Evening star., 1925-09-08
tinued from Yesterdays star)
CHAPTER XXI.

There was pandemonium on the
Sefalonia for the last hours before she
reached dock The horror of a death
on shiRboard was deepened by the fact
that Cornelius Blum. who had con-
sistently declined to allow any doctor
to examine him, had shown no signs
whatever of the heart disease which
had ended his life so abruptly. But
apart from the tragedy itself, there
were two men on the steamer. Prince
Lutrecht and Prince Won Diss, whom
the event seemed to have reduced to
an almost hysteriCal state. The cap
tain scarcely knew how to deal with
the situation which their importuni-
ties created. They refused even to
leave his ROOM Their persistence was
becoming intolerable.
Commander" Prince Lutrecht said
earnestly, you are an Englishman.
and 1 know that you are lover of
fair play. l tell you that last night
there was stolen from Cornelius
Blunn'S room caSket containing
political documents of the most vital
importance to the future of the world.
Those documents, if they fell into the
wrong hands might lead to a terrible
and disastrous war. They were car
ried about by Cornelius Blum in def
ance of our wishes and it might very
well be that he has met with his
death in defending them. But they
have been stolen and are, at the pres
ent moment, concealed upon this ship,
and l appeal TO you, as the one re-
sponsible person here, to assist us to-
ward their restoration
But what can | do, Prince?" the
captain eXpostulated. Il have nine
hundred and Seventy-tiVe passengers
on board. Do you wish every one
of them searched"
Not every one" Prince Lutrecht
replied. The person who must be re-
sponsible for this robbery is Mr. Grant
Slattery. He and Cornelius Blum
were enemies, vet he was always
stopping to speak TO him. He learned
the way into his suite. Without a
doubt Slattery was the thief
Il have already done more than
have anv right TO do in that matter"
the commander pointed out. Il have
had Mr.. Grant Sattery's rooms
searched. Besides. the steward saw
him going down into his stateroom at
a reasonable hour. | cannot see the
slightest evidence against the young
man"
He has probably passed the casket
on to some one" Prince Won Diss de-
clared. I'VE must insist upon having
the staterooms and baggage Of his
friends searched"
Including, I presume, the belong
ings of Lord Yeovil?" the commander
asked with a patient smile.
The casket must be- found Prince
Lutrecht persisted.
i"Gentlemen," the commander said
II will discuss the matter with NV
officers and see whether any search
in conjunction with the customs ex-
animation can be effected. I tell vou
frankly that, so far as regards the
personal and official luggage of the
prime minister of my country, I
should not allow it to be touched.
You must excuse me. We shall be
taking up the pilot within half an
hour"
Captain" Prince Lutrecht an.
nounced in desperation. Il am pre-
pared to give reward of one million
dollars for the recovery of that casket
and its contents"
There is no harm in announcing
the fact" was the cold reply You
must excuse me now. I have my
duties to attend to-"
Nothing happened No discovery
was made. As the great steamer
hacked up to her place alongside the
dock she was boarded by a small
army of detectives, members OF the
police force and journalists. The
customs house officials, miraculousIv
worked into state of intense excite
ment, made almost savage on
slaughts upon he general baggage.
Ihere was rumor-many people de-
clared they had seen it in black and
whitehall a million dollars would
be paid for a small caSket of dull
yellow metal which had been stolen
on board the Sefalonia. \ great many
people thou~ht a million dollars very
useful sum of money and did their
best to earn 1t, the consequence be-
ing that the majority of the passeu-
gers from the Sefalonia were detained I
many hours before they got away.
Grant Slattery, who WAS met by
Hodson, with Lord Yeov:l and Susan,