The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-04-24
This is one of The Times
Novel-a- Week
series. nAf' ?,
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CHAUTER I.
The Disappearance of Purser

famous project of police of the
city of Paris, tossed his half
J smoked cigar over the Richeieu's
rail and made his way toward his
stateroom.
The project was an early riser
! 1t was now barely s o'clock.
The Richelieu was a new boat
! large, roomy and comfortable
She had left Havre the day before
The passage to New York in the
month of August seemed likely to
prove a delightfully."- quiet and en-.
joyable one.
M. Lefevre descended to the
main deck and entered his room
A sudden knocking on the door
startled him. M. Bonnet, the cap
tain of the Richelieu, stood out
side.
"Ah, my dear M. Bonnot." the
project said cheerily, come in.
beg Of you. l am delighted to see
YOU"
Captain Bonnet entered the
room and closed the door.
my dear Lefevre," he said in
a strained voice, 81 have come to
ask your assistance. The pulser
M. Vernon, has disappeared"
Impossible"
L only wish that it were. He
must have committed suicide by
jumping overheard"
when did it happen?"
81 do not know. Zme time last
night, apparently. M. Vernon was
seen last night, little after mid
night, working in his office,
which adjoins his stateroom.
This morning he failed to appear
at breakfast. The steward after
knocking repeatedly and getting
no answer, tried the door. 1t was
locked"
What did you do them"
Il had the door opened with a
pass key. There was no one in
side"
Wait a moment" exclaimed
the project. Was this the door
to the office or to the state
ROOM"
ITO the office. The stateroom
has no door, except the one from
the office. 1t is intentionally SC
constructed. The steel safe, built
into the walls of the purser's Of
flee, contains usually a consider
able sum of money, and also such
packages of valuables as the pas
sengers may wish to deposit for
safe keeping. This is in the front
room or office. Just to the real
is the purser's stateroom. 1t has
no door from the corridor, and
but single portfolio. The front
room or office has window
with brass grating opening in
to the corridor. 1t is too small
for any one to pass through"
why do you lay stress on that
point, Captain Bonnet? Is it not
more reasonable to suppose tina,
the purser left the room and
locked the door after him."
1T would be, indeed" replied
the captain, except for the fact
that the key of the room was
lying on the purser's desk"
Lefevre glanced up, surprised
That is certainly strange!" h.
exclaimed. 1.-THE safe had been
robbed, l suppose?"
5I "Yes-in way. I at once had
the safe opened and its contents
checked up with the purser's
books. Everything was in order
/ with the exception of a single
package, deposited by one Of the
J passengers. That package is miss
ing"
What did it contain?"
II do not know. 1t was sealed
of course, when delivered to thu
purser. The books show that i
4 was placed in his care by one o
! the passengers, Ogden Morris b,
> name, an American, residing IL
" New York"
% And you have not yet advised
g Mr.. Morris of it's disappearance?
~ mo. L have kept the entir,
S matter a secret from the passen
8 gers, hoping in some way M. Yer
y non might be found on board"
e Mr.. Ogden Morris seemed some
what surprised when, in respons
Q to a message from Captain Bon
. not, he appeared at the purser'
o office.
s What can l do for your, cap
! tain?" he inquired, glancing from
o the latter to M. Lefevre.
. II am obliged, Mr.. Morris, t.
. ask you a few questions. You ar
Q not, l believe, acquainted with M
s Lefevre, project of police, o
!! Paris"
4 "No-not personally, that is.
! know M. Lefevre by name YER
+. we'll" He shook hands with tn
e project cordially.
o Take a seat, Mr.. Morris,
e said the captain. "Thete ha
II been a strange accident on board
and we want your help"
Il Mr.. Morris sat down. ia
"The purser, M. Vernon, ha
disappeared" the captain ex
planned. 1.-THE contents of hi
safe are untouched, with the ex
ception of a sealed envelope, tn
records say, which you placed i
his care" aa
Il rs it possible?" the Apsricai
exclaimed. THAT and fothin
n else?"
at will be made good by tn
10 kaf 1