The Paonia progressive and the Paonia newspaper., 1911-07-20
CHAPTER x.
A Safe OPENING.

Ac6tthci luey tHtSrtu t0e ADJOINING
room, which was small compared to
the one they had Just left Senior
Rodriguez used 1t as private office.
His desk was on their right between
two windows overlooking the same
pleasant little garden which was Wis
ible from the suite of tiny drawing
rooms farther along. The safe.
formidable looking receptacle of black
enameled steel. stood at their left.
closed and locked. The remaining
wall space of the room was given over
to oak cabinets. evidently storage
place for the less important legation
papers.
Has any one besides yourself been
In this room today?" Mr. Grimm in
Quired
Not soul. Senor," was the reply.
Mr.. Grimm went over and examined
the windows. They we're both locked
inside; and there were no marks of
any sort on the sills.
They are just as left them last
night" explained Senior Rodriguez. II
have not touched them today"
And there's only one door" unused
Mr.. Grimm, meaning that by which
ehSy Hau eutereu. 80 IL would ap-
pear that whoever was here last night
entered through that room. Very
we'll"
He walked around the room once.
opening and shutting the doors of the
cabinets as he passed. and finally
paused In front of the safe.
What are the first and second fig
ures OF the combination?" he asked.
"Thirty-six. then back to ten"
Mr.. Grimm set the dial at thirty-six.
and then, with his ear pressed closely
against the polished door. turned the
dial slowly back. Senor Rodriguez
stood looking on helplessly, but none
the less intently. The pointer read
ten. then nine. eight, seven. five Mr.
Grimm gazed at 1t thoughtfully, after
which he did 1t all over again. placidly
and without haste
Now. well look inside. please" he
requested. rising.
Senor Rodriguez unlocked the safe
the while Mr.. Grimm respectfully
turned his eyes away, then pulled the
door wide open. The books had been
piled one on top of another and thrust
into various pigeon holes at the top
Mr.. Grimm understood that this disor-
der was the result of making room at
the bottom for the bulk of gold. and
asked no questions. Instead, he sat
down upon the floor again.
THE lock on this private, com
partment at the top is broken" he re-
marked after a moment
Isl, Senor," the diplomatist agreed.
Evidently the robbers were not con-
tent with only fifty thousand dollars
in gold-they imagined that some
thing else of value was hidden there"
WAS there?" asked Mr. Grimm
naively. He didn't look around.
Nothing of monetary value" the
senor explained. There were some
important state papers in there-they
are there yet-but no money"
None Of the papers was stolen?"
NO. Senor. There were only nine
packets-they are there yet"
Contents all right?"
Yes. personally looked them
over"
Mr.. Grimm drew out the packets of
papers, one by one. They were all
unsealed save the last When he
reached for that, Senor Rodriguez
made a quick. involuntary motion to-
ward it with his hand.
This ones sealed" commented Mr..
Grimm. 1T doesn't happen that you
opened 1t and sealed 1t again?"
Senor Rodriguez stood staring at
him blankly for a moment, then some
sudden apprehension was aroused. for
startled look came into his eyes. and