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

directors were discussing matter Of
finance in one Of the apartments.
Then he was called into the room
where they were convened.
CO." said one of the gentlemen, ito
the bank and in the strong room you
will find a number of chests in which
are also papers. Open the box marked
1872 and bring me the package mark
ed as indicated on this paper"
He handed Meldron a slip and a
key. The young man took both, went
to the bank, was admitted and entered
to the strong room. Having possessed
himself Of what he had been sent for,
he looked about him.
He was In a room containing more
treasure than any in the world. Great
heaps Of coin, bank bills and securi-
ties were deposited there. With a
lantern he carried he poked about in
corners and crannies. Suddenly he
felt himself sliding downward. He
struck a stone floor over which water
was trickling, but he knew this only
from the source of touch, for his Ian
tern had gone out.
He bethought himself of a silver
matchbox in his pocket, kept there
for lighting his pipe. He struck
match and Illuminated sewer. He
also lighted up the incline by which
he had entered it and saw that he
could go back the way he came. His
lantern was at his feet. and, picking it
up, he relighted it. Then he climbed
back into the strong room.
Fortunately he had not caught much
filth on his clothes, for he had not lost
his balance in his descent Of but few
feet. He assembled the stairs. was let
out by the man In charge and went
straight to the house where the di-
rectors were comforting. There he was
rated soundly for having been so long
on his errand. He made no excuse
and was permitted to depart, his su-
periors saying that they would not
need him longer.
A vision of great change in his af-
fairs doomed up in the young mans
mind. He possessed a secret that in
volved millions. II he could leave the
strong room by means of the sewer
others could enter it in the same way.
While the officials were watching their
treasure above ground by the most
carefully devised system there was no
watch whatever at this opening where
the sewer had broken and left free
entrance to the strong room.
No thought Of using his knowledge
for the purpose Of appropr.ating the
funds Of the bank entered his head.
What he was thinking Of was how be
might use the secret honestly to as
sist hiV to career. He lay awake all
night thinking, but found no plan ex-
cept to make some excuse to go into
the strong room again and see Ii he
could find his way out through the
sewer
few days later, just before closing,
carrying a lantern with him, he en-
tered the strong room. thence the sew
er and began to walk slowly through
it. Presently he met a man who
seemed to be looking about him for
what he could pick up. Meldron Ques-
toned him and learned that he was
one Of that strange class who gain a
living by searching the sewers. He
piloted the clerk to an opening where
egress was easy. Meldron marked the
spot so that he would know it again
One morning the banks directors re-
ceived scrap Of dirty paper on which
was written in the hand of an Hitter
ate person the following:
You think you is all safe hand you
bank his safe. but 1 knows better. 1 bin
hinside the bank the last mite hand you
nose muffin about it. But I am mott a
theaf SO hif yer will NETT NEE in the
great squar room, with all the moneys,
at twelf niIe, 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 a remarkable circum-
stance. A chest Of paper and securi-
ties taken from the strong room was
received at the bank with another note
from their mysterious correspondent