Disinfectants were put in the cabin, and the door locked. At the suggestion of the doctor, the captain affixed seals to a piece of tape fastened to the door and its lintel. The ship steamed on. Ocean bore a secret on her billowy bosom—it was but one added to the myriads buried in her fathomless depths.[Pg 68] [Pg 68] CHAPTER IX A WAITING WIFE'S DISCOVERY In the sight of the harbor of New York the ship slowed down, and the tender came alongside. The customs officers and port sanitary authority came aboard. Soon after the liner was moored at her pier, and in compliance with the signal she had hoisted, the police came on board. Not a passenger was allowed to land until the officers had thoroughly gone into their characters, and investigated the details which the captain had thoughtfully put on paper. Every passenger, his address, description, and destination had been listed; the evidence of the second mate, doctor, steward, and purser had been committed to paper and signed. The two berthed cabin spoke for itself—eloquently. The passengers were allowed to land at last. There was no reasonable excuse for their further detention. The crowds waiting on shore had wondered at[Pg 69] the delay, but the first man off told the news, and it spread. [Pg 69] The extra editions of the newspapers sold well that evening. It is an ill wind which fails to inflate the circulation of the newspapers. The people assembled at the pier gradually dispersed, moving away with the friends they had come to meet, until at last only the working staff of boat and shore hands were around. The public had gone home—all save one member of it, a tall, bony, dressed in country style woman. She had started from home with whole white cotton gloves on. As she stood watching the boat
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