Page:Waylaid by Wireless - Balmer - 1909.djvu/350

Rh and then faced the officer resolutely, "I heard. Mr. Preston, of course, thinks he does me a service by denying utterly that I have any connection with the robbery of the cabin next to mine last night."

The captain started, but the girl, disregarding Preston's warning gesture, went on.

"But I prefer not to conceal it. I hid Mr. Preston in my stateroom for just an instant as he came out of cabin one hundred and forty-one. I do not know why I did it. I—"

Preston was trying to speak, but the officer shut him off triumphantly.

"What—what have I done?" the girl stammered. "What is it?"

"It is merely, Miss Varris," the captain replied with careful politeness, "that we are not now arresting Mr. Preston-Manling, or whatever his name may be, for the theft of the pool last night. We had no direct indication till now that he was concerned with that.

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