The Argosy for March 1909 — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

748 ‘No althoughs,” interrupted the po- liceman. ‘‘ Will you, or won’t you?” ““Yes—I will,” the other replied, but with a trace of hesitation in his voice. ‘Wait here till I summon the patrol- wagon,” the policeman ordered, and hur- ried up the gangplank again. Mrs, Kimber seized her husband’s arm. “Arthur, have you no consideration for me? Have you no thought for my feelings? I could never live down the disgrace. For my sake, if this gentle- man will-take it, give him the amount he has lost. Can’t you realize it is the best way?” Kimber shook his head doggedly. “Tf you do that, for the lady’s sake I will let the matter drop,” the stranger said. ‘But only for the lady’s sake, mind you.” | The young man glanced from one to the other hesitatingly; and his wife, quick to realize he was wavering in his decision, added: ‘‘ Arthur, please do as [ request.”’ All eyes were upon him, and for a moment he did not reply. ‘Then, sud- denly, he thrust his hand into his pocket and drew out his wallet. “Yes, I'll give you what’ you have lost. Here is your umbrella. Perhaps I did wrong in not turning it over to the purser. As to the money or regarding the entering of your stateroom, I still insist that I know nothing about either. But, for my wife’s sake, if you’ll let the matter drop, I’ll give you thirty dollars.” A gleam of victory shone in_ the stranger’s eyes. ‘A very wise decision, young man,” he said. Kimber counted out bills to the amount of thirty dollars, and was about to hand them over, when he heard rapid footsteps; and, glancing about quickly, saw two policemen hurrying down the gangplank. “Here, take it—quick!’’ Kimber said in an undertone. 3 The stranger quickly pocketed the bills; then, turning to the policemen, declared: ‘‘It’s all right now, my good men. I find it was a mistake, after all.” “Oh, it was, eh?” one of them re- marked sarcastically. ‘“‘ Why didn’t you find that out before you had the patrol- wagon sent for?”’ THE ARGOSY. ‘““I—I was mistaken,” the stranger faltered, somewhat awed by the presence of his questioner. The policeman who had arrived with the wagon had stood at one side up to this time, but now stepped forward and inquired: “ What is this charge, any- way?” “his man here’ — indicating the stranger—* claims these people entered his stateroom during the night and robbed him of a sum of money. And now he refuses to prosecute them.” “I fear I may be mistaken,” the stranger insisted, “ and would rather lose the money than run any risk.’’ There ,was a strange look in the sec- ond policeman’s eyes as he queried: ““What made you suspect this couple?” “| fancied—”’ was the hesitating re- ply. “In fact, I felt sure at first that they were guilty. Mere intuition, I guess.” “He claimed they had his umbrella,” the ship’s officer volunteered. “ One he had left in his stateroom, and which mys- teriously disappearéd, presumably at the same time as did his money.” The second policeman advanced a step, and looking the stranger directly in the. eyes, said decisively: “So you trusted to your intuition, eh? Well, I’m going to trust to mine, too. I guess that umbrella is yours, all right, and I think I can easily explain how it came to get into these people’s stateroom.” The stranger retreated a step or two, and then burst out in confused tones: ‘1 do not understand you. Suffice to say that I apologize humbly to all whom I have caused any trouble, and we will consider the incident closed.”’ Sa “But I do not!” the policeman ex- claimed, laying a heavy hand upon the other’s shoulder. “What do—what do you mean?” the stranger stammered, his face paling sud- denly. “IT mean that I recognize you from the description sent out yesterday from head- quarters. ‘Bill ‘Tompkins, formerly ocean liner gambler, is working a new game on Sound steamers,’ and it is iden- tical with this one. Bill, you’re caught.” ‘““T protest!’ the other exclaimed, jerking himself free from the police- man’s grasp. (C@) NOOK (E@)