The Irish standard., 1899-04-29
THE SALT'ERTON
= SLIP CARRIAGE.
ar THE many incidents in my career
By W. S. Smith.


~ which had u 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 i'm these little affairs
had somehow got to know that par
eel of ''stones," which, if they brought
us only half their intrinsic value, would
yet be a nice little haul, was to be for
warded by certain train from st. Pan
cras to Salterton; and, with 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. - tell yer it's the chance of
lifetime. A fousand quid, for very little
more than the asking, so ter speak.
Don't it make yer mouf water ter fink
of it?''
"Well," I said, cautiously-I 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
a good many precautions. Who did
you say they were for?"
"Some Teller named Chalcraft. rs
daughters getting married mex Tues
day; an 'e's asked Stint & Co. ter send
i'm few fings down on appro.'
II see. Special messenger, of course?"
"No; that's just the beauty of it!
Nuf1ink 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,
We'll have look at it, at all events. Pass
the Bradshaw, will you?"
He did so, and I whipped over the
pages until I came to those headed
midland Railway"
what train did you say, Jim?''
"SiN-ffty; next Friday
Him! slip-carriage. That rather
complexities matters. don't know,
though" continued, refectively, 'per-
haps it will be just as well for us--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, ais
it is called" l explained. "See?"
Eyes; l fink twig."
If l must state my opinion, it was
hot I,
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 meadmirably 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 reliev-
ing the Midland Railway company of
the little consignment which was to be
intrusted to it's 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.
Inever regretted the time thus spent,
for it furnished me with store of in
formation in regard to railway men and
railway methods which ! was able TO
turn to very considerable account in
many a little way afterwards.
The fact of the Salterton traffic be-
ing accommodated in 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 special man. as would infallibly
have been the case bad it to be conveyed
by busy train. So much might safe
ly be assumed; and with only one man
to deal with, the problem narrowed
considerably.