Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1910-04-07

was written in the hand of an Hitter
ate person the following:
You think you is all safe hand you
bank his safe, but l knows better. l bin
hinside the bank the last mite hand you
nose muffin about 1t. But l am mott n
theaf so hif yer will NETT NEE In the
great squar room, with all the moneiys.
at twelf 2 mite. lie explain orl to you, let
only thor cum down, and say muffin to
nobody.
The directors turned the note over
to the police, gave orders that the
strong room should be guarded and
thought no more of the matter.
Nothing unusual happened in the
bank that night. and the next day the
note would have been forgotten had 1t
not been for n remarkable circum-
stance. chest of paper and securi-
ties taken from the strong room was
received at the bank with another note
from their mysterious correspondent
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
IcW OF tue ulIGClbiS SnOulu Dt III llic
strong room at midnight he would join
them there.
Meanwhile Clarence Meldron sat, at
his desk in the lauk. doing his duties
with his accustomed regularity. lie
heard the note that lie had sent the
directors discussed in a low tone by
two custodians and knew that a guard
was posted Mt 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 flancee
until she could put it off no longer,
adding that something might turn up
for him. His sweetheart replied that
she would 10 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
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
hor hot tn ha
the meeting room. All braced them
selves not to show fear. Nevertheless
one of them was pale and the other
two trembling.
When deep toned bell without
struck twelve a voice called from what
point they could not tell:
"Put out the lights"'
After some deliberation this was
done, and after the party had stood a
| few moments III darkness bright rays
from a dark lantern at the other end
OF the room dazzled them. Then they
heard the cry:
Light up.'
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 di-
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
| la 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 a director.
| ITO impress upon you the fact THAI
| your treasure was exposed. l could
| have made myself one of the richest
! men in the world by secretly and
slowly taking away treasure that
might not have been missed In weeks,
perhaps months. If l 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. deemed
1t advisable that you should be made
fully conscious that under your admin.
istratlon 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
u to an important trust.
That was the beginning of one of
the largest fortunes in England. Mel
dron became great financier and a
director Of the bank. He married the
Lady Emily Twiss.
Curious Optical Properties.
Asterism is the beautiful name given
to Il curious optical property of GER
tain minerals. They show a star
shaped figure where light is reflected
from them or transmitted through
them. This is seen in the star stone,