Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1938-03-04

if shot and the glass fell on the flool
in bits.
"The Devil, is that you?" Young
face was white as a new shroud a!
he stared at me.
"No, it's not the devil though many
people consider artists are possessed
by the Evil One at times. Tell me
why are you so nervous?"
cts my cussed nerves. No won
der, the whole ship shakes with mac
rumorsr
"Rumors? Are they only that?"
tried to get Young's eye, but he would
not look at me.
"This ship is lunatic asylum" said
the detective slowly.
I drew out my cigarette case and
pressed it open disclosing a small
pearl. This pearl was bloody!
"Dear me, where did you get that p
gasped Detective Young.
"Does it upset you?" I parried.
Young looked at me in way I
will never forget. It was a COM
bination of surprise, shock, fear, and
satisfaction-all in one.
"It's the twelfth pearl, it's bloody"
said he.
eyes, it is bloody and it may be the
twelfth pearl; and I cannot say"
"The murderer must have the
twelfth pearl in his keeping" Young
chung to the chair for support.
81 thought there was not any muir
der. I thought it was all nonsense
and foolishness," I continued sneering
slightly.
Young lost his control, let go of
the chair, and grabbed my arm, shrek
ing hoarsely:
"Man, where did you get that pearl I?
How did you get it? Are you"
"No, no." I protested, calmly, TAX
ing his hand from my arm. 81 am
sorry to disappoint you, but am not
the murderer"
"And the pearl?"
"Think. Mr.. Young, think Would
the murderer show you this pearl?"
"Everyone's making a fool of me,
it's maddening," choked Young.
"No one makes a fool of you ex-
cept your nerves"
Young glared at me. After a few
seconds, he Gained himself. He saw
that he was wrong and he finished
weakly, "Truly it is my nerves, but
how did you get that pearl?"
laughed at him in a friendly way
81 will tell you willingly, it is a SIM
pie story"
Some demon whispered to me to tell
him all. But what good would that
do? Wouldn't it be interesting to
let him kno wall, all that 1 know?
However, I am stronger than my de-
mon so I merely said:
"I found this pearl under the rug
in front of Cabin No. IS. I had heard
about the murder and was curious
so I looked about the door and found
this pearl. They probably took the
young lady into the ships hospital
and, in moving her, the pearl evident
" dropped from her clothing. But
since it is bloody, the pearl proves
to me that all this rumor is not a
fantasy. More than that I do not
know"
The ships detective laughed. His
lips were white. But anger was in
his eyes which bulged. He did not
believe a word 1 had said. 1t was
all too simple. Anyway, had found
the pearl. But how? He did not
know.
eff 1 am to help you, would it not
be fair to me to tell me the truth
about the whole affair."" l suggested
to him in a perfectly friendly man
ner.
Young struggled with himself but
finally his shrewdness won. He pu'
his head in his hands as if to calm
his throbbing nerves. Then he lifted
his head. Again the old Young. Hi:
look was friendly.
$50 the rumor is true?" l remind
ed him.
cit is a fact"
"When did it happen?"
SHORTY after I left your cabin, Mr.
Svendrup."
"Hm, Inn, the murderer appear
to have had little fear of you or III
would surely have committed the deec
while you were with me. Do yo'
agree, Mr.. Young?"
This Sherlock of the Ships, thi
Holmes of the High Seas, pressed
his lips firmly together. To his wa!
of thinking 1 was the boldest, mos
shameless person in the world.