Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 October 1897 — THIEVES ON BOARD. [ARTICLE]

THIEVES ON BOARD.

k “Mrs. Melhurst’s compliments, sir, ’ *Dd would you please come down to >er stateroom immediately?” f I had just shut myself into my little •slice on deck, having run through the ship's acounts before turning in that • night. I had scarcely got my accounts fairly In hand when I was interrupted by a •light tap at the door. I arose at once ?Jnd opened it, and there stood Mrs. Melhurst s Canadian maid, with flushed face and nervous, agitated manner. > I switched off the electric light, lockid the door, and hurried away after xier. When I got to Mrs. Melhurst’s Stateroom I saw at once that something had occurred to cause her serious anxiety. The berth, the couch, and even Ihe floors, were littered with the contents of cabin trunks and hand bags. In the midst of the confusion stood the lady herself, looking decidedly perplexed and anoyed. I, “This is very singular, Mr. Morse,” •he said, pointing to an empty jewel ease which lay open upon the upper flberth. “My diamond ornaments are onlssing.” I “How did it happen?” „ “I cannot possibly tell you. At dinner this evening I happened to mention to Mrs. Latimer that I had picked ■P a certain crescent-shaped brooch on the continent. She expressed a wish to •ee It. When the tables were cleared I eame in here, took out the brooch, and left the jewel case lying on the berth, ibut when I got back the case was • empty.” “How long were you absent?” B “Not more than half an hour.”

“You are sure you had the key oi your cabin iu your possession all the time?” fe?“Positively. I never let it out of my hand while I was jn the saloon.” I I examined the lock carefully, but there was absolutely nothing to show that it had been tampered with. I had just got to the head of the saloon stair when I heard some one bounding up after me, three or four gteps at a time. I turned and saw Mr. Carter, who, by the way, had made several voyages with us on previous occasions. ? “I say, Mr. Morse,” he said, taking me confidentially by the arm, “you've <ot some queer customers on board this trip.” “How so?” | “Why, someone's gone and walked off ■With my silver cigarette case, a couple •f rings, and a pair of gold——” k “Tell me exactly what has happened.” t “My dear fellow, how can I? It Is ♦Dough to puzzle a Philadelphia lawyer. You see, I went to my stateroom Lgfter dinner—l can swear to that—and | > remember slinging my cigarette case, lyings, and a pair of gold sleeve links |mhd the npper berth. Then I put on my Mu in"!"." gown, stretched myself upon fttfae couch, and had a downright good MDDOZc. When I got up about five min&Cey ago, I found my trinkets had van- | I lost no time in hunting up the cap- !. lain, and made him acquainted with Btaw state of affairs. He was just as Mauch puzzled as I was myself. We Hpath questioned the lady closely, but Pber replies did not tend to throw any ISght. on the singular occurrence. Elfor the next few days we had no ■Bwther complaints. The thief was eviBfientiy “lyihg low,” waiting until tran■Mlilllty was restored before making a EEwdi attempt. Meanwhile I kept my f W« happened to have a passenger on Kfagrd— a Brazilian, named de Castro— Kwfeo was a bit of a mystery to me all the voyage. But for the fact I had conclusive evidence to show

he could not have been directly concerned in, the robberies—for Inquiries proved he had remained on deck the whole evening—he certainly would have been treated to a private interview in the captain's cabin. Nothing further occurred to excite suspicion until the last day or two of the voyage. Then, one evening after dinner, word was brought to ine that three other staterooms had been rifled in the same mysterious manner. When the alarm reached me I happened to be standing in my deck office. I had in my hand twenty sovereigns. I didn't wait to lock up the gold; I simply placed it on my desk, switched off the light, and hurried away. I had no fear for the safety of the sovereigns, my door having a particularly intricate lock. In which I took care to turn the key before leaving. I remained below for an hour or so, but. as in the other cases, I was utterly unable to make head or tail of them. Vexed and bewildered, I went back to my office, unlocked the door, turned on the light, and—my little pile of gold had vanished. Then I managed to pull myself together, and took a look around my little cabin. In the course of my observatlons mv eye happened to rest upon the porthole, which stood wide open, the weather being oppressively hot. I went outside and thrust my arm in through the opening, but my hand did not reach within fully two yards of the desk. Still, it struck me as being the only way by which a thief could get the money, and I determined to put my theory to a practical test. I went straight up to a young American gentleman, who I knew had a great many trinkets in his stateroom, and was rather careless, too, in the way he left them lying about. “Don’t show any surprise,” I whispered, glancing around at the other occupants of the saloon, “but might I ask whether your stateroom is locked?” “It is.”

“And the porthole open?” “I should say so! I don’t want to find the place as stuffy as the engine room when I go to turn in.” “Well, just pass me your key. I want to try a little experiment. Walt till I’m gone and then stroll up on deck. Let yourself be seen—on the lower deck particularly—but don’t pay too close attention to anyone you may notice loitering there.” I went and shut myself in his stateroom, crouching down so that I could just keep an eye on the porthole over the top of the lower berth. Suddenly, as I glanced up at the porthole, my blood ran cold, and in all my life I never had such difficulty to keep down a yell. In the dim light I saw a long, thin, hairy arm thrust in through the opening. The next moment a small black hand had fastened upon a leather case lying close to the window, and withdrew it as quick as thought almost. I dashed up the saloon stairs and made for the lower deck. There, just about the spot where I judged the stateroom to be situated, I came face to face with the Brazilian De Castro. . Suddenly, a happy thought flashed through my mind. I turned round and sprang down the saloon stairs, running full tilt against the chief steward, who was standing at the bottom. “Get me a handful of nuts—quick!” I cried. The Brazilian had moved away a little toward the stern. I went close up, stood right in front of him, and then began deliberately to crack the nuts. Presently I saw a corner of the cape drawn aside, and behind a pair of small, gleaming eyes fixed greedily on me. It was enough. My suspicions were confirmed. The moment I laid my hands upon him I heard a vicious snarl under his cape; it was pulled suddenly aside, and out flew a monkey. When searched, Mrs. Melhurst’s diamonds, Sir. Carter’s cigarette case and rings, and a miscellaneous collection of other valuables were found bn him. In his stateroom we discovered a perforated box, apparently intended for the use of the monkey, who was evidently quite as accomplished as his master. —Elmira Telegram.