The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1916-03-17
CHAPTER xvi-contInued.

peared to have any connection with
them was Baron Oberg. the governor
general Of Finland. whose habit Il
was to spend part OF the winter in
the Mediterranean From Elma
death's conversation at dinner that
evening at Nice | gathered that she
and her uncle had been guests on the
iris on several occasions. although |
must say that Muriel was extremely
reticent regarding all that concerned
the yacht"
OF course" she said quickly. Now
that ] have told you the truth. Jack.
don't you think It was only natural?"
Most certainly. dear" he answered.
still holding her hand Yours was
not secret that you could very well
tell to me until you could thoroughly
trust me. especially as your father
had been implicated In the theft OF
those documents from Malta The
truth is..' he said. turning to me.
Philip Lefthcourt has all along been
NE catspaw of Baron Oberg A few
Years ago he was weil.knowr money
lender In the city. and In that capacity
met the baron. who. being In disgrace,
required loan. He was also in the
habit Of having certain shady trans.
actions with that daring gang OF con-
tnertas thieves OF whom Dick Archer
and tfyiton Chatter we're leaders For
this reason he purchased yacht for
their use. SO that they might not only
use 1t for the purpose OF storing the
Ennda hu tho -
sailing from place to place under the
gutsc OF wealthy Engiishmen travel
Ing for pleasure Upon that vessel,
Indeed. was stored thousands and
thousands OF pounds worth OF Jewels
and objects Of value. the proceeds Of
many great robberIes In England.
France and Belgium Sometimes they
Travelled for the purpose OF disposing
" the jewels in various inland towns
where the gems. having been recut.
were not recognized. while at other
times. Chatter and Archer, assisted
by Macintosh. the captain. and Olnto
Santini. the steward. sailed for a port,
landed. committed a robbery. and then
sailed away again. quite unsupported,
as rich Englishmen"
And the crew." | asked. after n
pause.
They were. OF course. we'll paid.
and we're kept in ignorance Of what
the supposed owner and his friends
did ashore"
But Oberg's connection with IT."
7 asked. surprised at those reve!a-
tons
"Ah'" exclaimed Muriel The in
genuity OF that crafty villain is fend
fish. Before he got into the cars
favor he owed my father large sum-
and then sought how to evade repay.
nent BY means of his spies he dis
covered the real purpose. Of the
cruises OF the Iris-for | was often
taken on board with a maid In order
to aiiay any suspicion that might
arise II only men we're cruising. Then
he not only compelled my father to
cancel the debt. but he impressed the
vessel and those who owned and nayf.
gated 1t into the secret service OF
Russia A dozen times did we make
attempts to obtain secret papers from
Italian. French and English dock
yards. but only once In the case Of
Malta and once at Toulon did we sue.
coed. All! Mr.. Gregg" she added.
you DO not know all the anxiety I
suffered. how at every hour we were
In danger Of betrayal or capture, and
Of the hundred narrow escapes we
have had OF customhouse officers
vumnip ging the yacht for contraband.
.,su
satioa caused by the theft OF the
jewelB Of the Princess Wilhelmine OF
Scha lmbourgLipp from the lady's
maidsin the rapide between Cannes
and Les Arcs. the robbery from the
Marseilles braEch OF the Credit Lyon
nais. and the great haul OF plate from
the chateau OF Bardon. the Paris mil
lionaire. close to Arcachon."
Yes" said. for they we're all rob.
berries Of which I had read In the
newspapers a couple Of years before.
Well, she said. they were all
conmitteh by Archer or woodroffe
and his gang - with accomplices
ashore. Of course and never once did
1t seem that any suspicion fell upon
US. While the police were frantically
searching hither aud thither. we used
to weigh anchor and calmly steam
away, with our booty on board We
had with US an old Dutch iapidary
and One OF the cabins was fitted as q
workShop. where he altered the ap
pearance OF the stones. and prepared
them. ready for sale while the gold
was melted in . crucibIe and pu,
ashore to be sent to agents In Ham
burg"
But that night In Leghorn?" said
WHAT happened to poor Elma?"
Il do not know was Muriel s reply
I'VE were both on board together. and
standing at the crack OF the door
watched you sitting at dinner thai
evening. The instant. however you
vent ashore, Chatter, Woodroff@