The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-03-22
ESTABLISHED 1876

complaining that the directors had set
the police upon the writer and that
he had not, therefore. kept his appoint
ment, but he had sent the chest of pa
perS he had taken from the strong
room. The note further said that If a
few of the directors should be in the
strong room at midnight he would join
them there
Meanwhile Clarence Meldron sat at
his desk in the bank, doing his duties
with his accustomed regularity. He
heard the note that he had sent the
directors discussed in q low tone by
two custodians and knew that a guard
was posted at the strong room. The
only matter that occupied him out
side his duties was a letter he wrote
to his sweetheart imploring her not to
consent to wedding with her fancee
until she could put it off no longer.
adding that something might turn up
for him. His sweetheart replied that
she would do what he wished.
But on the arrival of the chest of
papers and securities from the strong
room Meldron saw evidence of COM
motion. A search of the strong room
was made. Meldron had drawn a
heavy chest over the crack through
which he had fallen. and it was not
found After the discussion the direct
ors decided to meet this man. spirit
or devil, in the strong room in ac-
cordance with his appointment.
So that night secret police were call
ed in to be ready to make any arrest
that might be required, and armed
guards of the bank were concealed be-
hind treasure boxes In the strong
room. Just before midnight three di-
rectors who were selected to meet the
man in the strong room assembled at
the bank and entered what was to be
the meeting room. All braced them
selves not to show fear Nevertheless
one of them was pale and the other
two trembling
When a deep toned bell without
struck twelve voice called from what
point they could not tell:
''Put out the lightsp'
After some deliberation this was
done, and after the party had stood
few moments in darkness bright rays
from a dark lantern at the other end
of the room dazzled them. Then they
heard the cry:
Light upv'
The lights were turned on, and there
before them stood their clerk. Clarence
Meldron. He waited for them to
speak.
: Explain this!'' said one of the d.
rectors.
Meldron told them Of his first visit
to the strong room, Of his sliding into
the sewer, of his subsequent trip In the
sewer and Of his meeting there. Then
he took them to the opening.
They looked at one another in blank
amazement, thinking of the responsible
ity they had incurred in the fact that
there was an entrance from the out
side to their treasure room
"But why have you taken this
strange method of informing us Of this
opening?" asked director
ITO impress upon you the fact that
your treasure was exposed. could
nave lufSell OuH VI Tie TlCIGSB
men in the world by secretly and
slowly taking away treasure that
might not have been missed in weeks.
perhaps months. If had simply
called you in here and shown you this
crack you would have presented me
with f10 reward, and that would have
been the end of the matter. l deemed
it advisable that you should be made
fully conscious that under your admin
istration you were exposing the funds
Of millions Of people intrusted to your
care to be plundered by any dishonest
person knowing the secret"
Not one of the directors but under
stood that they had an honest young
man to deal with, but one who was
bright enough to take advantage Of the
possession Of his secret. Were the
story to be spread about London the
gravest consequences would accrue to
the bank and would be their ruin. Be
fore Clarence Meldron left them he
was notified that he would be appoint
ed to an important trust
That was the beginning Of one Of
the largest fortunes in England. Mel
dron became great fnancier and
director of the bank He married the
Lady Emily Twiss.