The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-03-15

Bowen sat in thoughtful silence for
Il minute, and suddenly remarked:
BY the way, | want to take home
II couple of bottles Of that Barbera
we saw in that little wine shop the
otner day. l wonder if it would be
open tonight?''
we might stroll over and take 4
chance" suggested Poe. anxious not
TO lose sight OF his companion now
| that sailing time was so near.
Luckily the shop was open, and
Bowen purchased three bottles OF
choice wlne privately put up by the
dealer in squat, thick-neckcd bottles.
II drink these on the boat, to
avoid paying duty on them remarked
Bowen, his eyes caressing the shapcly
| bottles.
81 volunteer my help said Poe; !;
guess III buy bottle or two my
With their purchases the pair
strolled back to the hotel, and before
going to bed that night Christopher
Poe sat long in silent contemplation
before the heavy wine bottles.
An idea was smoldering III his mind.
So far he had nothing tangible against
Bowen except his record, as affirmed
by Burns, his interest in urging the
Van Wendts to go on the wild Fourth
OF July excursion, and his awkward
movement which showered Miss Van
Wendt with sparks. Since then Poe
suspicion, and he was surprised that
Bowen could act innocence so per-
fectly. If he really had the diamond,
how did be figure to get 1T past the
customs in New York! In Bowen 8
manner he found no confession Of
guilt; the young fellow acted naturally
and confidently.
Placing the wine bottles in the bot
tom of his steamer trunk, Christopher
Poe went to bed, Next day both were
occupied in making preparations for
sailing, and it was only at dinner time
that they met. After dinner, as they
were sitting opposite each other in
the quaint, cool lobby of their little
Italian hotel, Christopher Poe sud
denly glanced down at his left hand.
How d get thatf'' he cried, lifting
nail, torn laggedly across, exposing
He fumbled in his pocket with his
other hand.
'fGot knife7" he asked abruptly,
glancing at Bowen,
No, not here, What 8 the matter9"
81 we torn my nail, | used TO carry
one Of those nail clippers. They re
handy. You don't happen to have Il
pairF'
"No," answered Bowen, absently,
then he leaned forward with interest.
he cried. '"i seldom use them. He
slipped his fingers into an upper waist
coat pocket and produced a compact
steel nail clipper.
Thanks, very much replied Poe
wincing bit from the irritation as he
worked at his nail.
y, ~ chit
handy things TO have" He examined
the heavy, sharp blades.
81 find them useful, but | usually
forget I'm carrying them,' replied
Bowen quickly, reaching out, and
dropping the nail clippers into his
pocket nonchalantly.
Next day they sailed early on a
gigantic, fast boat for New York, both
evidently glad to bid good-by to vaca
tion and get back to real work.
Belasco Bowen seemed particularly
elated, but in the afternoon, as the
ship struck into the sea and a pro-
nounced rolling motion was felt. he
retired TO his stateroom, which he oc-
cupied alone. Christopher Poe re-
mained sitting III the smoking room
thinking over the disappearance of the
bits OF circumstantial evidence against
Bowen.
Half an hour later he strolled up to
the wireless room on tho promenade
deck, and to his surprise, as he en-
tered, found Belasco Bowen just hand
ing over message to the operator.
Bowen glanced up sharply at Poe S
entrance, then smiled easily, remark
ing:
7'I was afraid I'd be bit seasick,
but L couldn 7 stand it in my birth, SO
| StrOlled I'D on deck. -
Poe bad a heeting glimpse OF the
wireless message, as the operator
the words, and he was thrilled |
to find it was written in cipher.
For tho remainder of the day he
stroled about on deck with Bowen,
him ono of the interesting black bot
ties of Barbera, finding il excellent.
"Do we. stop. at quarantine to pick
all travellers they anticipantly dis
cussed their arrival.
"No," answered Bowen quickly.
''But we slow down TO pick him up,
and usually tho customs men come
aboard there
"Oh, yes. they row alongside in
boat and climb up pilots ladder, |
remember.
CASUALLY just opposite the little
quarantine rock, - added Bowen. ''We
run slow Tor about fifteen minutes,
coasting just past quarantine.
The New York banker was pleased /!
TO find that his companion had such
exact information. and as a result, be-
fore going 10 bed, Poe wrote long
message to his friend Burns in New
York. The message was in cipher,
md he slipped into tho wireless Office
with it cary next morning before |
many passengers were on deck.
The trip was pleasant, and Poe aud !
Bowen were continually together ex.
cept when Bowen stayed alone in his
stateroom during periods of seasick-
ness Each night they drank together
a bottle of the pleasant Italian wine, |
and those on board who noticed them |
wondered why they were inseparable /
The night before arriving in New
York Belasco Bowen was particularly ,
gay; all evidence of seasi iekuess had
passed, and he gave up the evening
to cementing his friendship with !
Christopher Poe, and suggesting de-
lightful little excursions they could
make in New York.
Poe, too, was in good spirits. for