Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1938-03-11
CHAPTER Z

terical hallucination of a young lady =
was my sober sounding suggestion.
"You are correct; l spoke to DR..
LETTERS, the ships doctor about il"
"And?"
"The doctor said that he knew no
clearer person than the young lady
in question. I too consider her a lev
el-headed person. There is nothing
historical about her; she has great
courage"
"And nothing was stolen? Nothing,
at all? Such as paper, or a letter,
or some such thing?"
"Not the least thing"
"And the young lady can offer no
clue?"
'She is puzzled
''No one heard shot"
mo, even she did not hear shot"
"That is strange :. By the way,
how did the rumor get out among the
passengers?
Young's eyes became sharp and men
acing, his mouth lost it's smile, and
two wrinkles appeared in his forehead.
He looks like dog that scents its
prey.
"That is not so strange as it seems
to me, we're dancing upon a reason
for this rumor being spread-a rumor
that disturbs the whole ship. But L
am vet to be reckoned with I'm
sure that the guilty party does not
give me credit for possessing much
intelligence"
He saw my half smile as I answer
ed, "It is interesting, Mr.. Young.
Have you a plan?"
ct don't believe the murderer him
self spreads the rumor," the detec-
tive remarked as he looked at me
closely. nonchalantly lighted Gig
arctic, 1 know that my hand did not
tremble.
"You are right and 1 will explain
why :" 1 observed with nonchal-
ance.
Young looked astounded. His face
was framed in my cigarette smoke.
"Please do so /. explain" he urg-
ed.
I saw Young's teeth, white and
sharp, but Immediately his lips closed
over them like red drop curtain.
eyes :. will ask you question
which will answer your question"
said 1 putting my foot up on the chair.
"Have not a great many more val
uables been put into the safe during
the last few hours ?"
Young almost jumped at me, then
looked helpless and answered quietly;
eyes yes =. since -"
"You mean since the rumor got
about. Well, that was the result of
the rumor."
"That's true" conceded the worried
sleuth.
The frankness with which explain
ed the probable reason of the rumor
being circulated astonished him. He
felt sure in his heart that had some
thing to do with crime aboard the
S. S. Imperia, yet he could not
fathom my utter frankness in speak
ing to him about the ships battling
mystery of thefts, assault, and near
murder
Young walked nervously over to
where his splintered glass lay in gilt
tering bits mixed with small pieces
of ice. He trod heavily on the bits
of ice and they became water.
"Those diamonds are only water"
said I picking up piece of ice and
with a twinkle, zone can so easily
make an error"
The detective stopped, he had only
half listened to me.
Error? >. Error" then he spoke
with a shade of firmness, "but tonight
Mr.. Svendrup, we will catch the thief,
will we not?"
About his lips played smile.
"At IL o'clock we'll start our watch
at the vault; till then 1 have posted a
trusty watch there"
"Trusty?"
ooh, you're right-in this weird
situation there's none to be trusted.
Not even nor you :" he laugh
ed heartily.
"I am certainly not to be trusted"
l answered in dead earnest.
Young's eyes popped. He chuck
led, perhaps that's true, Mr.. Sven
drup-perhaps you will have to ar
rest me-but come, hear the call for
dancers"
"The music's happy still it
seems" he answered. "There is a vol
eano."
Young did not seem to hear that;
biS oars were trained 1non tho DANE