Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-17
sAFE-OPENING HUMORS.
Some Incidents Showing How Great
Troubles Arise From Little Causes.

From the Boston Courier.
'"There are many amusing incidents con-
nected with our business" said a safe manu-
facturer one day. ut is to be expected that in
the ordinary course Of events circumstances
will arise when a safe will have to be opened
by an expert. Locks, like any other piece Of
mechanism, are not invaluable. The best Of
them are liable to fail at times through some
slight defect in manufacturing, same as the
handspring Of the most valuable watch may
give out Unexpectedly.
mot long ago a firm wanted a man to fix
their safe. 1t was open, but they could not
shut the door far enough to throw the bolts
The man went to the place and after brief
examination saw penny resting on one of the
bottom fianges Taking this off the door shut
and locked all right. 1t is forgotten how much
it cost the firm to have the man 20 to their
place and pick up that little coin, but 1t was
enough to prevent its being repeated, no doubt
similar case happened recently. We were
sent for at about the close of business hours to
see what was the trouble with one Of our safes.
The bolts would not throw far enough to turn
the lock. The result was the finding of a cloth
button from q ladys dress in the lower bolt
hole. This removed all was right. As the vic
tim was staid bachelor and supposed to &C.
cupy his Office alone he begged that it should
be kept quiet.
''Some years ago we had delivered Q new set
OF vault doors for a bank about two hundred
miles away. Just before they we're ready to
occupy their new quarters we had q telegram
to send q man at once. The bolts Of the outer
door would not throw far enough to lock it.
Our man went and this is what he found: The
bank officers had fitted in q board for the tread
Of the vestibule, but had omitted to bore holes
in it to allow for the throw of the bolts An
anger and ten minutes labor made everything
all right, but made that piece OF board rather
extravagant luxury.
for the last For fear this may reach the eyes
OF the hero Of the incident, / will substitute
for his correct address that of Calais, Me. 1t
was not q thousand miles from there. The
letter read to come at once and open a safe, as
there were important documents wanted for
immediate use. With his kit Of tools our man
took the next train and arrived on the follow
ing evening 1t proved to be an old-fashioned
safe with large key lock. There said the
man, lis the safe. The lock has been working
harder and harder for weeks, until now am
locked out l am in hurry to have 1t opened.
Never mind the damage if you will only break
into 1t in short order Our expert took the
key and tried it, but it refused to work. He
then took small wire and picked out half
1t again, and better working lock was never
SEEN How much is your billP As this in
VOWED trip to and from Calais, Of about 900
miles, and time and expense in proportion, he
replied $40. Taking q roll Of bills from his
pocket ne said: That Is satisfactory on condi-
nons. Does any one in the place know your
business here2' The reply was, No ONE All
mum, for would gladly pay s100 rather than
have any OF my friends know that was fool
enough to 60 to Boston for Q man to pick the
dirtout OF my key"