The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1894-10-27

Approached ny narrow passage yards
long running out Of the saloon, In which
as we passed through, noticed the in
valid lady and her attendant being ush-
cred into stateroom by the stewardess
The stateroom was the nearest 10 the
goldroom passage--a fact which further
impressed upon me the hint given by the
detective.
The captain opened the door Of the
goldroom with his key. and my men de
posted the boxes on the floor. Captain
Temple waited till had dismissed them
and then stopped down In another cor
ner Of the room and pulled ut a small
tag Of wire that protruded through a
hole
When he had got enough wire to make
fair sized loop, he carried over one Of
the boxes. put the loop Of wire around
Il and turned 10 me with smile.
There, Dutton." he said Now, II
any one touches that box shall know il
up on the bridge MS soon as you will in
the saloon there-sooner, II you don't
happen 10 spot them going in"
complimented the skipper ON his in
genuity. though made the mental res
ervation that on occasions when | hap
pened TO DO on duty his electric bell
would never DO used. | did not mean to
take my eye off that passage during the
voyage
The captain put the other box on the
top Of the one TO which the wire was at
tached, and after a last look round we
locked the door, this time with my key
to make sure that the new lock answered
satisfactorily TO both Of them.
It was dne night, and the saloon was
nearly empty, most Of the passengers
preferring the fresh air on deck. One
respectable old gentleman. evidently a
clergyman. was immersed in book at
the table that ran down the center of the
saloon. but with these exceptions all the
occupants Of the place were ladies', and
not many Of them.
In my immediate vicinity only one
lady was sitting. and | paid very little
attention to her, all my thoughts being
concentrated on the goldroom door, with
Just half n wink now and then toward
the invalid lady's cabin.
But 1t soon came to my notice that the
lady near me was in trouble Of some
kind From my position could see her
without turning round, and noticed
that she kept her head in her hands and
appeared to be shaken with suppressed
sobbing
At length she raised her face and
looked at me. Her eyes were red with
weeping and there were tears on her
cheeks. She was quite young and very
pretty--far too pretty to be travelling
alone. thought.
There was pleading expression in her
eyes rs she looked at me which half sug-
gested that she required some service at
my hands. though quite made up my
mind not to grant it. whatever it might
be, II it should take me from my post for
one single instant. Beauty in distress
was decoy not altogether unknown in
the annals of crime, and, at the risk OF
impoliteness. | would avoid all chance OF
becoming victim.
Hesitating and struggling with emo
ton. the girl opened her lips and essayed
to speak The words seemed to come
with difficulty and were almost inau.
dible.
May | ask you to give me your atten.
ton for momentT she stammered. BE
ieve me. it is on matter of great inn
| portance.
81 am on duty here" answered. land
cannot come over to you You had
better come little nearer"
ut is about your duty wish to speak.
was her astounding reply as she moved
over and took II seat by my side. ''You
are in charge of the goldroom. are you
notgr
Yes" ! said shortly. not knowing
what TO expect
She paused for a moment and then
went on, speaking hurriedly in wills.
per IL wish to save my brother from
the preparation of great crime" she
said. "He is the dupe of wicked man
of Red Jen. the notorious boat thief
and his gang. There is plot on foot &c
steal the valuables from the goldroom
tonight. A thousand times better foi
my brother to suffer punishment at the
hands of the law for first unsuccessful
attempt than to become hardened
criminal Oh. sir. stop him in time and
be as merciful as your duty viii permit
The young lady need have no appre
hension lest should fail TO stop the rob
berry. said TO myself Then ! asked
aloud. Where is your brother. them"
'In the goldroom at this moment,
was the reply. which took my breath
away.
"lmpossiblel~ | exclaimed. II hav,
not moved from this spot since the gold
room door was locked"
MY brother slipped into the passage
just after we started. while you wer,
looking at that cabin door. He was con
oealed under the saloon table And yoI
do not know Red Jem, sir. He has mas
ter keys that will fit any lock"
was puzzled sorely. felt as sure a
man could feel that no one could have
passed into the passage without my see
ing him. And. again, il there was som'
one in the goldroom tampering with thu
boxes. how was 1t that the captain
boosted electric bell had not warned hin
up on the bridgeg
However, my duty was obvious.
must unlock the door and see for mysel
II anything was wrong. drew the Ike,