The St. Mary banner., 1921-02-19
TRAGEDY OF
STATEROOM 49
(Copyrig ht.)
BY r. w. McKAIL

| 1t was dark on board the CANADA
All lights were turned out In tn,
cabins and saloons, the deck was de
serted and the smoking room empt!
and the passengers were supposed tt
be asleep. / had not yet turned In
but was about to do so, and ha(
taken off my coat, opened the door OF
my cabin, and was stepping across the
threshold for a breath of cooler all
(for it was hot August night, when
the sound Of angry voices attracted
my attention. you curl" exclaimed
someone in tone Of suppressed fury
"1f you were man you would have II
out with me here and nOw."
Let me pass" returned second
voice. you've had my last word on
the subject Now I'm done with you
and with it, and I'm going down 10
bed"
Hasty footsteps moved across the
deck.
| had not recognized the voice when
raised in anger, but now l knew the
| young fellow, and was sure that in the
| short conversation l had overheard he
had been the first speaker. He was
one of a party who had come on
board the day before, when we had
sailed from New York. He was a
Canadian by the name of Sewer,
shared a stateroom with a Mr.. Tre-
fusis, who was apparently engaged to
very pretty girl-a cousin of both
the young men-on board with her
mother and a little sister.
"Mr. Sevier!" l said, as he went
past.
Captain Bruce" he exclaimed, still
with the suppressed quiver Of con-
centrated rage in his voice, "is there
an empty stateroom on board that l
can occupy after this?"
"Why? Is there anything wrong
with No. 49?"
"rhe only thing which is wrong is
that l can't possibly share it with Mr..
Trefusis," he said. "We have had a
very serious disagreement"
He was off like a shot. A few min
utes l waited, expecting him back;
but he did not come. Perhaps, after
all, the two ex-friends had patched up
their dispute, concluded.
How long l slept l did not know.
1t might have been, as far as could
tell, two minutes or two hours.
"For Heavens sake, Captain Bruce,
open the door," said mans voice. 1t
was Sewer back again.
whats the matter now, Mr.. Sc
vier?" inquired impatiently.
Murders the matter" he answered
in strange, cold voice.
"What do you mean?''' / sternly de-
manded.
Il mean that Arthur Trefusis has
been murdered. He's lying dead In
our-in his staterOom"
l started toward the door, and Sc
vier followed, then stopped abruptly.
[ knew his thought and answered 1t.
Il must ask you to remain here" l
said, with the first officer, for whom
l shall now send, while l go below"
Within the space Of three or four
minutes l had Hamilton with him,
had given word or two of explana-
planation, and had myself gone In
search of Berkmyre. the ships doc
tor.
Together we went to the stateroom.
No. 40. Face downward On the lower
berth Trefusis was lying.
Berkmyre at once began his exam
ination, while I stood by. The poor
fellow was quite dead, and must have
been for nearly an hour There |
could be no question of suicide, as the |
blow had been struck from behind.
and with such sudden force as in all
probability to fling him forward into
his present position. Altogether ap-
pearances were very black against
Sewer.
He started up at our entrance. "Tre-
fusis is dead, l suppose? There's no
doubt of that?" he exclaimed. his ewes
on the doctor.
"He is dead" answered Berknyre
"Tell me exactly what happened
after you went below, Mr.. SEWER" I
demanded.
1t was not until discovered that
the thing that l had gone into the
staterOom to get wasn't to be found.
that l spoke to him. Still he was ST.
lent, and I then pulled the curtain
Of the berth aside to look In, and I
touched him on the back. What / saw
don't need to tell you l fell against
he door in a sort Of daze.
"Will you tell me what was the
object which you went to the state
'OOm to reclaim?'
NO" he said flushing. II won't
ell you or any one that. l deny your
light to ask the question"