The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-28

He proved to be a most obseqittous, higlt-
ly decorated old gentleman.
has been found. The door, one of the
strongest that can be made, somewhat
similar to the door of safe, was flung
outward and crushed to the floor the
two guards who stood outside it in the
corridor. Between the chamber in
which the chest lay and the outside en-
trance were 16 men on guard. Every
one of those was thrown down, for the
blast, if may call it so, Travelled along
this straight corridor like the charge
along the inside of a gun barrel. The
guards nearest the treasure chamber
were, of course, the more seriously in
jured, but those farther out did not
escape the shock, and the door by which
we entered this corridor. while not
blown from its hinges, was nevertheless
forced open, its strong bolts swapping
like matches. So when you see the
great distance that intervenes between
the chamber and that door you will
have some idea of the force of the ex-
plosion.
''There is no exit, then, from the
treasure chamber except along this cor
ridorI
''No. madame The walls Of the
chamber are of enormous strength, be-
cause, of course, it was expected that
If an attempt at robbery were ever
made it would be from the outside,
and it is scarcely possible that even the
most expert Of thieves could succeed in
passing the two guards at the door.
16 guards and officers along the cor
ridor, two outside the treasury door
and two in the chamber itself. Such a
large number of soldiers were kept here
so that any attempt at bribery would
be impossible. Among such a number
one or two were sure to be incorrupti-
BILE, and the guards were constantly
changed. Seldom was either officer or
man twice on duty here during the
month. With such an enormous amount
at stake every precaution was taken.
"Are there any rooms at the right or
left of this corridor in which the thieves
could have concealed themselves while
they fired the mine2'
"No; the corridor leads to the treas
ure chamber alone.
"Then." said Jennie. 81 can't see
how it was possible for a number Of
men to have made away with the treas
ure in such circumstances as exist
here.
Nevertheless. my dear young lady,
the treasure is gone. We think that
the mine was laid with the connivance
of one or more officers on duty here
You see the amount at stake was so
large that share of it would tempt
any nine human beings out of ten. Our
theory is that the train was laid. posi-
bly, electric wires being used. which
would be unnoticed along the edge Of
the corridor and that the bribed officer
exploded the dynamite by bringing the
ends of the wire into contact We
think that the explosion was a great
deal more severe than was anticipated.
Probably it was expected that the shock
would break hole from the treasure
chamber to the street, but so strong
were the walls that no impression was
made upon them, and cabman who
was driving past at the time heard not
a sound of the explosion. although he
felt tremhle of the ground and thought
Tor moment there had been shock Of
earthquake. -
''You think. then, that the thieves
were outsider"
''That seems the only possible solu-
ton .
"The outside doors were locked and
bolted, of course p
"Oh. certainlyl But il they had a
confederate or two in the large hallway
up stairs they would see to it that there
was no trouble about getting in Once
inside the large hallway. with guards
stunned by the shock, the way to the
treasure chamber was absolutely clear.
"There were sentries outside the
building, l supposef''
"Yes.