The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-28
This Is one of The Times
Novel-a- Week s.
= series. Ig
1t will be finished in six
big installments.
Continued From Our Last Issue)


val. r
1.-THE news has Just been
brought to me, monsieur" the
captain went on, as the first Off
Ger left the room to fetch the ex-
purser. at seems that some OF
the men at work in the afteAhold
became alarmed because OF a Sc
ries of mysterious knocks, which
appeared to come from a small
room aft on the lower deck used
for the storage of signal rockets,
lights and other explosives.
Zone OF them reported the mat
ter to NJ. Beauregard, who at once
went to the room and opened it.
Inside M. Vernon was discov-
cred lying on the floor. Near him
was a jug which had contained
water, but was then nearly empty,
and the remains of the large tin
of biscuit.
M. Beauregard tells me that
the man appears to be we'll, al
though somewhat weak from his
long confinement. That is all |
know, but we will soon hear the
whole story from Vernon himself"
In the course of a few moments
the first officer reappeared, ac-
companied by tall, somewhat
heavily built man with a dark
mustache and a rather pale COM
plexion.
Duvall regarded him keenly as
they were introduced. He was
dressed in a black sack suit very
much wrinkled and soiled, but his
face was freshly shaven. He APP
peared to be very weak and at
once sank into a chair.
m. Vernon" remarked Beau
regard, as the purser sat down,
has been making himself little
more presentable."
II see that you have just
shaved, monsieur" observed Du-
vail pleasantly. ut must have
been very refreshing after so long
a time"
1t was indeed" said the purs-
er. 81 am greatly indebted to NJ
Beauregard for the use of his
razor as well as for the clean
linen he has been good enough to
lend me-"
Permit me to say" remarked
Duval, that you are strikingly
like your brother, Mr.. Charles
Vernon, whom | had the pleasure
of meeting in New York"
His words seemed to cause the
purser the greatest surprise. Il
do not understand you, monsieur"
he said. Il have no brother-at
least not in America" f.s.
Indeed. Some one passed him
self off in that capacity at the
time of your supposed death. A
man of much the same build and
appearance as yourself except that
he had a short, curly black beard"
Vernon started slightly. 1T
must have been he," he cried.
Who" .r,...
"Gentlemen"-the purser look
ed about him agitatedly--'it is
true that | have brother-a
twin brother in fact, whom I have
not seen for years. l supposed
him to be In France. Do not ask
me to accuse him." He seemed
on the point of breaking down.
Tell us the whole story, mon
sieur,' said Capt. Bonnet, kindly.
The purser glanced about him
in somewhat confused way. 1T
is a queer story, gentlemen" he
said. II myself do not know what
1t means, but l Will endeavor to
give you the facts.
THE last thing | remember on
the night of this strange occur
renee was sitting in my office,
about | o'clock, figuring up my
accounts.
"A little after 1 therefcame a
tap upon my door. l put down my
account book, went to the door,
and threw it open.
"A man stood without whom
remembered at once as, Gunther,
the attendant of Haussman, the
rheumatic passenger from Brus-
sells. He informed me the latter
wished to see me about placing in
the safe valuable piece of jew
elry which he had forgotten up to
now.
Il put away my account books,
locked up the safe, and accompa-
nfnI rnnthnr 70 hfa htv,
thought it queer at the time that
Haussman had postponed placing
his valuables in my hands until
this hour of the night, but put 1t
down to the eccentricities of
sick and grabbed old man.
Il reached the stateroom and
entered. Haussman was lying on
the berth fully dressed. He mo-
toned for me to approach. / did
so, when, to my surprise, he
reached out his arms and grasped
me by the throat, effectually pre-
venting me from uttering sound.
At the same moment his compan-
ion attacked me from behind.
They then bound and gagged
me. 'Haussman proved to be no
rheumatic, but very powerful
man of about my own age. 1t may
have been my brother, gentlemen;
| do not know. l have not seen
him for a long time. l do not
wish to accuse my own flesh and
blood, but / was struck at the
time with his extraordinary. re-
semblance to myself. regret to
say" he added, hesitatingly,y .that
he has led very wild life. II al
But to go on with my story.
This fellow at once possessed HIM
self of my keys and disappeared
from the stateroom for perhaps 10
minutes. When he returned, he
carried an envelope sealed with
large green seal. which l at. once
recognized as the one which had
been placed in my care by an
American by the name of Morris.
"Haussman and his companion