Evening star., 1932-12-18

and alCereQ the course a 1eW points 10
avoid it. The result was that. without
warning, the ship took terrific lurch.
Distinguished audience, eminent sing
er, 10-piece orchestra, 200 chairs and
tables and innumefable glasses and
coffee sets were precipitated in strug-
Cling heap over to the starboard side
of the great main lounge. For a few
moments it looked as il there might be
a panic, but the captain rose to the occa-
sion. Picking up the eminent singer, he
took her with him to the platform, where
he bade her hang on to the grand piano
that was fortunately firmly secured to
the deck. Then, calling for silence, he
said:
Ladies and gentlemen, I assure you
there is positively no need for alarm.
And, would like to add that during my
whole career I have never seen an audi
ence so moved as we have been by this
ladys singing tonight"
Calm was restored. The distinguished
audience resumed their seats and the
concert proceeded to triumphant con-
clusion
And occasionally the captain must
play the role of Sherlock Holmes. In
1910 there occurred the case of the in
famous DR.. Crippen, who had murdered
his wife and buried her body under the
brick floor OF the cellar of his London
house. After months of evasion by Grip
pen, neighbors became suspicious about
his wife'S absence, and detectives were
called in. Finally the body of Crippen's
wife was found, but by that time Grip
pen and his secretary, a young and
pretty girl, had disappeared.
Soon after the discovery of the body
a liner departed from Liverpool for
Canada. The last newspaper that the
captain of the ship purchased before
sailing was full of the "Crippen case"
Clear of the land, the captain flung his
paper aside, thankful for being upon
the clean peaceful ocean, far from mur-
ders and murderers and the other beast
illness of the shore.
A couple of days later he strolled along
the deck chatting with his passengers.
He passed the time of day with an eld-
erly gentleman with black beard, and
was introduced to his nephew. They
appeared to be an affable and amusing
pair.
Later he saw them walking the deck
together and was amused by the effem-
mate appearance of the nephew and
the affectionate relations which existed
between them. The next day he yarned
with them again, and became little
doubtful about the black beard. They
were a strange couple, but quite likable,
he decided.
The next day he talked with them as
they lay back in deck chairs. He was
standing up and when the man laughed
he noticed that he had several back
teeth missing, leaving large gap on the
left side of his mouth.
AS they grew more friendly, the cap
tain became more convinced than ever
that the nephew was girl, and merely
out of curiosity he had some inquiries
made by the stewardess which seemed
to prove this point.
THEN one day, in bored moment, he
picked up his discarded newspaper
and idly read the description of Crippen
l. Co. Suddenly. light began to dawn.
The missing teeth, the odd-looking
beard, the girl in boys clothing. It all
fitted in. He had Crippen on board!
It was amazing-and somehow hor-
rible to think of. He had to make as
sl1rance doublv sure Uncle and
nephew" were invited to his cabin for
tea and cards. They became careless
and gave themselves away in dozen
different ways. The captain conducted
than on q toaar of the shin. he f00I