The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-10-01

snip.
Nj. Ihuran laughed pleasantly. "Mer-
cy, my dear Miss Strong.'' he said.
Where in the world could he be then?
We nave not been within sight of land
for days"
"Of course it is ridiculous Of me-
she admitted. And then: But / am
not going TO worry about it any longer.
| am going to find out where Mr.. Cald-
well Is. And she motioned to a pass
ing steward.
THAT may be more difficult than you
imagine. my dear GIRL" thought NJ.
Thuran, but aloud he said. by all
means"
Find Mr.. Caldwell. please" she said
to the steward. and tell him that his
friends are much worried by his con
tinued absence"
You are very fond Of Mr.. CALDWELL"
suggested NJ. Thuran.
II think he is splendid" replied the
girl. And mamm Is perfectly infat-
uated with him"
A minute later the steward returned
to say that Mr.. Caldwell was not in his
stateroom. II cannot find him. Miss
Strong. and'-he heSitated-"I have
learned that his berth was not occu-
pied last night. l think that l had bet
ter report the matter to the captain"
Most a~Ssuredly," exclaimed Miss
Strong. Il shall go with you to the
captain myself"
1t was q very frightened young wo-
man and an excited steward who pre-
sented themselves before the captain a
few moments later. He listened to
their stories in silence, a look of con-
Germ marking his expression as the
steward assured him that he had
sought for the missing passenger in
every part Of the ship that passengers
might be expected tp frequent.
The captain ordered an immediate
and thorough search of the entire ship
from stem TO stern-nO nook or Granny
was to be overlooked. 1t was a full
hour later that the first officer returned
to report the outcome Of the search.
Mr.. Caldwell is not on board, sir
he said.
II fear that there is something more
serious than accident here, Mr.. Brent
ly," said the captain. II wish that you
would make a personal and very care
full examination Of Mr.. Caldwells eff
fects. to ascertain If there is any clew
to a motive either for suicide or muir.
1nr- ift tho thfnr 20 tho hpttop
AYE, aye, SIR responded Mr.. Brent
ly, and left to commence his investiga,
ton.
Hazel Strong was Frustrated. For
two days she did not leave her cabin,
and when she finally ventured on deck
she was very wan and white, with
great, dark circles beneath her eyes,.
Shortly after her first appearance or
deck following the tragedy, NJ. Thuran
joined her with many expressions OF
kindly solicitude.
"Oh. but 1t is terrible, Miss Strong
he said. Il cannot rid my mind Of It,
The girl could not help but feel CRATE
full to him for his kind words. he was
with her often-almost constantly fol
| the remainder of the voyage-and sh,
NJ. Thuran had learned hat the beauti
full Miss Strong Of Baltimore was az
American heiress-a very wealthy cir
in her own right, and with future pros
poets that quite took his breath away.
1t had been NJ. Thuran's intention tc
leave the ship at the first port they
touched after the disappearance Of Tar
IAN. Did he not have in his coat
pocket the thing he had taken passage
| upon this very boat TO obtain? There
was nothing more to detain him here
He could not return to the continent
fast enough that he might board the
first express for st. Petersburg.
But now another idea had obtruded
itself and was rapidly crowding his
original intentions into the background
That American fortune was not to be
sneezed at, nor was its possessor q whit
less attractive.
"Sapristi. but she would cause a SEN
sation in st. Petersburg" And be
would. too. with the assistance Of her
Inheritance.
After NJ. Thuran had sq%uandered a
few million dollars. he discovered that
the vocation was so entirely to his lik-
ing that he would continue on down to
Cape Town. where he suddenly decided
that he had pressing engagements that
might detain him there for some time.
Miss Strong had told him that she
and her mother were to visit the lat
ter's brother there. They had not de
cided upon the duration Of their stay,
and 1t would probably run into months.
She was delighted when she found
that NJ. Thuran was to be there also.
81 hope that we shall be able to con
tinue our acquaintance" she said. you
must call upon mamma and me as soon
as we are settled"
NJ. Thuran was delighted at the pros
pect and lost no time in saying so.
Mrs. Strong was not quite so favorably
impressed by him as her daughter.
81 do not know why | should dis
trust him." she said to Hazel one day
as they were discussing him. Il
seems a perfect gentleman IN every re-
spect. but sometimes there Is some
a ~ ~