The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-23
When he cot enough wire TO make

q fair sized loop. he carried over one
OF the boxes, put the loop OF wire
around IL and turned 70 me with a
smile.
There, Dutton," he said. Now
IL any one touches that box / shall
know IL up on the bridge as soon as
you will in the saloon there sooner
If you don't happen TO spot them go
ing il.
1 complimented the skipper on his
ingenuity, though l ma the men,
tai reservation that on occasions
when l happened 10 he on duty his
electric bell would never be used. l
did not mean TO take my eye of that
passage during the voyage.
The captain put the other box on
the top OF the one 10 which the wire
was attached. and after last look
round we locked the door, this time
with my key, 10 make sure that the
new lock answered satisfactorily 10
both OF them
1t was a Tine night, and the saloon
was nearly empty, most of the pas
sengers preferring the fresh air on
deck. one respectable old gentle
man, was immersed in book at the
table that ran down the center of the
saloon. but with this exception all
the occupants OF the place were
ladies, and not many OF them.
In my immediate vicinity only one
lady was sitting and 1 paid very
little attention TO her, all my
thoughts being concentrated on the
goldIo )m door, with just a wink now
and then toward the invalid lady's
cabin.
But il soon came TO me that the
lady near me was in trouble OF some
kind. From my position l could see
her without turning round. aud / no.
ticed that she kept her head in her
hands and appeared TO be shaking
with suppressed soDbing.
At length she raised her face and
looked at me. Her eyes were red
with weeping and the were tears
on her cheeks. She was quite young
and very prctty-far too pretty to be
travelling alone, l thought.
There was a plead ng expression in
ter eyes as she looked at me which
half suggested that she required
some service at my hands, though I
quite made up my mind not To grant
1t, whatever IL might lie, IL it should
take me from my post for one single
instant. Beauty in distress was a de-
coy not altogether unknown in the
annals OF crime, and at the risk OF
impoliteness, L would avoid all
chance OF becoming a victim.
Hesitating and struggling with
emot on, the girl opened her lips and
essayed TO speak. The words seemed
to come with difficulty and were al
most indudible. .rfo ..-
"May | ask you TO give me your at
tention for a moment" she STAN
mered. "Believe me, it is on a mat
ter OF great Importance.
Il am on duty here" / answered,
and | can not come over to YOU. You
had better come a little nearer"
ut is about your duty | wish to
speak," was her astounding reply as
she moved over aud took seat by
my size "You are in charge OF the
goldroom, are you not?"
Yes" ! said shortly, not know
ing what to expect
She paused for moment and then
went on, speaki hurriedly in a
whisper. Il wish To save my brother
from the preparation OF great
crime" she said. "Iie is dupe OF a
wicked man-of Red Jem, the notori-
Gus boat tn eff and his gang. There
is plot on foot TO steal the valua-
bles from the goldroom tonight A
thousand times better for my brother
to suffer a punishment at the hands
OF the law for first unsuccessful at
tempt than TO become hardened
criminal. oh, sir. stop him in time,
and be as me ciful as your duty will
permit"
The young lady need have no ap.
prehens on lest / should fail TO stop
the robbery, / said to myself. Then
/ asked aloud, "Where Is your
brother, then?"
"ln the goldroom at this moment"
was the reply, which took my breath
awav.
Impossible" / excla med. II
have not moved from this spot since
the goldroom door was locked"
"My brother 81 pped into the pas
sage way after we started, while you
were looking at the cabin door. He
was concealed under the sa oon table.
And you do not know Led Jem, sir.
He has master ke.s that will fit any
lock"
was puzzled sorely. / felt as
sure as man could feel that no one
could have passed into the passage
without my seeing him. And, again,
il there were SO lie one in the gold
room tampering with the boxes, how
was it that the captains bOasted
electric bell had not warned him up
On the br dge!
However, my duty was obvious. i
must unlock the door and see for my
self II anything was wrong. drew
the key from my pocket and aD-
preached the door, followed by the