Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1938-02-18
CHAPTER 4

tain extent he was responsible. AnC
now a message had been received from
the ships company that if the detec-
tive could not find the thief, he should
be dismissed from the service. Young
also knew that it would be painful
if he should accuse an innocent pass
enger. He felt sure that the guilty
party was a person whom one would
never suspect. Of that he was sure
The veins stood out on his forehead as
the latest robbery was reported to
him.
Gentlemen, beg of you - not the
shadow of a suspicion rests on any
of you-that's out of the question y
He glanced left and right and nodded
in a most friendly manner, though he
knew that his speech was far from
logical. In his heart he probably
thought: "At last here is the thief
right here and I'll make him pay for
nv sleepless nights" But what he said
was:
"Shall 1 search you, gentlemen?
must say it is most painful to have to
do such a thing. 1 never thought it
would come to this. Well, we will
start and pretend that it is a game,
Just a little joke. With whom shall
/ begin?"
Truly Young had caught the right
mood = he was tactful; the ships
company should congratulate him.
81 have an idea, gentlemen; we will
make it a game of cards. There are
exactly eight gentlemen here; Bar
keeper. please give me all the club
from a pack of cards. Now, then
each gentleman draws a cards"
Young made it appear like a game
but I saw deeper-saw how forced his
laugh was, how his eyes glittered with
excitement. He continued: "The high
est card starts, that is, start with
the holder of the highest club"
The priest drew the ace and drew
the seven. The priest stood before
Mr.. Young ready to be searched, but
the detective threw up his hands and,
turning to the rest of US, said: but,
gentlemen, l cannot doubt the honor
of a priest
Somehow had an idea that Young
was acting. The reverend father was
very pale. 1t was natural for him as
a priest to be embarrassed at being
tlemen, wat would you think if you
amazed as he said very seriously: Cen
tlemen, wha would you think if you
had all been searched and nothing
were found, and 1 had been the only
one of the party not searched?" And
then he added: 81 do not want to hurt
anyone and rejoice that you all re-
spect my garb. But Mr.. Young do your
duty!"
The ship detective stepped to his
side and started the search and con-
fess it was a most thorough "frisk''
not a crevice, not fold missed
Young's trained eye. Father Code
troy helped him by drawing off his
boots, offering to remove the wooden
socks, but all to no avail-nothing was
found. Then came the next, also
nothing found, and the next and SO
on. And each time nothing was found.
Those who had been searched retired
to the next room which was cut off
from the bar by glass door through
which they could watch the proceed
ings.
Finally two were left-the little en-
gineer and myself. The glances cast
at US through the glass door were far
from friendly. The engineer was a
childlike personals harmless as but
termilk, but 1. :. The detective look
ed at me from the corner of his eye
with deep suspicion as though he were
saying: "Ah, so that is the way a
thief looks"
No, the engineer was no thief, there
was not a dollar bill on him, and he
left the room breathing a sigh of re
lief.
Now there was no secret about who
the thief was-all stared at me;
must be the thief was the only
one left.
Young's hand trembled, his eyes
bulged. He had no joke to tell me as
he searched. He was ready to Shrek
to the world: Here is the thief"
"Here, Mr.. Young" said I, holding
out my hands, perhaps you will have
the goodness to put the handouts or
now"
He did not smile as he replied: "You
always were a genius that needed
watching"
81 am only a painter and I car
scarcely believe that 1 deserve the
praise that you give me-" 1 rejoined
with a rather painful effort at pleas
antry.