The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-12-10

gets his claws upon any one Here
| we are, and they are waiting for us"
/ We had reached the same crowded
| thoroughfare in which we had found
| ourselves in the morning. Our cabs
/ were dismissed and following the
guidance of Mr. Merryweather we
| passed down a narrow passage and
| through a side door which he opened
| for us. Within there was a small
corridor, which ended in a very mas
sive iron gate. This also was opened,
and led down a flight Of winding
stone steps. which terminated at
another formidable gate. Mr. Mer-
ryweather stopped to light a lantern,
and then conducted us down q dark
earth-smelling passage, and so, after
opening a third door into q huge
vault or cellar, which was piled all
round with crates and massive boxes.
You are not very vulnerable
above" Holmes remarked, as he held
up the lantern and gazed about him.
Nor from below, said Mr.. Merry
weather, striking his stick upon the
flags which lined the floor. "Why,
dear me, it sounds quite hollow" he
remarked, looking up in surprise.
Il must really ask you to be a little
more quiet" said Holmes. severely.
You have already imperiled the
whole success Of our expedition.
Might l beg that you would have the
goodness to sit down upon one of
those boxes and not to interfere?"
The solemn Mr. Merryweather
perched himself upon a crate, with a
very injured expression upon his face,
while Holmes fell upon his knees upon
the floor. and, with the lantern and a
magnifying lens, began to examine
minutely the cracks between the
stones. A few seconds sufficed to sat-
isfy himself for he sprang to his feet
again, and put his glass in his
pocket.
I'VE have at least an hour before
us he remarked; for they can
hardly take any steps until the good
paWnbroker is safely in bed. Then
they VII not lose a minute. for the
sooner the do their work the longer
time they viii have for their escape.
We ere at present, doctor-as no
doubt you have devined-in the cellar
of the city branch of one of the prin-
Cipal London banks. Mr. Merry
weather is the chairman of directors,
and he will explain to you that there
are reasons why The more daring GRIM
mails of London should take a consid-
cradle interest in this cellar at pres.
emit"
1T is our French gold" whispered
The director I'VE have had several
warnings that an attempt might no
made upon it,.
Your French gol9?"
Yes. We had occasion some
months ago, to strengthen our re-
sources, and borrowed, for that pur-
pose, 10000 nanoleons from the Bank
Of France. 1t has become known that
we have mover bad occasion to unpack
the money, and that it is still lying in
our cellar. The crate uDon which l
sit contains 1000 napoleons packed
between layers of lead foil. Our re-
serve of bullion is much larger at pres
ent than is usually kept in a single
branch Office. and the directors have
had misgivings upon the subject"
which We're very we'll justified,
observed Holmes. And now it is
time that we arranged our little plans.
expect that within an hour matters
viii come to a head. In the meantime,
Mr.. Merryweather, we must put the
screen OYER that dark lantern"
and sit in the dark ?'
II am afraid SO. | had brought a
pack Of cards in my pocket and l
thought that. as we were a partie
carree, you might have your rubber