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Murder At Sea

John Ragusa

    In 1849 New England, Luther Disper was a sailor who hated the sea. The only reason he’d taken the job was that his father Jacob had been a seafaring man, and he’d wanted Disper to follow in his footsteps and be a sailor, too. Disper was eager to please Jacob, so he’d reluctantly chosen that profession. Jacob had died of cancer recently, so Disper didn’t need to keep the old man happy anymore. He could quit sailing and do something else. But how could Disper support himself if he gave up his current occupation? There was no other type of work he could actually succeed at.
    Disper knew that his captain, Huck Lorimar, owned a gold ring that was worth its extravagant price. He’d heard Lorimar brag about it a lot. If Disper could possibly break into his captain’s cabin, he’d steal the ring and later sell it at a high price. He’d be set for life, and he’d never have to spend another day as a sailor. The good times lay ahead!
    There was just one problem with the plan, however. Lorimar spent plenty of time in his cabin, and when he wasn’t in it, the door was locked. How on Earth could Disper ever get inside there to burgle the ring? He would have to think of a solution to that obstacle.
    He pondered it a while, letting ideas float around in his head. Then he decided to kill Lorimar on deck when no one but the two of them were there. After the captain breathed his last, Disper would take the key from him. He’d unlock the door, walk inside, and swipe the ring. It would be as simple as that.
    Early one foggy morning, only Lorimar and Disper were out on deck. The latter strangled the former with his big, strong hands. He took the key off of Lorimar.
    He went to the cabin, unlocked the door, and walked inside. Though he looked into every nook and cranny in the cabin for the ring, Disper simply could not find it. He was annoyed, angry, and exasperated.
    In the meantime, Lorimar’s death was declared murder by person or persons unknown. At least Disper wouldn’t have to walk the plank for it, though.
    The day after, Disper asked another sailor if he knew where the captain kept his ring.
    “He always had it in his vest pocket,” the grizzled old seaman replied. “In fact, he wore that same vest when we buried him at sea yesterday.”

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