Waterbury evening Democrat., 1892-12-06

O4 tAA0 SOG6U46 O4 tA4C SOCheA AAzS i" "AA4NAA proposed to visit. Meanwhile, I had engaged berths for myself Archibald McNabl and servant in the clipper Saucy Sal, bound for Bremen, where we landed precisely eighty days after leaving Liverpool
 From Bremen we travelled by way of Hanover, Frankfort, Stuttgart and Zurich to Berne, thence to Gex, which lies in romantic valley of the Jura mountains, not far from the Swiss bor- der.
 After taking up my quarters at the village inn and exhibiting my papers at the local police office, l made a visit {, the chateau (which was fast falling into ruins) and its new owner, of whom ! asked such questions as would natu rally occur to curious traveller. From his answers felt sure that he hac neither found the hoard nor suspected its existence. After explaining that ] intended to remain in the neighbor- hood for few months, for the benefit o1 my health, I inquired on what terms he would allow me to turn corner of il into a temporary dwelling. A typical French peasant of the period, he was too stolid to show surprise; but he knew how to open his mouth.
 'Give me five hundred francs," he said land you may do what you like witE the old barrack."
 As it would have been impolitic to ac cede too readily to his demand, bar gained him down to four hundred, which was probably four times as much as he expected.
 The next day I engaged carpenter mason and several laborers to clean, repair, and render as habitable as might be two of the least delapidated rooms. When the work was done bought some cheap furniture and fitted thither with Jenkins and my goods and chattels.
 Jacques Bonhomme, the peasant pro prietor, supplied us with eggs, milk, butter and poultry; his wife did oul chores; and while we made as if we had nothing to do but hunt, fish, stroll about and amuse ourselves, we were at tending strictly to our business.
 The hoard was hidden in a vaul; under the old chapel, where in former times defunct De Gexes were wont te be buried. The sole entrance to it was covered by a large slab, the position oi which was shown on the plan given tc me by the chevalier.
 Choosing night when we were least likely to be disturbed, we lifted .tht flag and descended into the vault. Il was hideous place, full of collins ana bones, and we stayed no longer than was necessary to satisfy ourselves that the treasure was there and intact.
 There was much more of it in bull (whatever there might be in value) thar I expected, and it became question how to get it safely away. We had arrived with two trunks, and, if we de parted with six, suspicious might be raised that would be fatal to our enter prise.
 After some thought hit upon de vice which met the difficulty. We wen into the vault second time, brough up part of the hoard, and packed 1t into one of my trunks, together with a few clothes. On the following day I an nounced my intention of taking a triI to Berne, to consult an oculist abou my eyes, and went, taking the trunk At Berne bought box, into which removed all the valuables and consigned it, through an agent, to my father il London. Then returned to Gex witt my old trunk. The week after wen again, ostensibly for the same purpose and made in all four journeys and sen to England the bulk of the collection including the pictures, which had beer cut out of their frames. The antique gems, medals and coins we could pacl easily in our own trunks.
 By this time winter was coming on and, as our work was done, I tolC Jacques Bonhomme that the chateal was getting so cold that 1 cOuld stay il 1t no longer, and must betake myself t. warmer climate.
 long," he said, with grin. Do yo1 k1ow what they call you?"
 No. What do they call us?"
 "'The mad Americans An! ah! 'Th mad Americansr They say none bu uadmen would live in that draught,