of
course" she asked brusquely.
Naturally" Brooke admitted.
She looked at him for a moment, a
grim smile upon her lips.
who murdered Mr.. Blessing"
No ideaw
'.And you on the spot!" she exclaim-
ed derisively. Fancy calling yourself
a man of observation y
''In this instance" he said simply, Il
am afraid that must confess myself a
failure. I have made great many in
quiries, but they have led nowhere. Per-
haps you can help me J"
She suddenly became grave.
"As it happens" she replied, y can.
Come nearer"
He stood close to her side. Constance
glanced around and drew him to the
side of the boat.
"Mr. Blessing was murmured by a
man named Gordon Black" she told
him. Perhaps as can tell you, the
name of the guilty person, you can do
the rest"
aHow do you lnow% Brooke asked.
She frowned.
4Mr. Blessing was my new employ
er," she told him. h"ffe was a private
detective in New York l did some
bping for him, and he formed the idea
that / was intelligent enough to be. OF
use to him permanently"
What do you know about Gordon
Blsck?"
q know that Mr.. Blessing had been
to England to collect evidence against
him for completely in the Jersey River
Railway scandal, whatever that may be,
and know that he had succeeded. That
evidence was in Mr.. Blessings posses
sion when he boarded the steamer. !
expect It is in Gordon Blacks now
"I'u tell you this much more, if you
like Less than forty-eight hours ago
Gordon Black offered Mr. Blessing
twenty-five thousand pounds for a
document in his possession-an illegal
transfer, or something Of the sort. MIR.
Blessing refused. He was acting for
a client-G Gordon Blacks great enemy"
Brooke made his way back to his own
part of the. ship. He spent nearly an
hour in putting few cautious inquiries.
Then he rejoined Constance, who was
still sitting in her corner reading, and
who watched his approach with evident
dispieasure.
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