Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1915-06-10
TENTH INSTALLMENT
CHAprER XIII.
THE SHIP OF r r

quest lcdLIeu q ItlIc Iol "olu dhA
gazed down the line OF steamer chairs.
The professor, in a borrowed overcoat
and cap, was reclining at full length,
studying a book on seagulls which he
had found in the library. Laura and
Lenora we're both do2ing TRANQUILITY.
Mr.. Harris Of Scotland Yard wa deep
in a volume OF detective stories.
CAS- a pleasure cruise" Quest re-
marked grimly, this little excursion
seems to be a complete success"
Laura opened her eyes at once.
Trying to get my goat again, eh?"
she retorted. 81 suppose that's what
you're after. Going to tell me, ] sup.
pose, that it wasn't Craig ! saw aboard
this steamer?7r
"We are all liable to make mis-
takes" Quest observed, land l am in.
clined to believe that this is one OF
yours"
Laura's expression was a little dog
ged.
IT he's too clever for you and Mr..
Harris" she said, Il can't help that.
I only know that he came on board.
My eyes are the one thing In life | do
believe" g. 81
IF you'll excuse me; saying so, Miss
Laura" Harris ventured. leaning def.
erentially towards her, there isn't a
passenger on board this ship, or a
servant, or one Of the crew, whom we
haven't seen. We've been into every
stateroom, and we've even searched
the hold. We've been over the ship,
backwards and forwards. The cap
taln's own steward has been our guide,
and we've conducted an extra search
on our own account. Personally, l
must say I have come to the same
conclusion as Mr.. Quest. At the pres.
ent moment there is no such person
as the man we ri looking for on
board this steamer ~ z - f.
T"Then he either changed into an.
other one Laura declared obstinate
~, "or else he jumped overheard"
Come on, Harris, YOU and I prom
ised to report to the captain this
morning. l don't suppose he'll be any
too pleased with US. Let's get through
With It.. Z. "
The two men walked down the deck
together. They found the captain
alone in his room, with a chart spread
out in front Of him and a pair Of com.
passes in his hand. He turned round
and greeted them.
"Well?"
"No luck, SIR" Quest announced,
"Your steward has given US every as.
distance possible and we have
searched the ship thoroughly. Un'
less he has found a hiding place un'
known to your steward, and not appar
ent to US, the man is not on board"
The captain frowned slightly.
"You are not suggesting that this IL
possible, I suppose"
Quest did not at nce reply. He
was thinking Of Laura's obstinacy.
Personally" he admitted, II should
not have believed it possible. The
young lady Of our party, however, who
declares that she saw Craig board The
steamer, IS quite immovable."
Brown said the captain, turning
to the steward, II understand that YOU
say that you have taken these gentle
men into every, corner Of the ship. thai
you have ransacked every possible
hiding place, that YOU have given then
every possible opportunity Of search
ing for themselves" 1tsE
"That is quite true, sir" the mai
acknowledged. u
you agree with me that 1t is In
[ possible for anyone to remain hidde1
. in this ship?' p
! Absolutely, sir"
YOU hear, gentlemen" the captain
containued. Il really can do no more
!, What the mischief r you hanging
shout for, Brown" he asked, turninI
to the steward, who was standing b
with q carpetsweeper in his hand. 81
Room wants cleaning out badly
SIR" $
|. The captain glanced distastefullys I
the carpet-sWeeper. a
|, do It when I am at dinner, then,
he ordered, 'and take that damne
: thing away"
The steward obeyed promptly. Cues
and Harris followed him down tn
j. deck.
"Queer.lookins fellow, that" the Ia
ter remarked. Doesn't seem quite .
his ease, does he?"
Seemed . tri6e overanxious,
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