The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-04-19
The GOldrOOn.

The night mail from Paris painted into
Calais Pier station only five minutes
late The usual scrambling exodus of
passengers eager to get snack at the
buffet before the steamer was due to
start began almost before the train had
stopped.
My employment is that of travelling
clerk to an express company, whose bust
ness it is to convey between Paris and
London valuables intrusted to it by eli
ents
was more than usually anxious that
night, because it was marked by the in
auguration of a new system. Hitherto
the valuables had been placed by one of
us in the goldroom rented by our COM
pany on the steamers. The room had
been carefully locked and the property
had been left to take care of itself until
it got to Dover, where it was met by an
other official of the company. who was
provided with duplicate key.
The captains of the boats were also i'll
possession of keys in case it should be
necessary for the safety of the ship to
enter the goldroom.
These precautions, however, had
proved insufficient. Although the locks
on the goldroom door were safety ones
of the most approved kind, impressions
in wax had been obtained, false keys had
been manufactured, and robberies had
been neutrality-suspicious., without
doubt. during the passage across the
channel by gang of expert thieves.
In consequence, an official was to &C
company in future every consignment
and keep watch and ward at the gold
room door.
That night the consignment was of
small bulk, but of extraordinary value.
Ii consisted of two tin boxes, one of
which contained notes on the Bank of
France, sent to the Bank of England in
payment for purchase of 10000 SOW
ereigns, the other box contained nego-
table bonds. with coupons attached, of
the new Turkish loan-the property of
the largest financial house in the world
The bonds We're worth 9250 900, SO
that my total charge amounted to 49,,
100, 700.
Two of the company's porters had ac-
companied me from Paris to assist in
shipping the boxes. AS 1 stood on the
platform watching my men haul the
boxes from the treasury van | was tapped
on the shoulder by one of the French de-
tectives whose duty it is to keep an eye
on the boats.
p You cross tonight under the new ar
rangement, Mr. Dutton, | think" he
whispered.
That is So" | replied. "Have you
taken stock of my fellow passengers"
Eyes" he said; "and have not spotted
any suspicious characters so far. All!
stand aside there, mon ami; make way
for madame" and the detective pulled
me gently back step to allow solemn
procession to pass along the platform to
the gangway Of the steamer.
A couple of railway porters were car
lying sick woman by whose side
walked a tall maid. Two other porters
followed, wheeling truck of unmistak-
able feminine luggage.
The detective stepped quickly TO the
side of the truck and read the address
painted in large white letters on one of
the packages
Mime. la Comtesse de Bruno" he said
as he rejoined me, at is not title with
which am familiar. Mon cher, it might
be as we'll if You kept yourself acquaint-
ed with that lady's whereabouts on the
boat"
WHAT Have you cause for suspi
cionY' asked.
mot i'll the least did not recognize
either the grande dame OF her maid
Only when one comes across a title UNI
Known to us of the French police il
makes one cautious--that is all, my
friend. Bon voyage"
The detective moved away and fol
lowed my men ON board the boat, eacl
carrying one of the boxes. On the ganC
way met the captain to whom | was
well known-jolly old Captain Temple.
"Hullo, my boyw he said so your,
going with us. That's good; you'll re
ieve me from IA lot of responsibility.
got my new key for your precious new
lock from the agent today, but I've hi
on a better dodge than all the locks il
the world. Just come along with me-"
Captain Temple led the way below
j followed with my men. The goldroon
was situated on the main deck in a lii
tie recess aft Of the saloon.