The Olneyville tribune. (Providence, R.I.) 1893-189?, 1894-06-23
THE GOLDROOM.

nc HIsut ludil lIOm fdrls pduIeu
into Calais Pier station only i've
minutes late. The usual scrambling
exodus OF passengers eager TO get
snack at the buffet before the 81 Gamer
was due To start began almost before
the train had stopped.
My employment Is that OF travel
ing clerk TO an express company,
whose business IL is TO convey be-
tween laris and London valuab.es
intrusted 10 it by clients.
was more than usually anxious
that night. because 1T was marked
by the Inauguration or new system.
Hither the valuables had heen placed
by one OF us in the go.droOm rented
by our company 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 another
official OF the company, who was pro-
vided with duplicate key.
The captains OF the boats were
also in possession OF keys in case ii
should be necessary for the safety OF
the ship 10 enter the goldroom.
These precautions. however, had
proved insufficient. Although the
locks OF the goldrooln door were
safety ones OF the most approved
kind, impressions in wax had been
obtained. false keys had been manu-
featured, and roOberies had been fire.
quent-perpetrated without doubt,
during the passage across the channel
by a gang OF expert thieves.
In consequence, an Official was TO
accompany in future every consign-
ment keep watch and ward at
the goldroom door.
That night the consignment was
OF small bulk, but OF extraordinary
value. 1t consisted OF two tin boxes,
one OF which contained notes on the
Bank OF France sent TO the Bank OF
England in payment for the purchase
OF 800. 900 sovereigns; the box con-
tanned negotiable bonds, with cou-
pOns attached, of the new Turkish
loan-the property OF the largest
financial house in the world.
The bonds were worth ESQ, 600, so
my total charge amounted to SO, 750,-
600.
Two of the company's porters had
accompanied me from Paris TO assist
in shipping the boxes As l stood
on the platform watching my men
haul the boxes from the treasury van
] was tapped on the shoulder by one
OF the French detectives whose duty
il is to keep an eye on the boats.
"You cross tonight under the new
arrangement. Mr.. Dutton, / think"
he whispered.
THAT is So" l replied. "Have
you taken stock OF my Fellow pas
sengers?"
Yes he said; 'and l 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
a step to allow solemn procession
to lass along the platform to the
gangway Of the steamer
A couple Of railway pOrters were
carrying a sick woman, by whose
side walked a tall maid. Two other
porters followed, wheeling unm.s-
taKably fem nine luggage
The detective stepped quickly to
the side OF the truck and read the
address pa nted in large white letters
on one OF the packages.
Mime. la Comtesse Brune," he
said As he rejoined me. lit is not
= title with which / am famil ar
Mon cher, 1T might be as we'll IL you
kept yourself acquainted with that
lady's whereabouts on the boat"
What! Have you cause for sus-
picion?" / asked.
Not in the least / did not re-
cognize either the grand dame or her
maid. Only, when one comes across
a title unknown to us OF the French
police it makes one cautious-that is
all, my friend. Bon voyage
The detective moved away, and i
followed my men on board the boat,
each carrying one OF the boxes. On
the gangway i met the captain, TO
whom 1 was we'll known-jolly old
Capt Temple.
''Hullo, my boy" he said. $50
you're going with US That's good;
you'll relieve me OF lot OF respons
DlllIy. got my new kcf VT your
precious new lock from the agent to-
day, but I've hit on better dodge
than all the locks in the world. Just
come along with me-"
Captain Temple led the way be-
low. followed with my men. The
goldroom was situated on the main
deck in little recess aft or the sa-
loon.
1t was about ten feet square and
was approached by a passage five
yards long running out OF the saloon,
in which, as we passed through, /
noti ed the invalid lady and her at
tendant being ushered into a state
room by the stewardess.
The stateroOm was the nearest TO
the goldroom passage lact which
further impressed upon he the hint
given by the detective.
The captain opened the door OF
the goldroo with his key, and my
n