The evening world. Newspaper, August 2, 1915, Page 13

M PHVWBOOHOOWG HY A New York Myster, (Copyright, 1012, by Street & Smith) CHAPTER I. Bound an embarrassed bridal pal thing to watch besides the sweat-scented longshoremen wrestling with huge cases, and hurry- ing cumbersome trunks into the vast, The exuberant friends of the newly married couple had evidently not been satisfied with thronging the church at eight in the morning, seeing the ‘unmathematical process of two made one, but felt that they must invade “ter 25, North River, and hurl “bon voyage,” trite, crude, and cruel advice, ng with handfuls of rice at the confused and disconcerted two just joined yrether until death, or the hungry divorce mill, would them part, Many interested passengers like my- self leaned over the rail of the 8. 8. Minerva to smile at the laughing, noisy group on the rough boards be- low 9. I dare say every woman who wan not weeping was making mental +riticlam of the hang of the bride's treve’ kirt or the tilt of her ha Suey detatis were not for my ey nor waee they for the eyes of the sell-ret-tp young fellow leaning over the ral to my left. eing his mani- fest-intarest, I spoke: “Know thom?” “No,” he answered shortly, giving me a swift. startled look, and | knew he tied. His back was turned to me, and I gould not help noticing the contrac- tion of the shoulder muscles under his well-fitting coat when one of the group below emptied a pocketful of rice over the two who were the cbn- tre of attraction. TI distinctly heard the man to my left mutter an oath, “Barbaric custom,” I ventured to Bis broad back. “Do you think they” jana 1 pointed my cane toward the ‘crowd below—“would act such utter idiots if they could see themselves as we see them?” TT man, turging abruptly, swered me rather queerly. “Oh, what—what shall I do?” he groaned, Before I could recover from my amazement he had hurried into the nearest Companionway, and once in- wide I could hear his voice angrily demanding where the purser could be found. -s, The hoarse, throaty blast of the reh, Warning recreant passengers shore to Ket ou, and those aboard Who wete not sailing to quit. the eamer, rent the smoky air with its @aY-splitting blast, and 1 moved near- er the gangplank as the bride and groom, dodging a varied assortment | of old shoes, stepped on the saloon deck. 1 stood near while their friends hurled rice at them, and I thought that the girl looked as some rich lux- uriant flower of the tropics might look in a snowstorm, There was something sweet and splendid and gracious about her, but as she threw back her veil 1 was struck by the in- definable sadness that lay in her eyes, darkening the clear gray of them as shadows might darken the gray of a \ winter twilight, But at least the smile on her lips le up for the pathos of her eyes— was like sunlight through a stained lass window, and when she laughed one was reminded of all things won- derful. And laugh she did, again and again, as if she knew the sparkle of it warmed one like wine, and, remem~- Dering that shadow in her eyes, I thought if a man can smile and smile and be @ villain, a woman can laugh nd laugh and be tragedy incarnate! Oh, she was lovely, this bride of a Uttle while, and I felt a sudden resent~ ment against the man, no matter how deserving he might be, into whose keeping had been given so much of sweet womanliness, “Now, remember, Elizabeth,” a girl's voice floated up in a sally to the bride, and I was conscious of a@ feeling of watisfaction, Elizabeth! To me it is the prettiest name in the whole wide world—the name itself, not any of its pocele contractions such as 88, Libbie or Lizzie—and as Bisatcth all speak of her through these pages, for it is < name I like to ice, to think, to write. by one called a banality to the om, and my attention was drawn to him for the first time, He was the usual of successful business man, with, a Rn bit too calculating to ve pleasin, d the well-fed, pros- us that always stirs my pero i ‘antagonism more than expression @bsolute villainy. He was pretty decently proportioned, however, and decidedly well-groom: and while el do not make t! man, they | have been the unmaking of many in the eyes of a woman, ‘There's the spirit of the up-to-date press for you!" a tall, loosely bullt young fellow remarked, crowding be- wide me at the railing, and pointing to the group of newspaper photogra- hers below leveling a battery of wameras at the bridal couple. “Here it is not quite noon, and that enterprising kid at the foot of the k is reaping a harvest of pennies selling the afternoon papers, with a detailed account of the wed- @ing and half-tone Mflustrations of the fas sho entered the church at & o'clock! Can you beat it He turned to me with such an engaging emile and so much expansive pride in the eyes which squinted at me ahrough the pince-nez he wore that ef felt attracted to him Instantly. “Your innocent enthusiasm over our yellow press might make one wonder jwhat your own profession happens to Se" T smiled in return, “A_ prize @gniey, 2 Marathon runner, an avi- ator, maybe, or an absconding bank eashier? I know that you're not an actor, for I see nothing that looks ike a press agent.” The young fellow grinned. oth- ine so respectable as any of those, he retorted. “I'm merely a common specimen of the genus renorter, habi- tat Manhattan, species yellowjournal- istica, However, don't attempt to yamp overboard or anything like that, an the poison has been extracted from y fangs—I'm perfectly safe to han- dle-—warranted not to bite.” “1 hardly e ted to find a reporter aboard,” said “My impression was that thi or i he Phantom Shotgun BRIDE and a groom are always an Interesting sight, and when trouped to the steamer’s side, we, already on board, had some- The E PEO MOODY ee) YEO MNVOD OLD Oe oF 4 South. r, surrounded by a boisterous score, shouting and cursing stevedores and black Interior of the vessel's bold, He looked at me reproachfully and thrust one of his cards toward me, upon which I read: ROBERT L. LARKINS N. Y. Bvening Ledger “I haven't a card with mo,” I sald, holding out my hand, “but I'm Frank Marshall, and I'm very 1d to make equaintance. I don't care two to meet people; but on a steamer, somehow, it is different, and congenial company is half the pleasure of the journey.’ “Whey did you leave the coast?” asked the newspaper man, falling into step with me as we made our way forward. “You see,” he explained, as I looked at him fn surprise, “only Westerners say a. couldn't help but call the turn. “Or, rathgr, the analytical mind of a trained news gatherer got into ac- tion immediately,” I prompted. “Oh, anything you like,” he replied, with a shrug of his shoulders. “Our honeymooners seem to have been meat for the papers,” I re- marked, drawing from my coat pocket a sheet bizarre with big type de- tailing the wedding of the Wail Street broker and his erstwhile stenographer. 1 had purchased it out of mere curi- osity when the bridal couple came aboard. “What rot!" I commented disgustedly. “Oh, 1 don't know,” sald Larkins, lightly. “Think of the hope it gives the remaining stenographers! Aproxi- mately there are 76,000 of them in New York, and about an equal num- ber of unmarried brokers,” and he looked perfectly sober when said it. “But this particular shee 1 pro- tested. “Of all the newspapers pub- lished under the sun I don’t know of one that equals this for mendacity, in- accuracy and sensationalism. I can't see why people buy it” 1 can,” maintained’ the reporter. ‘You bought one, didn't you’ There were a half a dozen different papers sold there, yet you chose the one you're knocking. Another thing—you can't tell me anything about the Led- ger, because I work on it,” he added quietly. I remembered with chagrin that the paper I was upraiding was the Ledger, and that his card had borne the name of that journal. I started to stammer an apology, but Larkins stopped me good-naturedly. “Oh, you can’t hurt me,” said he. ‘Soak it, hammer it, knock it—that's why it grows so fat. I suppose you think that it should run a little four- * line announcement setting forth the fact that Hamilton Forbes, a well- known Wall Street broker, married Elizabeth Kennedy, his stenographer, and that their honeymoon would bo spent in New Orleans and the South? “It would be better than this florid een I maintained. ven HURRY UP WIFEY THE CAR Is READY tional features such as the riot of souvenir hunters at the church, specu- lation as to what the bridegroom settled on his bride, the intimate story of the courtship from the time she first took dictation from her employer to the hour when he led her to the altar, and such details as only are found in newepapers of the Ledger's Wen, what's wrong with it?” he asked, seeing I had finished. “Oh, nothing,” 1 replied, to end the futile argument, ‘T'm relieved," he said dryly. “I wrote it.” Just then the trumpeter made his rounds of the ship, calling us in musical blasts to our first meal dear sir, when a penniless man aty app in Il Street out of no- where, and in seven years counts his fortune with two commas and a per- fod, corners the cotton market, mar- ries his beautiful stenographer, mak- ing her the richest bride of the year, you demand a four-line record of the fact. Why-—why, what do you take the daily press for?” He surveyed me with an injured air, “Then this—romance, as the Ledger has it, is true?’ ‘M-m-m; yes,” he replied, “Of course, it has been dressed up a bit, but in the main it’s the straight goods," he added, The following is a portion of the Ledger's account of the marriage of Hamilon Forbes, broker and trust magnate, to Elizabeth Kennedy, sten- ographer, which I insert in recogni- tion of the fact that ft is a far more illuminating document than I could offer in my own words: Thia morning at 8 Bruce Ham- fiton Forbes, the man who cor- nered the cotjon market, and his stenographer, Miss Elizabeth Kennedy, were quietly married at the Little Church Around the Corner by the Rev, Warren Bev- erly, The romance of the wealthy broker and his beautiful bride is of unusual interest. Mr. Forbes's career in the Street has been short but mete- oric, He came to New York a poor man, and in seven short years he has swept through the Golden Calf district like a finan- cial Alexander, His speculations have been so paying that he is the most feared man in Wall Street to-day. He {s a bachelor, with no rela- tives in this city, but ia a member of some of Gotham's most select Kennedy gained much newspaper notoriety two years ago when she appeared as the principal witness for the defense in the trial of E. Van Buren Courtlandt, a broker's clerk, officr who led for stock market juggling, After three trials, two resulting in a jury dis- agreement, the District Attorney quashed further proceedings, At the time it was rumored that Miss Kennedy was the flancee of the accused, who was a member of one of New York's oldest fam- ilies, but after being discharged, Courtlandt left New York for the West, and, shortly following, his death in Arizona was announced, Mr. and Mrs. Forbes, imme- diately after the wedding cere- mony, sailed for New Orleans, They will spend their honeymoon travelling through the Southern States, where the bridegroom has extensive cotton interests, Larkins watched me closely and in st eilge I dger’ ru WA hereditary antipathy ce }, read a the be age mes aecount, kil ment} he xeiled. beaving Larkins was staring at the Bar- tholdi Statue of Liberty that we were leaving astern. “Do you know,” he said, “Tve lived in little old New York for some years and I've never yet paid my respects to the dear old girl with the torch, Funny, isn't it? As a kid I longed passionately for just one thing—to see that statue, and climb up to her crown.” ‘We strolled toward the middle of the ship making the pleasant discovery t our staterooms faced each other, and cai juddenly on the bridal couple slowly pacing the deck, “I hate to gee such a nice girl mar- ried to that,” commented Larkins, in an undertone. “Why, what is wrong with him?” I asked, surprised to hear the reporter epeak with suoh animus. “Well, she's such a fine sort, and he Bay, do you remem- fellow out West who is not up to the m il “We principally call him things that do not look well in print,” I rejoined. “He's one," said the reporter laconi- cally. Then I told Larkins of the clean- cut yune chap who watched the bridal couple with such absorbing in- terest as we lay at the wharf, and repeated the curiously wild ejacula- ton he had directed at m« “There is something that should fire your newspaper soul,” I exclaimed, “Possibly you'll have a mystery to ferret out—that is, unless my excited friend was not a passenger, as I sup- posed, and has left the ship.” At that instant, ae it often happens in plays and rarely in real life, there stepped out of the companionway the very man of whom I was speaking. Larkins gripped my shoulder, that he?” “By all that is wonderful—tt ts! I managed to gasp. “How did you know?" “Hold fast, Mr. Marshall, for we are going round a corner,” Larkins laughed more than spoke, and he took @ fow hurried steps forward. The stranger was just ahead of us, and Forbes and his bride were ap- proaching. The two were talking, and it was only when he etarted to is the man in front of us that the ride looked up. I have seen people shocked and surprised before, put I shall never again see the look that passed over the woman's face. She turned posi- tively 11 “Van!" ahe cried, her voice barely above a whisper, and with arms stretched to him she sank in a heap on the deck. For a moment Forbes stood silent ‘and tenee, staring at the young man facing him, then slowly he started to lift his wife to her feet. The young fellow sprang forward in a rage. “Don't touch her, or, by Heaven, —oh, hi der what we cal “Yes, a! both hands; and bending over the busy with fainting girl he raised her tenderly. Then, turning, asked me to summon the stewardess. ve aye Rae on baggage around is a heap sight bet- ter for grabbin’ muscle. ing World Daily Magszine, Monday, August 2, 1918 |) The Day of Rest By Maurice Ketten ANY PLACE WHERE IT'S Quiet AND RESTFUL that's proving a sort of belated Loch- invar? He seems to be the disturb- ing element.” The gossip ran on; then suddenly & hush foll, as Courtiandt entered the room from the deck. By hia ex- pressior. I could see that he suspected who were the topic of conversation. T half expected to see him give active vent to the smouldering fury in his eyes when Larkins surprised me by catching the young fellcw's coat as he passed our tabi “Sit down with us a moment, Courtlandt, eaid my companion. The young man looked Lai ." said Larkins, in a low ‘they're all looking at you. My Larkins of th ening voice; name's Ledger.” Courtiandt sank Into the empty seat between the newspaper man and my- self. ‘Oh, Lay, old man, thank you— thank you!" He held an unsteady hand toward Larki “You don't know how I've always wanted to ex- press my appreciation for what you did for hat time, but-——" ‘That's all right—er—Barthney, Tickled me to death, Got a big beat on it,” said Larkins. “Say, what are we drinking?” and he pushed the bell for the bar steward, then introduced me to the young man. Courtlandt swallowed his drink of straight whiskey feverishly, Larkins and I merely sipped @ liqueur. “Bay, boy,” chided the reporter, “I'd cut out that raw stuff if 1 were you. What in the name of all that’s good are you doing on thie boat? The young fellow glanced at me quickly, “Oh, that's all right,” said Larkins, “Mr, Mars! knows who you are, and [ vouch for him.” jood heavens, Mr. Larkl claimed Courtlandt passionat you suppose that I would have set foot on this infernal boat if I had imagined that they were sailing on it? Why, I wouldn’ “Lower your votce,” warned Lar- kins sharply. “They're all looking at you.” A steward entered and handed Courtiandt a not Tho envelope was of the ship’ tonery, and contained a single sheet of note paper. Courtiandt read it very slowly, then wrote a single word in reply and passed it to the steward. Larkins’s sharp wits apparently needed nothing further to make the wituation clear to him, for as he knocked t! os from his cigarette he said slowly, and in the frank, pleas- ant way which made It impossib! one to take offense: Sourtiandt, I'm not butting into this thing merely because poking my in other people's affairs is my 4 and butter, but I want to say just one thing to you—and Mr, M shall here, who is an older DP ably a wiser man than either of u will bear me out. I think when man’s in the mess you're In, it's hi cue to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Don't lie or quibble. Hand her the straight unvarnished—sabe ?” Courtiandt — arom straight into Larkins he sald wearily, then a 0. ox- “do HURRY UP STOHN IT MAY RAIN replied the the chairs, ward, still ut tossin’ & fair reader of the human counte- nance. I could plainly see that he was not succeeding in his expluna- tion, His wife sat erect in her chair, I'm head baggageman ‘sides deck steward, you id, chin in hand, watched the dim suppose it takes a yellow journalist CHAPTER I know, sir.” shore line over which the sun was appreciate the value of the truth,” ER Il. guess your arm is twice the size ball ‘of, molten and he passed on oUt. ine,” Larkins continued. "Let's she jook at As Larkins and I were about to The First Day Out. and he surprised me by peeling startled to note jeave, a steward picked up somethin ARKINS was not at lunch- eon when I took my place. I had been given a seat at the captain's table, from which ar L vantage point I could com- “Well, mand a view of the entire dining bigger you! Halloran saloon, and I failed to locate the re- porter at any of the other tables. As I was about to go on deck the news- paper man came tripping down the hairy Umb¢ legs. oft his coat and roiling up his shirt sleeves, thereby displaying a ot ms about as husky as lead Pencil. What's your name?” he asked, ‘Halloran, sir. Tom, let's see how ne] sleeves and held out @ pair of “Guess I'll have to eat a mixed diet lied with actual Once, when he was plead- laid hi nd on her arm, and tly ber eyes were ablaze with anger. Tt was not difficult to figure out a reason for all this. Forbes had de- ceived her as to Van Buren Court- landt’s death, I argued to myself, and Courtlandt’s appearance on the of the Minerva was like @ rising from the grave. Glancing at Larkins, to see why in from under the table we had occupied, and handed It to me. It was a sheet of note paper, covered with pecullar hieroglyphics. “Not mine,” T sald, passing it on to Larkins. Ho glanced at it thought- fully for a moment, then foided it and put it in his pocket. “I guess this belongs to Courtlandt, he said; “it's that note he got, al- though it looks more like a problem é Chinese mathematics than a billet- loux.”* Tom Halloran. uch ir arms are than mine,” rolled back his blue flan- ys larger than most men's stairs, and was shown to the seat Of elephant steak and hippopotamus tne world he took no notic ag: COR next to mine gut fo att arme tha ee Held aa acing gn 1st hin efes Hil trom The upoat vo the salon dead At “Little bit delayed,” he said, as he ““wpry ‘steamer chairs and or §: tay A a aaras riggs | my suggestion we made for our unfolded his napkin. “How do you trunks, sir,” advised the # Made a discovery. Larkins’ eyes were Steamer chaire to enjoy one more lke our seats? I fixed ‘em up. eee othe eyed Foe ud I riveted a He teat apa badd not if the forward part of the deck I noted " ” LT “what lind of an 6x! ion page hai 6 turne: for at least a T was looking tor you," I told bim, that? Seems to me if I owned hour! the Agures of & man and s woman “and was hoping you hadn't fallen a victim to the sway of the ship.’ “I never get seasick,” answered Larkins, after he had ordered practi- cally everything on the menu. “I don't believe in it~foolish notion for around for coat sleeve: deeper in a pair of toothpicks such as you carry “Of course you would, eccentric companion, digging his nose to mine with no further comment. occupying our chairs, and engrossed in earnest conversation. ‘The woman's volce rose in sudden passion: “A man who could so trick a girl deserves the death dealing hand of God”’=-— Then she broke off with ‘a slight cry of dismay as Larkins and I passed where they were seated. I leaned over and addressed him: “Do you know who are behind you?” “Sure! Don't you?” he answered equably, and then w tracted b “Please, Si rms I'd keep them in my Ox said my his magasine, leaving me @ fellow to get in his head.” Larkins read in allence, A stift , She ienored him utterly, and, turn) © iMrs. Forbes and young Courts “Ah, there's the trouble, Mr. Lar- bree off shore made our overcoats imf to & uniformed officer, who t iangti™ 1 exclaimed, when we had aid I, “the notion doesn’t at- tack the head first.” Larkins emiled, and wanted to know if the bride and groom had ap- peared at luncheon. 1 explained that the bridegroom had been down and had eeat number four, opposite our chairs, which gave Hf me a good opportunity to observe nim closely. He was nervous and dis- traught, scarcely ate anything, and left the table after ordering a few nd as we taken such and steamer rugs very comfortable, chaira I surreptitiously studied the erratic young man to whom I was well-bred and intel! ronwnciation ‘ure or dissatisfaction in what he was rounded the forward part of the deck, and crossed to the port side. “Yea,” assented the newspaper man. “You know, I feel sorry for her, her iMusion was so quickly shattered. “You heard what was said in the smoking room as to her taking an other didn't you?” I asked. bs I was wise before that gabby the first officer, she asked to be taken to the captain. The two moved off together, and as I arose from my chair I heard theme going. un the for- ward deck companionway. Forbes receded us inside, and as he un- jocked the door of his suite I found it was next to my own stateroom, stretched out lazily in our had an instant liking. Ligh 14 which lay between his, ‘room hy and the itbrary of the vosscl, Tar: individual sprang it," was Larkins’ kins’ room was number two, directly Teply. “She went to Capt. Loyd, and Five ordered teroom, and effects are now in suite Cc. Funny’ and across the social hallway from mine, explained something to: bim. Larkins knocked at my door just after tho trumpeter wan sounding the £0 half hour warning for dinn reading, but he might have been © « ‘ used. n he displayed. he eat on the edge of my berth, “Cap- funny in her dilemma.” asked Larkins, ordering two kinds 4x 7 studied him I speculated on tain Lloyd!” ” v rhoel b- Iwighe asked the captain to turn the of pie. I tried real hara,” {20 Feason for his presence aboard the ship back and land her in New I could guess if I tr ia arto Minerva, It suddenly occurred to me York!" he chuckled. I replied. “That young teley ui o that he had listened intently to my CHAPTER III. “Poor girl!” I sighed. threatened to kill Forbes w “ys '% story of my return trip to California’ As we circled the deck again I wornes fainted was Vap Buren Court- via ‘The Hundred Golden Hours at The Curious Cipher Code. tapped the atainod tase window ot 4 stateroom A, and called Larkins's at- Yep. : eho INNER was uneventful. tention to the fact that the light in hat have you been doing sin Forbes was in his place, Forbes's stateroom was still burning that time?’ I ed, as we arose to ik. Cr-rash! Crrash! ! said my companion, ing the wireless instrument that ending its roar throughout the length and breadth of the ship. T turned on him in disgust. “Do you mean to tell me that you have sept what happened to your paper?” “Why, no, of course not! I merely wired them that I had discovered a new method for making tric lights out of current magazines!" He locked me over as if I were some strange animal in a@ 200, As we went above he declined th cigar I offered him for a Turk cigarette, which he fished from bis pocket. When we arranged for our steamer chairs we had them placed on the saloon deck near the window of my stateroom, where the cabin wail formed a sort of L of the deck. Two empty chairs were already there, and as ours were being placed I saw the Dewspaper man eye the deck steward rather queerly, “You're a pretty well set up fel- low," Larkins sald, addressing him, trying to “I suppose you get all your muscl frog toying with these ohare?” Skhat was a ust Just free Did bis trip of the ap] ing on dec then was as I could tered their was very disagreeme! th Newspaper men rarely travel for mere fun—th much money, a# a ‘#tate Commerce Comin! the shadowy past. thing would happen on this one of their men along aled to me as not unlikely, ‘orbes and his youn; in the empty chairs adjacent to Lar- kins’ and mine, broke up my reverie. Larking glanced at them magazine in his hand. 1, however, studied them as closely ‘This was not dificult, as the two cen- on each other—not In the way of most bridal couples, strange to say, for it em. Forbes’ attitude was that of a man but his wife did not make her appearance in the din- ing saloon, Later, in the smoking room, I found every passen- ger's tongue wagging, to judge by the male element, and the Forbeses nat- urally were the one and absorbing topic, “Humph!" said Larkin to me, as we sat at one of the small tables, with our drinks before us. “They say women are gossips!” and he nod- ded his head toward the olust men eagerly discussing the Forbes affair, “I tell you I know!” broke in @ man's voice loudly, “She has the stateroom next to the purser’s oppo- site the one her husband occupte: She had her things moved in while every one was at supper,” Larkins and I looked up with in- my companion "He h one of the blisters on his feet chasing gli into him.” The decks were deserted seve for Courtlandt and M For! who were still talking earnestly, and the reporter and myself, ‘The deck lights had been turned off at 11, and the ship was in darkness save for a light here and there shining out of tho companionways, “You must be tired,” sald Larkins, most solicitously, offering the support of his arm. I stiffened instantly, for any tllu- sion to my infirmity, however vetled or kindly meant, irritated me, I was willing to limp through life without the sympathy of others or any assiat~ @nce save that which my cane ‘ome. Larkins quickly sat: and took we in I decided it was un- haven't that the In- n bad transpertation @ vision of paper imagine that some- articular Minerva to justify sending The thought wife appear- Kk, and seating themselves casually, once more intent on the without belong openly rude. w omy displeasure, and I beg your pardon the thread of our ¢on- versation his characteristically disarming manner, From that time terest, Larkins fully respected my supersen: titiveness as to my offending clubfoo explain something, “So t “Guess thelr honeymoon 1s on the gnd even on tho rare occasions whoa I could not bear a word wane already," observed another. I inadvertently dropped my cane— poken, but I count myself “Does any one know the young chap and rare (they were, tort” guarded eyes, words and thoughts evident that somo serious nt had arisen between myself vigtlantly against the embar- Tassment of being without even its momentary support—he consl allowed me to recover it for knowing I would prefer this venience to the humiliation of proffered aid. As the reporter and T neared the forward portion of the ship, on out way to our staterooms, a cry of @ man, frightful in its agony and a rang through the ship, and Ha Forbes stumbled trom his stateroom in a frenay of terror. His eyes, bloodshot and wild, the glint of a hunted animal, ‘ana t wi ust nation of overdrink. “Don't let him get me!” he cried. “Help! help!” warding off J figures with his ban "Hee gone to murder me!” Larkins sprang toward him aad bah ed him roughly by the arm. “Here, said the reporter, “Brace up! You've got a bad cage of the jimjam: The purser and the chief steward hurried from their staterooms at the sound of the disturbanos; and ike. wise came Woodruff, the first officer, running along the deck bridge. The next moment Conrtlandt, Mrs. Forbes and a few started sengers made up a group that ‘quickly surrounded the panic-stricken man. “He's going to murder me to-night!” Ca ‘orbes. “To-night —to- ght” “Who? demanded Woodruff impa- tently. Pa ‘orbes held out a trembling hand. Clutched between his fingere’ was s crumpled piece of paper. Tho first officer straightened out the little slip and stared at it blankly 1 the rot!” he ejaculated. h were chattering so yt he could make no tn~ telligible reply; but Larkins broke in oT bes don, Mr. Wi * s your pardon, Mr. he said, “but may I have Hye” that bit of paper?” The officer it over and Larkins studied it in- tently, “It 1s some sort of cipher,” he said, and as Larkins afterward made a copy of it 1 give it bere: = T= 9-14-15-20 8-16 11 8-11-21-19-11 3) 4+ 8 2+ 4-14 24-20 15- 9-19- 9-26-28-10- 1 7+ G- B 1-25-24. 1. 8 16-20-19+22-26-25- 3 9 8- Be 1622+ 6-4-7. pty By this time Capt. had the throng around che moneda jemanded Mr. Forbes,” he di “What does this mean?” t means " gasped s, pull yourself together, said the skipper. “What has scared you? This foolish collec- tion of figures?” and he indicated the bar Larkins handed him. vith @ groan Forbes cl both hai before his eyes. Donte tet me enh? leaded pitifully. But where did you get it, man?” Just an instant ago." Where—where, I asked you?” “It was lying on my bed. It has come at last! For years, fool-—fool that I was" Forbes broke into hy- stericul laughter. “To have tho it all these years that I wae saft et he was dead"-—— “Stop this!” thundered Capt. “For heaven's sake, be a man!” turned and addressed the group " ough to lone with Mr. Forbes. Mr, Larkins and Mr, Marshall, I'l ask you to remain,” he continued, “and accompany Mr. Woodruft and myesit to Mr. Forbes's room. ‘There may be something serious under all this.’ ‘i gy moe a f red to the couch In the parlor of the suite and flung Bimmele Pao it. M, “Looks i lain D, T.' i ong ane i. oa “Come, Mr. Forbes, show where ju found this cipher thinj Capt. yd urged in a more kindly tone, acoing the man was physically over- oom: vsgrogm een, a pase | {ate the pointes rem! to aide of the bed. mee “Who in tl room wi to-night?” Capt. dit. “No ona “Captain.” | Larkins interrupted, “may I ask Mr. Forbes a fi ues tions? This is more along m; he explained apologetically, be to see something ‘ertainly,” @aid the ski; » with manifest reilof, bogs Larkins turned to Forbes. “You say you were all alone, Mr, Forbes he anpriee, “Ye “Who was last in t! besides yourself?" ale soe “Mrs. Forbes,” “Are you sure?’ “Absolutely sure.” “What time was that? pet afternoon,” Yas that when she was removing her effects to the opposite stateroom A red flamed in Forbes's to be “I don't mean to be offenst . Forbes,” Larkin said Sane ae only trying to make use of my ability as a newspaper sleuth,” smili ~ sically, “to discover the why wherefore of the thing that you so; and you would like us to Qt the bottom of it, wouldn't you? Forbes shuddered. “Go ahead quiz me all you wish,” he said re “What does tt matter to a man who has only @ few more hours in this world?—a marked man, sir, @ marked man!" (To Be Continued.) demanded sullenly. GOING AWAY FOR A VACATION? 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