The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-08-01
BEGIN HERE TODAY

In Paris he comes. to suspect thu
| White Eagle, himself super-crim
inal, of trying to swindle Mr.. anc
Mrs. Josiah Higgins, wealthy Gin
cinnati, Ohio, persons.
For some mysterious purpose the
White Eagle has founded club fol
one-eyed men on the Rue des Saint
es Peres. Bound for New York or
the Altaria, Ainsley sees that the
Higginses are followed by a one
eyed man, who keeps to himself and
seldom speaks to anyone. At con.
cert aboard the boat, Mr.. and Mrs
Higgins appear, resplendent with
jewels. Mrs. Higgins is wearing
upon her bosom a pearl which, 8
man tells Ainsley, cost one million
francs.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
admitted that it was. "But it's
not extremely large" l said.
ITS as big as your eye" he de-
clared. "And it's the most perfect
pearl of its size in existence.
heard Maret jabbering about it
Some Indian princess went bust and
SOLD it." He whistled. Hell have
to pay another chunk of money to.
morrow, at the Customs, when he
shows them that bit of junk. That'll
break his heart. He sure hates to
spend nickel where it won't show
the old tight-wad."
l agreed with him, signing as
did so, thinking how we'll l could use
the money. represented by that pearl.
Indeed, the thought was so agonizing
that l left the lounge long before
the concert was over, seeking solace
in the smokeroom.
The room was deserted, save for
the one-eyed man. Unwilling ia
arouse any latent suspicion in him,
l had hitherto refrained from accost-
ing him. But now l nodded pleas
antly to him. 1t was my last chance
to make his acquaintance, and l had
not yet given up the idea that here
was opportunity.
But when l followed my nod with
an invitation to join me in a pint of
champagne, he brusquely refused.
His one good eye shot suspicious
glance at me. l noted that that eve
was gray, and that his glass eye
matched the other
Rebuffed, made no further effort.
l drank my wine, rose, took turn
around the deck, and went to my
stateroom. l Immediately undressed
and went to bed, finally convinced
that whatever the mystery of Hig-
gins. the White Eagle and the one
eyed man, it was beyond my power
to solve and profit by it.
Somewhere along toward dawn
l was aroused by pounding at my
door. climbed from my bed, threw
dressing-gown over my pajamas,
and opened the door. A ships Off
GER stood there.
Sorry, sir" he said, "but would
you, mind coming to the lou'nge?"
whats. the idea?" l asked. "Ship
on fire or something's"
He smiled deprccatingly. "Nothing
like that, sir, but one of the pas
sengers has lost some jewelry.
Rather valuable trinket."
"Well, what's that to do with me ."
l demanded.
Nothing, sir, l hope" he replied.
"But the gentleman insists that all
persons who passed by the door of
his cabin tonight submit to search
It's Mr.. Higgins, sir-his wifc's
pearl; you and three other gentle
men have cabins in this corridor. To
reach your rooms you have to pass
by the Higgins suite. The steward
on watch swears that no other peo-
pie have entered the corridor since
Mr.. and Mrs. Higgins retired"
Sand because l happen to
have a cabin in the same quarter of
the ship with Higgins, I'm to be in
suited by that swine, am II" l cried.
,. The officer became more apollo
getic. A"Swine is right, sir, but l
hope you'll make it easy for us. OF
course, you have a right to refuse,
but that will only cause trouble on
the dock. The captain presents his
compliments, sir, and hopes that you
will waive your rights, and help him
to avoid scandal for the ships sake"
"If you put it that way, to oblige
the. captain-certainly," said I.
I followed him down the corridor,
across an open space and into the
lounge. There were Mr.. and Mrs.
Higgins and their servants; also
there were two Englishmen, with
whom. had struck up a casual ac-
quaintance, and to whom l nodded
now. And then l saw the third of
the gentlemen to whom the ships
officer referred. 1t was the one
eyed man. t
We all submitted to search. We
handed over the keys of our bag
gage to an officer. Half an hour
later he returned with the statement
that he had searched all our effects
and found no trace Of the missing
pearl. Then one of the Englishmen
did what l had been wanting to do.
He walked over to Higgins.
"We've heard your story" he said.
"Youy returned from the concert, you
and your wife. She took off her
jewels and laid them on table in
her cabin. She then went into your
cabin. to talk to you. When she re-
turned to her own room, five minutes
later the RANGES Pearl was gone.
Some one had opened the door and
stolen it."
"And it must have been some one
in one of the cabins on, the corridor"
cried Higgins
s."That.s what you say" said the
Englshman. sai"It doesn't matter to
d. vulgar beast like you that you in
suit your betters. Now. we've all
been searched, and one of US has
your filthy pearl. merely want to
tell you that I'm glad you lost it.
and that I hope the loss teaches you