Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 114: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

424 lap’s losses as wortk two thousand five hun- dred dollars. There was no mistake about it, and their location, hidden in a pair of stockings, made it evident that they were placed there for concealment. CHAPTER XX, | : UNDER ARREST AGAIN. T was all the purser needed to make the search ruthless. He did not care now whether the occupants of the room re- turned and caught him at it. Every article of clothing was pried and even torn apart. The soles and heels of shoes were tapped and torn in an effort to discover more loot. When they were through the room looked like chaos, and many arti- cles of clothing could never be worn again. But the purser had recovered only the pair of earrings. “ He is more crafty than any liner thief I have ever come across,” said the purser. “It was pure luck we found the earrings. A less careful search would have passed those stocking balls over. There is nothing to do but to have the captain sweat the pair of them and make them confess where they have hidden the rest of the stuff.” _ As the investigating committee emerged into the corridor, they encountered Howard and Rod on their way back from breakfast. “Will you two gentlemen kindly ac- company me to the captain’s cabin at once?” asked the purser in a tone which left only one reply. They followed him, _. wondering with mild concern what might -be the trouble now. Captain Brown greeted them curtly. “TI presume you have some reason for bring- ing these gentlemen here, this morning,” he said to the purser. ‘That official replied _ by laying the earrings upon the table in front of the skipper. “‘ Article four on the inventory of Mrs. Potter-Dunlap’s losses. Found in a stock- ing in a trunk belonging to Mr. Campbell ‘in his stateroom, also occupied by Mr. McGarry. So I brought them both along.” - Howard looked at the pair of earrings with unbelieving eyes. He had seen them on the lady ‘two nights before, but how ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. could they have come in a stocking in his trunk? Who had put them there? That anybody could seriously think that he had stolen Mrs. Potter-Dunlap’s trinkets seemed to him so utterly preposterous that he burst out laughing, which was the worst thing he could have done in the presence of Captain Brown. “Young man,” began the captain with great severeness. ‘‘I shall soon convince you that this is no laughing matter. These earrings were stolen and hidden in your room. You will find a British judge and jury ready to impose a heavy sentence upon you. If you aid the cause of justice by revealing where you secreted the rest of the gems, it may help your case.” *“ Why, captain, you don’t actually think I took them?’ demanded Howard regaining his composure, and rapidly growing pale at the suggestion of jail. . “T am sorry to say I am convinced of it. We have sent a radio to Kansas City to investigate you, young man, for you were one of the suspects from the first. You had succeeded in creating the impression, on board this ship, that you were very wealthy. I find that you have no visible means of support. That is bad enough, but we dis- cover part of the stolen goods hidden in your room. Now you had better talk quick. I have no patience with you.” “Well, I didn’t put those earrings in my trunk and I don’t know how they came there,” said Howard sullenly, “Then you refuse to help us,” “1 don’t refuse. I can’t.” “Perhaps Mr. McGarry can throw some light on the subject,” said the purser, cast- ing an unfriendly look upon Rod, who had been too dumfounded during this con- versation to take part in it. “Tt am sure Mr. Campbell had nothing to do with the robbery. I have known him for half a dozen years and he couldn’t pos- sibly do such a thing.” ““ Well,” said the purser. ‘‘ You share his stateroom. Maybe you put those ear- rings in his trunk.” “Thank you for the suggestion. didn’t.” “T’ve had trouble enough with you,” growled the captain to Rod, “and now 1iGcbooks I eom (S@)