The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-14
A Great Gold Robbery.
(By Bennett Copplestone, in Cornhilis.
In three parts.)
PART III,


new safe bought for the purpose, and
in it lay the unopened case of gold. Wal
lis had left the treasure in Stevens S
hands without hesitation. You would
steal it all if you dared" he had said I'M
kindly, 'but you do not dare. You know
that I should at once lay an information
against you. and you would be caught
with the stuff in your possession You
couldn't get rid of it"
BY the way, Stevens" he said now,
have you thought Of the means by which
we are to realize our spoil? That is a
problem of some interest
Il suppose there are ways" answered
Stevens, GROSSLY, but I don't know them.
You had the management of this business
and you had better keep it,
Il also suppose there are ways, but
don't know them. 1t seems rather alb
surd'
Stevens sprang to his feet. You don't
know! Have you Numbered into this, you
staggering fool, and you can't sell the
gold you've stolen? Why didn't you con-
suit me?"
THAT is precisely what I am doing
now"
Stevens dropped into his chair. 1T must
be possible he said weakly.
Listen to me-"
81 want my e2,0OO'
ed, you shall have your &2,OOO!'
You shall really have it, said Wallis.
Il shall really have it?''
| 'You shall really have it," said Wal
lis, smiling grimly. It was nasty smile.
when 1 was at the Bank of England"
he went on Il learned a good deal about
gold but there was one detail which es-
capped me We are now breaking our
heads against that detail. You will know
nF1n l..
entitled to take gold to the mint and to
have il coined at the rate of us 1012d. an
ounce. There is nothing to pay. This
seemed to me to be an admirable arrange
ment. and when / planned this robbery
I had in my mind to take the gold to the
mint in small quantities and gradually
10 have it coined. / always believe IN
the bold course, and this seemed both bold
and safe"
THAT is all right. What is the diff
culty?"
'.You shall hear. Yesterday 1 thought
it well to study the subject more fully,
so as to find out all the ways OF the
mint and to guard myself against uneX-
nected dangers [ went to the Guildhall
Library and looked up book on the
subject L found everything satisfactory
! except for one detail, and that detail
Stevens. is the devil. 1 found that al
| though the Bank of England pays only
! us. Cd. an ounce for gold-1l2d. per ounce
| less than the mint-yet IN pracuce II Il
heter TO sell gold to the Bank for cash
/ t1,ar 70 wait an indefinite time for the
mint to turn it into coin. 1t mas, lhele.
! fore hammered that since the passage OF
| the coinage act one firm, only one hrm'
has ever sent gold to the mint to be com
! ed. Only one!
ct remember now" said Sevens. L re-
member reading about it years ago.
This makes it impossible for US TO seno
our gold to the mint. We should De cur
osities who would attract universal at
tention, and 1 may say, Stevens, that pup
lie attention is not precisely what we
desire AS members of a crowd we could
have passed unsupported, but as the claim
ants of a right which has lapsed in prac-
tice we should be the objects of most en-
barrassiug scrutiny The half-penny eV-
eniner papers would even want TO inter-
view u.s.
What do you suggestT
Il confess that don't see my way. II
seems absurd to possess 8IVo IN sollo
gold and to be in difficulties for five
Dound note. but that is just my position
Yo,1r position is even worse have
thought right through the problem, ana
am ont on the far side. Gold is usually
handled by bullion brokers who are mem
hers Of Well-known and wealthy firms Phi
vate persons never possess unmanufac-
tured bullion in any quantity unless they
steal it. and having stolen it they instinct
lively shrink from giving references.
You mean that if we tried to sell to a
bullion broker. we should be asked for
references?
''Of course"
why, in Gods name, didn't you THINK
of all this before?'
Because 1 was blinded by my falth
in the mint
Stevens began to pace the room. 1t
was November, and cold. but the sweat
stood out on his face why not take
vour courage in both hands and sell 10 the
Rank They only give rs. Cd, but it IS
better to sacrifice 1l2d- an ounce thah
to
Wallis roared with laughter. 81 would
love to do 1t, if only for the humor or
the thing. But it would be Impossible
They would want to know where l got
the stuff. and it would take a very strong
lie 70 carry a hundredweight of their own
bars"
what are pawnbrokers for?"
ITO borrow money from
well, couldn' we?"
Il have thought of that but there are
difficulties. We should have to find a
venal pawnbroker. No one else would
look at manufactured gold, for Ii wound
certainly be stolen property. Now. pawn
brokers are licensed, and overlooked by /
the police, and heir interests generally
keep step with their honesty. No DOUBT
here are venal pawnbrokers' but l cant
risk my liberty for the next twenty years /
by experimenting in searching for one.
L am afraid" said Stevens gravely, !
.s4t,,t We shall he Obliged TO sacrifice a !
good deal of the value of the gold by sell /
ing to q receiver-I believe such people /
are called fences OF course 1 won't in /
that case insist on the whole OF my /
e2OOd 1 will be content with half Of what /
the lot sells for"
"AH right" said Wallis. ''You shall /
have your share and shall sell il 10 a I!
fence as you call It l don't know any 4
fences myself. but no doubt you are /
more fortunate"
Stevens cursed loudly. Il won't be made 1
a fool of any longer. I believe you can 4
easily sell the gold if you ike. You prom /
.sed me my $4,000 Just now; give me my 4
money and clear out 1 shall never want 4
to see You again"
Wallis smiled. Il viii. Open the safe" 4
Stevens took the key and opened the /
safe wondering.
Walls dragged out the case OF gold and 1
with the help Of a chisel and hammer /
stripped OF the cover. Then he took out /
q couple of the bars, and began with I
grave deIiberation 10 cut one or hem 4
in half. Stevens looked on unessily. The
work was not easy. for thu bar was one
and 3 half inches thick, and gold. though /
soft Is troublesome to cut. AT length /
Wallis got through and taking one com
piete bar and one Of the pieces placed I
them on the spring balance. Tvs rather