Page:In a Steamer Chair and Other Stories.djvu/221

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THE MAN WHO WAS NOT ON THE PASSENGER LIST.




The well-sworn Lie, franked to the world with all
      The circumstance of proof,
Cringes abashed, and sneaks along the wall
      At the first sight of Truth.


The Gibrontus of the Hot Cross Bun Line was at one time the best ship of that justly celebrated fleet. All steamships have, of course, their turn at the head of the fleet until a better boat is built, but the Gibrontus is even now a reasonably fast and popular boat. An accident happened on board the Gibrontus some years ago which was of small importance to the general public, but of some moment to Richard Keeling—for it killed him. The poor man got only a line or two in the papers when the steamer arrived at New York, and then they spelled his name wrong. It had happened something like this: Keeling was wandering around very late at night, when he should have been in his bunk, and he stepped on a dark place that he thought was

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