CHAPTER IX.
THE LIGHTNING STROKE OF FATE.
While the "Mesopotamia" skimmed along over the crisp, curling seas upon this sunlit Tuesday morning, she bore onward a man whose breast was now filled with a vague unrest.

The robust passenger known as "Mr.August Meyer" was unusually jovial at breakfast, when he informed the bluff Captain that Mrs.

Meyer was rapidly recovering and would soon be able "to grace the deck," in the language of the society journals.
The absconding murderer was delighted that Irma and himself were the only first-class passengers, although accommodations for fifty had been retained in making a "freighter" of the one-time "record liner." Leaving Irma, at her wish, to dream of a future meeting with Clayton, Fritz Braun was left free to retire to his own capacious cabin.
"Take the whole twenty staterooms," cried the jolly old skipper, highly propitiated with Braun's wine-opening and the druggist's superb cigars.

And this Tuesday afternoon Braun proposed to devote to a careful examination of his rich plunder.
As yet he had not verified the whole stolen treasure.

When all his own luggage was arranged in his own double room, he carefully threw overboard all of the murdered cashier's private articles.
The hat and shoes, which he had feared to burn, were cast into the foaming wake of the vessel, and even the veriest trifle of the contents of the deceived lover's pockets.
Braun, greedy at heart, shut his eyes as he tossed the watch-chain and locket overboard, and even the scarf-pin, links and studs of the victim.