"Sounds interesting," said Trask.
"Mebbe you think I'm jokin' of you?" said Jarrow.
"Not at all. I wouldn't put murder beyond that lot. There's something I've wanted to tell you since we left Manila, but I didn't want to do anybody an injustice."
"What's that?"
"Somebody stole one of my automatic pistols before I'd been aboard a quarter of an hour."
"No!"
"Yes. It was taken from my bag in my room."
"Mighty Nelson! You should ha' told me, Mr. Trask! Who do ye think got it?"
"I've every reason to suspect Mr. Peth. It was missing right after he moved his stuff out of my room. The bag had been opened and closed again very carefully, strapped and buckled. The man who took it had plenty of time and wanted to make sure he wasn't suspected right away. At least, he didn't want the loss noticed at once."
"So Mr. Peth's got an automatic gun, eh?" said Jarrow, rather in a musing way, and drawing a deep breath.