The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1916-04-29
~ ANNE WARNER

collection OF coins. he busted him.
self by cleaning them. preparatory
TO turning them over TO Mr.. Morris.
while doing no he made n start
ling and unexpected discovery
which I will explain later.
This news ho communicated in
part 20 his physician. Reinhardt.
who happened TO DO with him at the
time. He did not tell Reinhardt
the real secret OF tho coin. but did
tell him II was OF great value.
"Reinhardt knew that Mr.. Morris
planned to sail for America on the
Richelleu the following day and he
at once sought ont his friend.
George Vernon. the purser. BE.
tween them they concocted a plan 10
obtain possession OF the coin which
Is. TO my mind. unequaled in it's dia-
bolical clevernesB.
Tho method was TO have II ap-
pear that Vernon had himself re-
moved tho package from the safe.
and for him then 20 disappear.
They therefore decided 10 pro-
vide an extra passenger. whom they
might conveniently dispose OF at the
proper time
Vernon was slightly acquainted
with a young man OF about his own
age. In Havre, by tho name OF Henri
Musset. a foreman In the shipyardE.
This young man was at the time
desperately III with tuberculosis.
Vernon introduced Reinhardt to
him as lung specialist The lat
ter offered TO take Musset 10
America with him. treat him free OF
charge. and later send him 10 the
dry climate OF tho West, where. he
assured him. he would speedily re-
cover
"Reinhardt attended 10 tho pur.
chase OF tho tickets. and thru the
connivancs OF Vernon. the two were
entered on the passenger list az a
Mr.. HauHsman. from Brussels. and
Gunther. his attendant Haussman
was supposed to be an invalid.
The two went aboard the vessel
at night.
The following nisht tho safe was
opened and the package removed.
Vernon did this himself. left his
office, md threw the key thru the
grating OF his window onto the desk
within.
HE then went quietly into Rein
hardt's room and. removing all his
clothing. assumed that OF Musset.
In the operation. Vernon's scarf pin
dropped on the floor. where II was
recovered some days later.
They had decided TO replace the
package in Musset's pocket. substi-
tuting for the franc piece another
OF tho same period, and which
would be. for all any one could tell.
precisely like IT, They then pro-
posed 20 throw tho body into the
forward hold. where II would not
be discovered until the cargo was
removed In New York.
They knew that the body. after
lying In the hold for nearly a week.
would be practically unacceptable.
They calculated on vernon's
clothes. papers. etc. as we'll as the
package containing the coin and
letter In the dead mans pocket
proving sufficient evidence that the
body was that OF Vernon himself
en- order 10 carry out this plan
they had 10 shave off Mussets
black beard. Vernon. meanwhile.
had assumed a false black beard.
and had built out his nose TO dis
guise his features. There was no
necessity for him 20 resemble Mus
set. except In very general way.
No one had obtained a good look
At Rcinhardt's invalid companion
since be came on board.
Having completed their prepare
tons. they walked with Musset.
either dead or under the influence
OF drug, 20 the forward hatch.
and threw him into the hold.
Il have said that but for one
mistake tho perpetrators OF the
crime would never have been cap
tured. should say but for two.
One OF these consisted in overlook
ing a gold locket which hung about
Musset's neck. The other. and
most unfortunate one. from their
standpoint. consisted In the fact
that they got the two franc pieces.
absolutely identical in outward ap-
pearances. mixed. They put the
one belonging to Mile. Mercier into
the dead mans pocket and retained
the worthless one themselves.
They made this discovery the
following day. but they were then
powerless. The forward hatch had
been closed, not 10 be opened again
until the vessel reached New York.
Instead. therefore. OF being able
TO at once make of with their
plumber. Vernon and Reinhardt
were obliged 10 70 to the Hotel
Rochambeau. knowing that within
a short time Mr.. Morris would de-
liver TO Mile. Mercier the coin they
were after.
THAT very afternoon Vernon and
Reinhardt got into bitter quarrel
concerning the latter's responsible.
ity for retaining the wrong coin.
Reinhardt had made the mistake,
Vernon tainted him with It. Rein.
hardt attacked him, and Vernon
killed him with his knife.
when Vernon, who was on the
watch for Mr.. Morris. saw from HIS
window that the latter was accom-
panied by myself and NJ. Duvall,
he at once suspected trouble. and
fled from the hotel while We were
interviewing Mile. MERCER.
lie made at once for his own
apartment. of which he, OF course,
had the key. and as he could not
nnnear as himself. he posed as