After a moment of hesitation, Frank laughed lightly and took the pin
from the scarf.

Immediately the visitor seemed to breathe more freely.

"Ah--er--thank you!" he said. "I--I've seen omens enough. Everything
seems to point to--to a--tragedy. I regret exceedingly that I ever
sailed--on this steamer. I--I shall be thankful when I put my feet on
dry land--if I ever do again."

"You must be rather superstitious," suggested Frank.

"Not at all--that is, not to any extent," Mr. Slush hastened to aver.
"There are a few signs--and omens--which I know--will come true."

"Indeed!"

"Yes, sir!" asserted the little man, with surprising positiveness. "I
know something will happen--to this boat. I--I am positive of it."

"Why are you so positive?"

"Everything foretells it. At the very start it was--foretold. I was
foolish then that I did not demand--demand, sir--to be set ashore, even
after the steamer had left--her pier."

"How was that?"

"There was a cat, sir--a poor, stray cat--that came aboard this steamer.
They did not let her stay--understand me? They--they drove her off!"