The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-07-30

evon nc hastened to close, not, how.
o T., before had time to plarca u.ith
=, a. ~ 40 my surprise discovered ,ha,
rovo1 Us oil aFmofy crammed with rifles
''volvers and ammunition
~ mad not been intended that
co0 BEE That interior. and the rea.
s'i why the customs officers had hoa.
o',oed vas now apparent
,n,, passed Oh without remark, MAKING
pei'eVe that had not djscerned an"
lung unusual and we entered tho
Wv auo'F' Chatter having gone back TO
|'1 ", saloon to obtain cigars
me dainty little chamber bore
everywhere the trace of having Neon
'a"seo by woman's hand, although
Az iauy passenger was on board
JUST as we had entered. and wac
aamlring the dainty nest Of nxurv
aa'e' shouted to his host asking for
tne Keys Of the cigar cupboard and
o'noS turned back along the gang,
va! TO hand them to his friend lpay.
'"s me alone for few moments
S'oou CHANGING around, and as |
u,o SO my eyes fell upon a quantity Of
Photographs, framed and unframed,
'hat We're scattered about-eyider;ly
portraits Of Hornby's friends. Upon
d small side table. however, stood a
heaVy oXidized silver frame but
empty While lying on the floor be.
hea'h couch was the photograph II
'au contained, which had apparently
oeeh taken hastily out. torn first in
'ia'' and then in half again, and cast
away.
curiosity prompted me to s,oop.
PICK up the four pieces and place them
together, when | found them to form
the cabinet portrait of a sweet.looking
anu extremely pretty English girl of
e'ehleen or nineteen, with a bright.
smiling expression. and wearing a
fresh morning blouse of white pique.
About the expression of the pictured
race was something which ! cannot
describe--a curious look in the eyes
which was at the same time both at.
tractive and mysterious. In that brief
moment the girls features were in
deiibly impressed upon my memory.
| looked at the back of the torn
photograph. and saw that 1t had been
taken by well-known and fashionable
firm in New Bond street.
Next second, however, hearing
Hornbys returning footsteps, | flung
the fragments hastily beneath the
couch where had discovered them.
Why. l wondered. had the picture
been destroyed-and by whom?
Afterwards on deck purposely led
the conversation to Hornby's family
and learned from him that he had &c
Children.
You'll get the repairs to your en-
gines done at Orlando's, | suppose?"
resarked, naming the great shipbuild
III Arm OF Leghorn.
Eyes. I have already given the or
s-eThsyssr.~aani<aetad-,.a..,bs be, I'm
isbed by next Thursday, and then VIZ
shall be of to Zante and Chic"
For what reason. wondered. recol
lecting that formidable armory or
board. Already l had seen quite suf
ficient to convince me that the Lola
although outwardly a pleasure yacht
was built of steel. armored in its most
parts, and capable OF re-
'isting a very sharp fire,
1t was past midnight when, having
)ade the strange pair adieu. was put
ashore by the two sailors who had
owed me out and drove home along
he sea.front, puzzled and perplexed
Next morning, on my arrival at the
old francesca, who had en-
cred only a moment before. met me
With blanched face, gasping:
There have been thieves here In
he night, signore! The signore con
ole's safe has been opened"
The ssfe!" | cried, dashing into
4utchesons private room. and find
ng to my dismay the big safe, where
n the seals, ciphers and other con-
dental documents were kept, stand
ng open, and the contents in disorder,
S though a hasty search had been
made among them.
Was it possible that the thieves had
'een after the admiralty and foreign
flee ciphers. copies of which the
Of certain European
overs were endeavoring to obtain? |
miled within myself when | realized
ow bitterly disappointed the bur
lars must have been. for British
onsul when he goes on leave to Eng.
and always takes his ciphers with
i'm. and deposits them at the foreign
flee for safekeeping. Hutchinson
ad, of course. taken his, according to
ne regulations.
Curiously enough, however, the door
{ the consulate and the safe had been
pened with the keys which my friend
ad left in my charge. Indeed. the
mall bunch still remained in the safe
oor
In an instant the recollection flashed
cross my mind that had felt the
eys in my pocket while at dinner on
GARD the Lola. Had lost them on