The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-04-16
PROLOGUE.

The action of the story has it's real
beginning on an ocean, liner bound for
Europe and Just leaving New York. 1t
has been boarded III haste on a winter
day by Ovcrtom I:rill. an imlciuous
wealthy y"nn. bachelor. who. attract
ed lN II pretty girl accompanied 10y an
elderly gentleman. has followed them
aboard Brill WAS IN his way uptown
with .AriStidcS St"bl'ins. his valct
KNOW II as JAY. when he saw the girl.
lust after purchasing q valuable brace
let as Il Gift for n Miss Carstnirs. Tho
passenger list reveals the names OF the
pursued rs Mr.. Andrew .lcnnis"n and
daughter. Brill finds himself without
money and 1e-otiatcs with II dark in
dividunl named Benedict for the sale
OF the bracelet. receiving $500 for it.
with which he secures I: dc luxe cabin.
At dinner the conversation turns to
the weather. and II Professor Penny
fllorpr'> storm prediction is placed be
fore Captain IIumphricS for Judgment.
Brill makes tho acquaintance" of Mr..
,Jcnnis"n. and the two proceed I" the
captains cabin to inspect Il phcnom-
t'''. N'll'ltl u'lN tflHltu C"tftl!. AZ
luncheon Il ioNial person. Christopher
&. Marsh. Introduces himself to Brill.
Starting from Il sound sleep Brill hears
through the window Benedict. the pro
fcSsor and .]ennisun discussing the
large shipment of gold aboard, Soon
after this he is rewarded 10y Il smile
from Marion .IcnniSon for Il small
courtesy Marsh is Informed that he
has been selected to take charge Of
the Christmas concert. and he chooses
Brill. Marion .Icnni>on. the professor
and Mrs. Rlurhcr-Ward rs his ni'ls.
Brill, known as Mir. tverton. ana Miss
Jcnn:Son have Il pleasant chat togcth-
or. Tcchcr@s and fog are reported. \
child dies in the Storage. and Miss
Jennison asks Brill to seek the cap
tain's consent to hold the funeral in
the first cabin. He finds the chief Off
Ger in company with Benedict and
wonders. He gets tho permit. but the
pNrSer otficiatrS az the services. .Jen-
nison, worrying about the gold. be
comes sick. Professor P%ennythorpe OBJ
serves that the ship is off its course.
Marsh notices that tie captain hasn't
been at the dinner table for several,
days. Professor Fennythorpe misses
his scNtnnt and compass. Brill has Il
talk witt, Marion about the concert
and is later told by Benedict that the
latter objects ia his friendship with
Marion. whom Benedict calls his fan
zee Brill meets Marsh Oh deck. Hear
ing Il noise in a supposedly unoccupied
stateroom. they investigate With the
captain. but find nothing. Tho altered
course of the vessel frightens the pas
sen@ers, who protest. Brill and Marsh
look to JAY to assist in IL secret search
Of the mysterious statcroom. \ wire
less reports that Russia has declared
war against Great Britain. Marsh suS-
poets Benedict of having manufactured
the message. Professor Pcnnythorpe
arned with a marine glass watches Il
strange craft approach astrln. At the
Christmas feast Brill ccOmcs jealous
OF RencCict's attentions to Miss Jcn-
lisoll. Marsh, still suspicious. on
tinues his Investigations of the mys-
terious noises. Knocking on the door
OF room 81. he is confronted by the
smiling Benedict. Another war notice
Is posted ~. JenniSon contideS to
Brill that $lO.OOO,OOO in gold is being
shipped to Russia secretly.