Clodis the importance of keeping the two
sets of papers apart, and had advised him that it might not be safe to
deposit either in the purser's safe, from which they might be taken
through the means of a deep-sea burglary.

"So the probability is that Bert Clodis had one set of papers
concealed on his person. The other set of papers--the one I now have
safe--he seems to have put away in his trunk, believing that no one
seeking to rob him would think him simple enough to leave valuable
papers in a trunk that could be rather easily entered in the hold of a
liner.

"As I have already told you, I had the ship watched at New York, and
received a message, after her sailing, which told me that no one
answering Dalton's description had boarded the 'Constant' at her
pier.

"As the liner entered this latitude Bert Clodis was to send off a
wireless message which, though apparently rather blind, would be
enough to advise me that no one answering to Dalton's description had
appeared among the passengers or crew of the 'Constant.' This news I
awaited at the wireless station at Beaufort, and you can imagine my
anxiety."

"That was why, then," broke in Joe, suddenly, "when I received that
message about the injury to Mr. Clodis, you were able to break in so
quickly?"

"Yes," nodded Mr. Seaton. "I was waiting, and was on tenterhooks. I
would have joined you, and would have gone out in haste to receive
Bert Clodis myself, but I realized that, if I delayed you, the big
liner would get past us, and Bert Clodis must most likely die on the
way to Brazil."

"Why weren't you out here, sir, at this bungalow, where you could have
received the message as well, and then have gone out with us on the
'Restless'?" inquired Tom Halstead, with deepest interest in this
strange narration.

"I was at Beaufort," responded Mr. Seaton, "because I felt it very
necessary to be where I could use a private wire to New York that I
had reserved. I was, at that time, waiting for word from New York of
any possible discovery that could be made concerning the movements of
the infamous Dalton, whom I did not then know, or believe, to be on
board the 'Constant.'"

There was silence for a few moments, but Powell Seaton at last went
on, thoughtfully:

"We now know that Bert Clodis did _not_ deposit any papers with the
purser of the ship. One set of the papers, therefore, must have been
tucked away in his clothing. Dalton, after assaulting Bert Clodis, or
havi