The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1902-09-26

this, gir?"
Il think So" Thirty-nine replied.
1--WE shall take you 10 the station. n
you've no objection. or the the driver
may smell a rat There Is a first-class
20 London. and two soverelgns / was
instructed to hand you for your re-
tirn expenses"
They allghted at the station and
passed through the booking lobby.
That Is your train waiting, SIR"
said the second officer. 80 we'll wish
you a respectful good morning. We're
not returning till a later train"
Good morning" replied Captain
Richmond. as the train moved out of
the station.
Arrived at the metropolitan termi-
nus, ex-Thirtyanine got into a hanson
and drove away to his chambers. An
hour later, attired in a smart morning
suit, he was shaking hands with the
home secretary.
you were in a hurry to get out, the
secretary said, with a deprecating
smile. I'm afraid you cannot have
discovered much In the time"
Il don't think l could have learnt
more had / remained" Richmond re-
sponded. q have drawn some surpris-
ing conclusions, and the test must be
put from outside. l have only to wait
now for the reports concerning the
movements of coiners who have passed
through Shasnal."
Here are the records of three cases.
can get others for you, if necessary.
Why you pick upon colners l don't
understand"
ION the other hand, these records"
Richmond returned, a slight color
mounting to his face, appear to con-
firm my suspicious. Does it not strike
you as being strange, sir, that each of
these men left the country almost i'm
mediately upon being released from
Shasnal? | note one went to Australia,
where he bought a small farm, which
he has since successfully cultivated;
another went to America, where he
quickly ran through a sum of money
which was considerable for a man Of
his position, and then turned his atten-
ton to forgery; the last went out to
Durham, bought the good will of a
small public house, and drank himself
to death. In this taste for emigration,
which seems to have been inculcated at
Shasnal to one convicted for coming,
l seem to see great deal to support
my conclusions"
(Which are?" interorgated the sec
rotary.
THAT there is a secret mint at
Shashnal."
'Preposterous!" the minister ejacu-
ulated. "A mint in one of her mai
esty's prisons? Dear, dear! You must
think of something more likely-mora
possible!"
Pardon me; but I cannot think OF
anything more possible to a man in
the governors position, who had the
instincts of an enterprising criminal
He has every facility-immunity from
raids, unlimited strong cells, which
could readily be turned into work
shops, pretty regular succession oil
skilled coiners, whose assistance could
be bought for leniency and a little
money to start them on their release
from prison, and whose secrecy could
be absolutely relied upon"
Looked at like that, it appears pos.
sible; but it is rather risky to base
conclusions upon mere possibilities,
the secretary replied, with quiet cyui
cism.
81 uon't-at least, not entirely. War
der Williams attempted to discover
whether | had done any coming. HI
vas remarkably genial until he learned
that l had not, when he became surly
almost to brutality. He was remark
ably genial to Seventy-eight and Twen
ty-four, who were the only men il
Shashnal who had any coming. Thes
two men were never in the labor yard
Why? They always looked pictures 0
health. Time after time l saw then
enter or leave the entrance of the base
ment cells, at the side of the governor
house, which were condemned tire
years ago as unhealthy"
"Ah! we have something tangible
in the use of the condemned basemen
cells" the secretary said thoughtfully
THAT matter shall be inquired into a
once The best thing you can do i
to send in your report, Captain Rich
mond, and then we can duly conside
the matter"
He rose, blandily, and held out hi
hand
Next day Captain Richmond receive
a check for his services. He tore it u