The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-24
SAFE MO. ~.

superIors. the Rawlin Brothers, principals
of the bank, that my trustworthiness and
punetualty had induced them to promote
me to this post at an earlier age than bank
clerks usually blossom out into inspectors
or agents i thanked them deferentially,
but adhered to my own previous private
opinion, which was that / Was indebted for
It partly to the influence Of my uncle. Sir
Gilbert Varcomb of Keppelwade, and partly
to the adventure which / am about TO re-
late.
- The agent under whom l had qualified for
nay present position was John Seaton,
canny old Scotchman, slow as tortoise
but of exceeding kindness and faithfulness
Of heart. To know him was to love him.
lie aud l both lived in the bankhouse. just
above the business premises, which were
large and commodious. 1t was substan-
tial and imposing mansion, built OF req
brick with stone faciDgS and poIlShed gran
lie pillars. The whole of the ground noor
was REQUIRED for business purposes. besides
n large portion of the cellarage. A SIDE en-
france as handsome as the other led up TO
the first floor, where the agent lived. On
higher story had my bedroom and sitting
p room.
There was beautiful little place belong
inc to my uncle called the CedarS. within
mile Of tie town. 1t was teuanted by re-
tired Indian officer, Colonel Cover. his wife
and daughter, Miss Eleanor Cover, very
handsome girl, but cold and stately in man
Ier. Shortly after they took possession OF
the Cedars, about a twelvemODth before my
story begins. Colonel Cover and his daugh-
ter dove into town and stopped at the
bank, where they both alighted and en-
tered, the colonel bearing in his hand
large brown leather Dag went with them
TO tie managers room, as MI. SeatOn was
out and Colonel Cover opened his DuSl-
ness TO me without any hesitation.
Il have here" he said, laying his hand
on the bag, many thousands OF pounds
worth of jewels. My daughters godmother.
Mrs. Haseidine, very wealthy and eccen-
tic woman, died recently, and DeQHeathed
ali her Jewels TO Eleanor-more trinketS
than reasonably sane woman could wear
in lifetime. We have brought them to
. you fer safe-keeplng. lie sat down tie
bag on the table with q heavy thud.
Iexplained 10 them quietly the pTecau-
tons we took for the defense Of such val
UableS-
- will give Miss Cover written code or
cipher that Will be known only to her aud
me and of course, Mr.. Seaton. She must
give an order in her own handwriting to any
messenger-even You, Colonel Cover, bear.
ing the half of this cipher on its face before
any of the Jewels are delivered. The key of
the safe in which they are kept"
Zone moment, please" Interrupted Miss
Cover Il will retain only one key-that
Of tie leather jewel case inside the iron
box
- ''As YOU please" l assented. I'll you let
NE see them now, will catalogue them,
and make complimentary for you to re-
tain"
looked into the front Office to tell the
clerks that M one was to be admitted 70 the
managers room except Mr. Seaton If he re-
turned then | locked the door and sat down
10 MY task. The colonel opened the bag and
disclosed a strong box with iron clamps
marked with a large "H'' in braSs-headed
nails on the top. Miss Cover handed him
key, and he opened this also Inside was
strong leather jewel case, and of that, too,
Miss Cover gave him the key.
Ne had many beautiful and valuable fam
lily jewels in trust; but anything like those
now revealed had never seen. Rubes of
rich, intoxicating luster; hawleSS pearls,
opals, emeralds; but the diamonds were the
the especial glory of the collection, filling
the dull room with fairy sparkles OF light,
Ike the rippies on sunlIt bay. Starry
clusters Of diamonds for the breast, cOr0nets
OF lesser stars Tor the halr, necklaces, PEN
dants. brooches. clasps, l0cketS. eardrops
without number And besides all these in
their rich settings, little chamolS bag IN
der the lowest tray, lying beside q set Of
magnificent aud very ugly canoes held q
number OF unset and smaller diamonds. l
NQrked rapidly, laying each article when
catalogued on a yelvet-lined tray. When
the long list was finished l read it over the
colonel replacing each piece in the case as |
named ltY tIcDs UcitTo taxing n copy. put
my list carefully into a secret drawer of the
desk and locked it.
Now, we will put this iron box away
=. first. for it Is not safe TO leave the gems,
even for a moment. Come this way,
please"
/ left the agents room by door that
gave on the corridor, and they followed me
to the strong Tcom-a separate building,
burglar and fire proof. lit by electric light.
This strong room had been desiRned by a
Coia teFof ad on min hTYf Eli a
sans, with time ard appliances, and noise,
could break through from without or below,
The lock Of the iron door was a special
patent, opened by only one key, and that
key never left Mr.. Seaton's possession.
or, when he was absent, mine. l explained
all this TO Miss Cover as we entered the
vault; where light burned day and night
and strong safes held priceless deposits
This will -do-Safe No. 81. 1 said, STOP
ping before one. opened it with the key
on my punch that bore the corresponding
number, and placed the iron box inside,
taking ont the key of the box
Now, l explained, II shall connect an
e alarm with this safe that will ring both in
my room and Mr. Seaton's if it is tempered
with, so your treasures are quite secure,
Miss Cover"
After that day the Jewels lay undisturbed
for months, except that Miss Cover ocea-
~sioually brought friend to admire them,
when John Seaton or / brought the IRON
csamped boy to the managers room and
remained beside the gems until they were
restored to their stronghold.
Ehe winter wore uneventfuliy away, the
spring passed, and then slight stir came
even TO Keppelwade. for the two or three
hotels began TO fill with summer visitors,
who were finding out the beauty Of our Sc
eluded hamlet and its sunny bay. Among
others came young Anglo German, who
brought letters of introduction to Colonel
Cover from various old friends abroad and
at home. he told rs he needed rest and
quiet, and keppelwade had been recon-
mended TO him for its salubrious air and Sc
clusion. be was handsome man, of bril-
liant rarts, with wonderful fascination Of
manner. Colonel Cover did not invite him
to stag at the Cedars; he took rooms at the
Windsor Hotel, captivating all and sundry
by his good looks and his kindly, affable
manners.
polished, widely-traveled man of the
world was Join Hessel, and he could con-
verse with equal ease and brilliance on liter
AZURE. science up TO date, ethics or meta
physics. In week or two he was as much
at home in Keppelwade as If he had been
born among US, aud his face became as ia
miliar at the bank as that Of old John Sea-
ton himself.
MI Hessel was profound believer in mes
merism, and told US some strange tales Of
subjects" he had seen abroad. in Paris and
at the German seats Of learning, where at
that time metal baths" and mesmerism
were the prevalent craze. He told us with a
laugh one evening at Sir Gilbert's that when
all other means OF living failed him he
could become professor OF phrenoogy and
mesmerist. Few" he said, could resist
his influence. Sir Gilbert proposed ines
: meric entertainment" but Mr.. Hessel rather
haughtiIy refused.
Threaded the influence he might establish
ever Eleanor Cover: but when / saw no
special preference on either side, l became
content to wait, patiently and quietly as be-
fore, until time or circumstances favored
my own suit. thought my case was not
hopeless. 1 was heir presumptive to Sir
Gilbert Varcomb. and had a good allow
ance besides my salary. and / had no ex-
penslye tastes; so / thought it was not IN