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

The night mail from Paris painted into
Calais Pier station only five minutes
late. Tho usual scrambling exodus Of
passengers eager TO get a snack at the
buffet before the steamer was due TO
start began almost before tho train had
stopped
Ny employment Is that OF travelling
clerk TO an express company. whose bust
ness IL Is to convey between Paris and
London valuables intrusted 10 1t by eli
ents
! was more than usually anxious that
night. because II was marked by the In.
auguration OF 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
mad been left to take care OF itself until
II got 10 Dover, where IL was met by an
other official OF the company. who was
provided with duplicate key
The captains OF the boats were also in
possession OF keys In case IL should be
necessary fqr 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 requent-perpetrated without
doubt. during the passage across the
channel by gang of expert thieves
In consequence, an official was to nc
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 800. 900 SOY.
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 were worth &250, 900. 81
that my total charge amounted TO 50,
$50 600
Two of the company's porters had ac-
companied mo from Paris TO assist in
shipping the boxes. As ! stood on the
platform watching my men haul the
boxes from the treasury van was tapped
on tho shoulder by one Of the French de
tectives whose duty il is to keepan eye
on the boats.
You cross tonight under the new ar
rangement. Mr. Dutton. l think" he
whispered
That is So replied. Have you
taken stock Of my follow passengersS"
Yes" he said, 'and have not spotted
any suspicious characters 30 far. Ali
stand aside there. mon ami; make way
for madame. and the detective pulled
me gently back a step TO allow n solemn
procession TO pass along tho platform to
the gangway Of the steamer.
A couple OF railway porters were car
rying a sick woman. by whose side
walked a tall maid Two other porters
followed wheeling a truck Of unmistak-
able feminine luggage.
The detective stepped quickly 10 the
side OF the truck aud read the address
painted in large white letters ON one of
the packages
Nine. la Comtesso de Brune,r he said
AZ he rejoined me- 1T is not title with
which am familiar Mon cher, il might
b. AS well II you kept yourself acquaint-
Cd with that ladys whereabouts on the
boat
What Have you cause for suspi-
cionr asked.
Not In the least. did not recognize
either the grande dame OF her maid
Only when one comes across title un-
known to us OF the French police il
makes one caurous-that il all my
friend Bon voyage"
The detective moved away, and fol.
lowed my men on board the boat. each
carrying one Of the boxes. On the gang
way ! met the captain. TO whom ! was
well known-jolly old Captain Temple.
Hullo. my bOyI" he said. 80 yo1're
going with US. That's good. you'll re
lievo mo from "A lot OF responsibility.
got my new key for your precious new
lock from the agent today. but I've bit
on better dodge than all the locks in
tho world just come along with me.
Captain Temple led the way below
followed with my men. The goldroonl
was situated ON the main deck in lit
lie recess aft OF the saloon.
II was about 10 feet square and wa,