Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27

the captain lrrltably. And THIS mes
sage gives us no clue at all"
He sat back. frowning savagely, filing
the cabin with tobacco smoke. There
was a prolonged silence, in which the
doctor and purser glanced at each other
sympathetically. Suddenly the captain
leaned forward.
| i've got It'll" he exclaimed. I'VE
were on the wrong track when We
looked for some one who had booked
to Bombay after Sollas. If had COM
mitted murder just before reaching a
port, I shouldn't get off the ship. ]
should be sure that the police would be
checking up every one who disem-
barked. If had succeeded in avoid
ing suspicion up to then, should stick
to the ship as long as I could. Isn't
that common sense? Every one would
be of on false trail. BY the time !
landed, thousands of miles of, should
be forgotten, or, II not, 1t would be
difficult to track me. BY Jove, just look
up who it was that booked the farthest
passage after Mr.. Sollas had booked
h1S-ard man, woman or child, I'll
have 'em up here!"
! The purSer consulted his list.
The passenger booked to Singapore
on the 18th, the day after Mr.. Sollas
booked, is old Mrs. Laverstoke, sir"
The doctor burst into laughter.
You're not going to get the old
dame up here, captainl She's the sort
that writes outraged letters to the direc-
tors. And old ladies of 10 don't usu-
ally climb in and out of portfolios"
Capt. Forsyth set his jaw.
Il don't care" he said stubbornly.
There's the maid as well, sir" put
in the purser. Both booked to Singa-
| pore"
Very we'll" said the captain desper-
| ately. We'll have 'em both up. Tell
the steward to fetch EN-"
COON there was the sound of footsteps
- along the deck, young girls voice,
evidently guiding some one-old Mrs
Laverstoke! There she was! Wrapped
In cloak, her maid behind her, the
old lady came into the cabin. The
captain had never liked her-he never
nked old women who painted them
selves as this old woman did.
The steward told me that you
wished to see me and my maid on ur-
gent business"
The captain looked rather staggered.
He had not taken into account what
the steward might have said to get
them there.
"Quite-quite," he said. 1.-THE fact
ls-er-your next-door cabin companion
has had to be removed to the sick bay,
suffering from. I regret to say,"-the
captain recovered his aplomb-"a most
deadly disease"
And what has that to do with me,
pray?"
Merely that I think-the doctor
thinks-it would be safer If you re-
moved to another cabin. More pleas
ant, at any rate. for you. It's not nice
having that sort of thing next door.
Did you happen to know Mr.. Sollas?"
Il believe I passed him once or twice
in the corridor and on the deck" said
the old lady stifiy. And have heard
him snore"
"A bad habit-a bad habit" said the
captain. But don't think you'll hear
him snore any more on this trip. Well,
since l have brought you up here, is
there anything can offer you? The
purser will get you a hquer."
Nothing thank you" She de-
clined with dignity that froze.
The captain seemed about to add
something else, but refrained. He
looked at her ouizzically.
BY the wayne changed his tone
suddenly to one of semi-Seriousness-
nave you ever seen a weapon with
which murder was committed, Mrs.
Laverstoke?"
| She frowned at him.
| Il cannot say that have" she said.
| We'll, here you are. then-catch!"
He whipped from under the chart the
hunting knife and tossed it toward her
The weapon fell to the floor. She
stared at it for second and started up
In genuine horror from her seat.
Captain Forsyth. if you have quite
finished, I will retire. And it is but
Just to warn you propose to write to
your directors. feel sure they will be
interested to know that one of their
captains fails to remain sober when at
sea-"
She moved with dignity toward the
door, passing him. The captain laughed
foolishly. Was he indeed drunk? The
doctor was embarrassed for him.
Il was at Sea-all at sea, Mrs. LAYER
stoke-but I'm not so much at sea now
Permit me, he lurched toward her.
your wig does not fit very WE'LL"