The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1915-05-21

After dessert had been served we
rose. and in the summer twilight. when
all the ports were opened, Horribly took
me over the vessel. AS he was con-
Quoting Inc from his own cabin to the
boudoir we passed a door that had
been blown open by the wind, and
which he FASTENED to close. not. how
ever, before had time to glance with.
in. To my surprise discovered that
it was an armory crammed with rifles.
revolvers and ammunition
i II had not been intended that
should see that interior. and the rea-
son why the customs officers had been
bribed was now apparent.
passed on without remark, making
believe that had not discerned any
thing unusual, and we entered the
boudoir. Chatter having gone back to
the saloon to obtain cigars.
The dainty little chamber bore
everywhere the trace of having been
arranged by woman's hand, although
no lady passenger was on board.
Just as we had entered, and | was
admiring the dainty nest Of luxury,
Chatter shouted to his host asking for
the keys of the cigar cupboard, and
Horribly turned back along the gang
way 10 hand them to his friend, leav-
Ing nae alone for few moments.
| stood glancing around, and as
did so my eyes fell upon a quantity of
photographs, framed and unframed,
that were scattered about-evidently
portraits of Hornby's friends. Upon
small side table, however, stood a
heavy oxidized silver frame, but
empty, while lying on the floor be-
meath couch was the photograph ii
had contained, which had apparently
been taken hastily out, torn first in
half and then in half again, and cast
away
Curiosity prompted me to stoop
pick up the four pieces and place them
| together, when | found them to form
the cabinet portrait of a sweet-looking
and extremely pretty English girl oil
eighteen or nineteen, with bright
smiling expression. and wearing a
| fresh morning blouse of white pique.
About the expression of the pictured
| face was something which / cannot
| describe-a curious look in the eyes
| which was at the same time both at
tractive and mysterious In that briei
moment the girls features were in
delibly impressed upon my memory.
| looked at the back of the torn
photograph, and saw that 1t had beer
taken by well-known and fashionable
firm in New Bond street.
Next second, however. hearing
Hornby's returning footsteps, l fiunl
the fragments hastily beneath the
couch where l had discovered them.
Why. / wondered. had the picture
been destroyed-and by whom?
| Afterwards on deck / purposely lee
the conversation to Hornby's family
and learned from him that he had NJ
children.
You'll get the repairs to your en-
gines done at Orlando's. | suppose?"
remarked. naming the great shipbuild
ing firm of Leghorn.
YES. have already given the OF
der. They are contracted to be fin
ished by next Thursday, and then W,
shall be off to Zante and Chic"
For what reason, wondered. recol
lecting that formidable armory OF
board Already / had seen quite sui
ficient to convince me that the Lola
although outwardly a pleasure yacht
was built of Steel armored in its mos
vulnerable parts, and capable of re
sisting very sharp fire,
1t was past midnight when, havini
babe the strange pair adieu, was pu
ashore by the two sailors who ha,
rowed me out and drove home aloni
the sea-front, puzzled and perplexed
Next morning, on my arrival at tn
consulate, old francesca, who had en-
tered only moment before, met m
with blanched face, gasping:
There have been thieves here Il
the night, signore! The signore cor
sole's safe has been opened"
"The safe!" ! cried. dashing int
Hutcheson's private room, and find
ing to my dismay the big safe, where
in the seals, ciphers and other cor
fidential documents were kept, stand
ing open, and the contents in disorder
as though a hasty search had BEEF
made among them.
Was 1t possible that the thieves ha
been after the admiralty and foreigl
office ciphers, copies OF which tn
chancelleries OF certain Europea
powers were endeavoring to obtain?
smiled within myself when realize
how bitterly disappointed the bui
glars must have been, for Britis
consul when he goes on leave to Eng
land always takes his ciphers wit
him, and deposits them at the foreig
Office for safekeeping. Hutcheso
had, of course, taken his, according t
the regulations.
Curiously enough, however, the doc
of the consulate and the safe had bee
opened with the keys which my frien
had left in my charge. Indeed, tn
small bunch still remained in the SAT