New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-05-19
THE MANUFACTURERS.

office of the Lombard street Ddhk, 80 ~ ! =;
message that the manager wished TO SEE me III nls
MIR Williams he said, when l entered cred the
apartment, Il want you TO take %I,oCUl. 70
Nudhorough Tonight: 7O00l in golds the resi- 10
notes ME eXppss leaves EuStOn at V:3O ana
reaches Marlborough at 3:l5. clerk from Che
Bank of Marlborough will meet you on your ARRIVAL.
ayrangenents and return here at o'clock, when
Mir smith will have the consignment ready Tor
Won. or course you will keep your eyes open on
The iournrvH he added pleasantly as ! was IeaV-
INC the room Not that it would be easy 70
steal such a heavy box from you pat you VIII
have time TO sleep when you get TO marlborough
The Communication did not at all surprise me;
was about twenty-three years OF age, and, haV-
ing the reputation of being sharp and reliable had
been entrusted with many missions of similar
nature during the five years l had been in the
bank Besides, there was a bit of financial
scare at the time, and gold and notes were being
sent in large quantities from London TO the
Having received my instructions, ! left the bank
and started on my way to BriXtOn, where lived
As was walking down Lombard-St, toward the
bus stand, remembered that had appointed 10
meet friend al billiard room in the neighbor-
hood at half-past 5, and, as it was impossible,
under the circumstances, to keep the appointment,
thought IL only fair TO leave word to that ERECT
Accordingly, before taking bus TO BriNton, L
called at the blliard-rOom and instructed the
marker to tell my friend that; as had 70 go to
Marlborough, could not see him until the next
day but one. Having left this message went
home and returned to the bank at 8 o'clock.
When ! came back Mr. Smith, who was our
head cashier, waiting for me with the money
and letter of advice to the Bank of Marlborough.
The gold was tied up in seven bags, each con-
tanning one thousand soTcrelgns and the notes
fully in leather box which looked like dimlnu-
tive portmantcau, though inside it was lined with
IRON
II is pretty heavy" he said. referring 10 the
box when we had locked and strapped il up Sc
curely, and had put the key in my pocket, after
70 run away with but you had better, I think, let
Douglas take your ticket while you yourself see
IL put into your carriage
Douglas. | NAV mention, was one OF the bank
porters, who was TO accompany me 10 Euston. aud
the box weighed altogether about eleven stone.
Ali right l replied; q" bad better get TO
the station in time TO secure place before many
Of the passengers come; not that there's likely to
be crowd, but heavy thing like this attracts
attention. and l may as well get 1t into the car
SQuite So" said Mr. Smith, the SOONER you
get into your carriage the better. The guard viii
look after you on the way down. Don't leave
the carriage for o moment unless he stands at the
door"
The box was wheeled out Of the bank and put
into cab. / got inside. while Douglas took his
Well goodbye, and take care Of Yourself
said Mr.. Smith. as he shook hands with me through
Good bye responded and we set of for
It was just o'clock when we drew up in the
yard Of the station, and, having assisted rail
way porter 10 put the box on truck, Douglas
went to get my ticket whilst accompanied the
truck 10 the train, which was already drawn up
by the platform.
-HOlioa, Williams! Going to Rugby?' en-
claimed voice behind me. as / walked along by
7 ne speaker was a tan, fair-hared young man
named Hid, who was u hahitue OF the billiard
room where had left the message that afternoon
and who as understood, WAS engaged IN stock
No. i replied, Il going great deal
further. I am sorry TO say for hate travelling
"Wcll, we'll 90 as far as Rugby together How
odd we should meet in this way" continued Hill,
. III tip the guard, and We i have the carriage
out at Rugby. Here, this carriage will do. Let
us secure the corner seats. Stay, I'll give you
As he spoke he threw rug which he was carry
ing on his arm on the seat, end getting INTO the
carriage assisted the porter in pushing the strong
box under the place where / was 10 sit Wait
for me a moment while | get my bag from the
cloak-room,7 he continued to me- as he got out Of
the carriage and went IN the direction OF the
cloak.room.
Douglas came from the booking office with my
ticket. Douglas, may mention. was shrcwd |
old Scotchman. with whom / had always been on |
very good terms. When he had given me my |
ticket, he looked carefully under the seat TO see |
that the box was safe, and then, while we were |
o few words before we left. Mr.. I'LL came back |
with porter carrying large, handsome travelling
bag,
You know that gentleman, sir?" whispered
douglas In an interrogatve tone as Hill got into |
-66sA Ia, | answered yer he is stogkbroker'
Excuse me Tor asking, but it Is well 10 know
with whom you are tray cling when you have GOT
Such cao ip1 pi 81 money We'll good night sir
at the door. 10 watch very arIstocratic party
who were getting into the next Compartment
There were two gentlemen and two ladies, NJ.
tended by foOtman, and / stood on the platform
watching the foOtman until ne had handed them
all their bags and wrappers and shut their door.
" How nice IL must be 10 be a swell with plentv
OF cash." | thought, as | gave last l0ok IN see
that my own money-box was safe, and then took
ny scat.
l was rather annoyed at the last remark ~
Perhaps II was that il seemed little too familiar
or TOO much if hc deprecated. or, at least
thought that he had right 10 caution me about
my choice OF Acquaintance. Still his words harped |
on a true chord, and, very likely, il was this thar
made them dsagreeablc What did know about
Mr. Hill, / suddenly asked myself: lie was q
mere billiard room acquaintance. | believed that
be was IN o stockholders Office but | had no |
certain information AS 10 who or what he was, and
unless on this one occasion, when travelling
alone in charge OF $4,000 pounds in cash. On the |
Dther hand, had often been engaged on similar
missions before. | was yOnnR ard active; 10 |
would not be very easy 20 riff" the strong box |
had no reason 20 suppose TINT his purpose |
N travelling was not as innocent as my own and |
altogether | felt q little ashamed OF myself for |
allowing any suspicion 10 enter my mind about a |
nan who. presumably, was as honorable as myself. |
Nevertheless IL was my duty 70 exercise every pre-
,aution and SO declined cigar which he offered |
ne shortly after the train had started, and pres
nifty some brandy and water which he had In |
TASK. j thought he seemed q little hurt at my not
accepting either the cigar or the brandy. but he
Iept chatting quite pleasantly, telling me anec-
totes OF the Stock Exchange, and about very |
.eoentffe old gentleman who WAS q client OF his
hfm, and whom he going TO Rugby 70 sec on
Iheir behalf. Once or twice was on the point
o. asking him the name OF his firm as he did not
mention IL, hut | rcfraned somehow, owing 70
telling Of delcscy. Thus. he made himself so
ssuessbe during the two hours run down TO
nosDy that ] felt quite sorry as the time APP
pfeacneG FOR parting with him.
vel the Oldest and dearest friends must part
a u ~. hs said laughingly, the train was rum