Page:C Q, or, In the Wireless House (Train, 1912).djvu/210

 a steward who unlocked his state-room for him. Then he got the necklace, which he ’d hidden there, and brought it ashore,—no questions asked.”

“Where ’d he hide it?” inquired Lily.

“Why,” said Ashurst, “you know those ventilators for the forced draught? Well, he just tied a string to it and lowered it in. No one would think of looking for anything there, would they?”

“I think he took a good many chances!” remarked the bride decidedly. “What ’s the matter with getting one of the officers or a stewardess to bring anything you happen to have ashore for you? Nobody ever searches them. My brother gets all his cigars that way. Why, either the assistant purser—or the second steward—is always glad to earn an extra tip. So is any one of them. In that way you don’t take any risk at all.”

“By George! there you go!” laughed Ashurst. “It ’s always the women who corrupt the men!”

”Well, if the Government is bound to have such ridiculous and unjust laws, it must expect people to break them!” exclaimed Lily hotly.