The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-12-21

used, and that in very large quantity.
Not vestige Of the chest remained but
a few splintered pieces Of iron. The
four soldiers in the room were blown
literally to pieces, and those in the
passageway were stunned by the shock.
The fact that they were unconscious
for some minutes seems to have given
the criminal, whoever he was, his
chance of escape. For, although an in
slant alarm was sent out, and none but
those who had right to be on the
premises was allowed to go out or into
the treasury, yet no one was caught.
nor has any one been caught until this
day
"But the gold. the goldP' cried Jen-
ME eagerly.
There was not form of 1t left.
Every piece has disappeared. It is at
once the most clever and the most gil
gantic robbery of money that has taken
place within our knowledge.
ssBut such quantity Of gold, !" said
Jennie, "must have been of enormous
weight. Two hundred million horinsl
Why, that is $40, 600, 900, isn't it, It
would take a regiment of thieves to
carry SO much away. How has that
been done, and where is the gold con-
cealedf''
"Ah, my child, if you can answer
your own questions the Austrian gov
eminent will pay You almost any sum
you like to name. The police are COM
pletely baffied OF course nothing has
been said of this gigantic robbery. but
every exit from Vienna is watched.
and, not only that. but each frontier is
guarded. What the government wants
of course, is to get back its gold. the
result of years of taxation. which can
not very easily be relieved. .
Sand when did this robbery take
placer" asked Jennie.
''On the night of the 18th. .
Son the night of the 17th2' repeat
ed the girl, more to herself than to the
voluble old woman '.And it was on
the 10th that the premier made his war
speech. !"
Exactly said the old lady. who
overheard the remark not intended for
her ears. .sand don't you think there
was something striking in the coinci-
dence2''
II don't quite understand What
coincidence?'
''Well, You know the speech of the
premier was against England. 1t was
not speech made on the spur of the
moment, but was doubtless the result
of many consultations, perhaps with
Russia, perhaps with Germany Who
knows? We have been growing very
friendly with Russia of late, and. as
England has spies all over the world.
doubtless her government knew before
the speech was made that it was COM
ing. So the police appear to think that
the whole resources of the British gov
eminent were set at the task of Grip
ping Austria at critical moment.
..Surely you don't mean, madame,
that the government of England would
descend to burglary. robbery yes, and
murder, even. for the poor soldiers who
guarded the treasure were as effectually
murdered as if they had been assassi-
mated in the street? You don't imagine
that the British government would
stoop to such deeds as thosef'
The old lady shook her head wisely.
"By the time you are my age. my
dear, and have seen as much of politics
as I have you will know that govern
ments stop at nothing to accomplish
their ends. No private association of
thieves could have laid such plans as
would have done away with 200, 000,-
600 Of forms in gold. unless they had
not only ample resources. but also a
master brain to direct them. Nations
hesitate at nothing where their inter-