Page 14 - 0001
P. 14

facing a murder rap. Why in the dickens did I ever come over here
in the first place? I'll be kicking myself in the pants for a long time
for that. But no need to worry now. Soon's I get on a .ship back to
the States, the whole country can go to Hades for all I care! Stupid
bulls, to think they could catch me.... "

      Travers was off the train before it stopped. The rail ran right
down to the docks, and Travers wasn't long in realizing that some-
thing was up. Hustle and bustle were apparent everywhere. He
stopped a boy who was carrying an armful of luggage and inquired
as to what was going on.

      "It's only a ship which'll be leaving port shortly."
      "Where's she headed?"

      "For the states, I presume, gov'nor. But I really don't know."
      "How do I get aboard her?"

      "The ticket officeis right up the street 'ers' blimey. It's the White
Star Line."

      "Thanks, buddy."

      But passage was not to be had, for the voyage was apparently
something special, but Travers was determined that he was going to
get to the States one way or another. Spotting a man carrying a lug-
gage case, he moved on up the street and waited. When the man
passed, Travers, using a piece of wood that he had found as a cudgel,
set upon him and knocked him unconscious. "Poor fellow," he
thought. "A victim of circumstance. But it cannot be helped, for I
simply must get aboard that ship. Uh, here's his identification ...
Mr. Oscar Gaines. Sounds O.K. And here is that all important little
ticket. Thank you, Mr. Gaines. And now I shall have to leave you,
sir."

     With the ticket and identification, Travers had no trouble get-
ting aboard the ship. He sauntered along the deck, smiling to him-
self in reflection of his success. "How could those stupid cops even
think of catching me. Ha! Ummm, here's that blornmin' newspaper
I bought yesterday. Maybe they've got something in here about me
and my little job."

     The date at the top of the paper read April 9, 1912, but as Travers
silently noted to himself, that was yesterday. Tod;y was April 10,
1912.

     The ship's whistle shrilled, and the jargon of the seamen filled
the air as the British steamship TITANIC steamed out of South-
ampton Harbor on her maiden voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

                                             12
   9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19