River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-05-04
THE SALTERTON
= SLIP CARRIAGE.
By W. S. Smith.

/ nF THE many incidents in my career
which had railway for the scene
Of operations, none, / think, was more
remarkable for the neatness and dis
patch with which it was carried out
than that in which the Salterton slip
carriage formed the pivot upon which
the various details were hung.
My colleague in these little affairs
had somehow got to know that par
eel of stones" which, if they brought
us only half their intrinsic value, would
vet be a nice little haul, was to be for
warded by certain train from st. Pam
cras to Salterton; and, with a prompti-
tude which was commendable under
the circumstances, had posted straight
off to me with the information.
"Guv'nor," he whispered, hoarsely,
as, seated in my room, we discussed the
matter, Il tell yer it's the chance of a
lifetime. a fousand quid, for very little
more than the asking, so ter speak.
Don't it make yer mobf water ter fink
of it?''
We'll" | said, cautiously rarely
shared Braggs' optimism in these mat
ters-''a thousands not to be sneezed
at in these days, and, to tell the truth,
it would come in very handy indeed
Just now; but it's thing that wants
looking at carefully. People don't con-
sign diamonds in that fashion without
good many precautions. Who did
you say they were for?"
'Some Teller named Chalcraft. is
daughters getting married mex Tues
day; an 'e's asked Stint & Co. ter send
i'm a few fings down on appro.'
Il see. Special messenger, of course?"
'No; that's just the beauty of it!
Nuffink of the sort, so far as ] can make
out; they're going precisely as an or
binary parcel"
Throw the responsibility on the
company that's the game, Ell? Well,
well have a look at it, at all events. Pass
the Bradshaw, will you?"
lie did so, and l whipped over the
pages until | came to those headed
Midland Railway"
what train did you say, Jim?''
''Six-fifty; next Friday
HIN! slip-carriage. That rather
complicates matters. | don't know,
though, ] continued, refectively, per
haps it will be just as well for bet
/ ter in fact"
What did yer say it was, guv'nor?"
"A slip-carriage. The train itself
doesn't stop, but simply drops the tail
carriage off at Salterton, or slips it, as
it is called" / explained. ''See?"
Yes; / fink l twig."
If ! must state my opinion, it was
that Braggs, Notwithstanding his as
sertion, did not 'twig;" but as he did
not pursue the point | suppose he was
/ satisfied.
An 'ow's it going ter be better for
us? What's yer plan?"
well, I've hardly had time to figure
it out yet, but I've got an idea. Look
here; suppose you let me have till to-
night TO consider it; then we can meet
again and talk things over
Right y'are, guv'nor; that'll do fer
me. 'Arf-past nine?"
suit me admirably" replied. Call
round then, and l hope to have things
ship-shape."
| With that Mr.. Braggs took his de-
parture, and / stayed indoors to cudgel
my brains as to the best way of reliey-
ing the Midland Railway company of
| the little consignment which was to be
| intrusted to its care.
As you will have gathered. / did not
look upon the task as altogether hope
less. And here | might explain that my
eight years service on the Great Mid
Western aided me not little in coming
to this opinion.
never regretted the time thus spent,
for it furnished me with a store of in
formation in regard to railway men and
railway methods which | was able TO
turn to very considerable account in
many little way afterwards.
The fact of the Salterton traffic be-
ing accommodated in a slip-carriage
was in itself proof that there was not
much of it, and this was in my mind
when ! said to Braggs that it would per-
haps be just as well for us; for, the or
binary luggage and so forth being
light, the parcel of jewels would, in all
probability, be left to the care of the
usual guard, and not placed in charge
of a special man, as would infallibly
nave Dttu liiG CetSt lifttl II W DC NOflNCAGu4
by a busy train. So much might safe
" be assumed; and with only one man
to deal with, the problem narrowed
considerably.
| decided early that to effect the cap
ture at St. Pancras was not to be
thought of. and that the only chance of
success lay in obtaining possession of
the jewels during the journey. But
then the difficulty arose how to escape
detection subsequently,. If we re
manned in the slip-carriage and were
deposited at Salterton with the rest of
the passengers, it was inevitable an
absolute certainty. 1t was point
which bothered me for some time, but
ultimately l evolved a scheme which,
il audacious TO the verge of reckless
ness, / saw no reason TO consider impos-
sible of accomplishment.
This was nothing less than to oper-
ate, not from the carriage itself, but
from the main portion of the train.
How | proposed to do this you shall
learn IN due course; sufficient for tn
present that when Eraggs called sec
ond time / had fully mapped out my
plan OF campaign. He acquiesced. as
knew he would. in all that ! proposed;
and when We parted all The details were
agreed, and we had drunk a bumper TO
success.
On the night in question, therefore,
we met at ST Paacras. and after book
ing first-class tickets 10 Manchester
walked 70 the train. 1t WAS absolutely