NEW ZEALAND STORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 187, 7 August 1914, Page 10

NEW ZEALAND STORY.

THE aUEEN StBEET: ROBBERYr

(By M. L. CHALMERS.) \

Tiiu whole affair is as fresh in my memory as if it had occurred yestertiay. and. indeed. I am never likely to lorui't it. When the paper came that ni"iniiiur. Margie brought it in to mc. •■Our advertisement is in. Aunt Jeannet W," she said. "1 am going to read it aloud, just to hear how it sounds; , ami shi' read: — •• 'To lifi.—A suite, of apartments, well Furnished; consisting of two bed•rnoin--. sittingroom. dimngroom, kitchen, etc Very complete, private entrance. Chaimingly situated, fifteen minutes' walk from Ellerslie station. —-Apply The. Bungalow, (ireat South Road, EUereLie. , i • "Really, that looks quite fascinating; and if they could only sec The Bungalow!" "Well, I hope we shall get nice peoplo." I sighed. "Letting rooms is a regular gamble, where one mostly draws blanks." "Don't be gloomy, my dear," eaid Margie. "■ I ihave-an idea we are-going to draw a 'prize this time." [ was out working in the garden: it must have been about ten o'clock, ■when 'I heard a motor draw-up at .aur front gate, and in a moment MargU' appeared, carrying two cards in her hand. "Some people have come, about the rb6me.-Aim.tie/' -ehfc-e'iMd. ,s'Wash. yonr hands quickly, there's a dear, and come in and r*ee them." -'What are their names?" T asked, a? [ prepared to do a-s she bade mc. The Rev. 11. Wynninghara-ThTaysh and Mis* Wynrringjtam-Thwffifc" "A clergyman—-I am •VHiat do they look like, MargSgS • "Gentlepeople, and nice. ' I should think. But come and see for yoursett, .pih-kly. . Taking the cards from her T walked down the front hall, and into my sit-ting-rooin. They both rose as 1 entered. "You have come in uns-wer to my advertisement. 1 ■presume 1 I am Mra. Krriott —dt> tsit down." "Yes, -we were quite charmed -with it. and nothing' -would suit my daughter, ibut that we must come out at once. She said she felt perfectly i-ertain that, if we delayed, w should lose the Tooms." "Would you. like . to come and look at thornY" •'Yes. very much indeed!' . It was the daughter that Bpoke. • Her voice surprised mc. It was rather a. deep contralto —a round, ipleasaut voice, nnoisual for a woman. . 1 showed them through the rooms, and they took them on the spot. "1 felt so certain." said Miss 'fhraysh, ''that we should like these rooms, that w brought a eotrpl; of boxes with us; they are in the motor outside." / Seeing my look of siirprido,- she said, ''I am like thai. I always have pfe-" sentiments and that kind of thing. Father I am "ipeycMc , —don't you dear?" turning to the old man and Smiling. "Yes. Mrs. Erriott.'' she is, and so Tias , her deaT-mother before- her." The old man sighed as 'he spoke. -■-■-■WeU- now; father, will- you-etay here and let mc go and bring the rest of our luggage?" '""Do you think you can manage without mc, Owen?" "Of course!" -So it was arranged. The ■chauffeur brought in two father tieavy 'boxes, and put them in the bedrooms Miss Thraysh indicated. She. then went to town in the motor, returning in aibout.two hours' time. We saw no more of themifor the rest of the day. The next morning there was a knock at my sitting-room door. 1 was busy writing at the time. • ""Come in/ I said. .'.The door opened and. in walked old Sir. Thraysh. „"! have brought you. last night's ■"Star, , Mrs. Erriott. I see you only take the. 'Herald.'" "Thank you so muvh. Is there anything startling in it?" fm ""Well, yes , , there is. There's 'been a rooet daring robbery in Queen Street, ibut I suppose you 'have seen that in I the 'Herald' o£ this inorning?" '".No! ..strange to say, neither my ■mere norl Jbave Tead it yet. She liad work to do, and 1 lild'sone important letters to write." -Jit 'hae ibeen a most audacious affair. Messrs. Enoh. and Harding, jewellers, were the "victims. It appears that, when one of the employees went round to the xear at the building yesterday mornings their . head salesman I think it was, lie Jfoufld; the door unlocked. the night(watctenan secßisJX'gag&ed an d bound, Hh& hack of the safe blown open, and Jewellery extracted -to the amount of it eeems that Finch and Herding had just got -out a eonEignanent of jewellery -, for distribution amongst their various branches, of Jiive number. The jMcpcr - says..thatr.iliculh'eft was skUfiiJly and" evidently the work of experienced thieves. They have put the matter in the hands jot the police. I ■wonder whether the fchief, or thieves, ■will ever be discovered?" "Ob yes." I said, "I believe they will. I think our police force here is thoroughly efficient/ "Theso Tobberies make one feel very ■uneasy." *lie old nian said.' "I was robhpd once, some years ago, and lost some things that I treasured most dearly. Since then I hare always felt nervous. Have you ever lost anything out here, Mrs. Erriott?" "Not so iar; but both my niece and I~are very nervous, too. But now wj have got a little .watch dog—he is only a puppy yet—when he grow 3 older lie will be a great protection." '"I certainly think," said the old man, looking round my room, "that you are running a great risk in leaving so many beautlrul and vahiaible pieces of silver about. Heirloome, v are they not?" ""Yes, they belonged to my husband's family, and some of them "are almost priceless." : "Oh! Mrs. Erriott, I hope I am not taking a great liberty, but I certainly <U> not think yon should leave these things out." "Don't you, really?" I asked, beginnmrr to feel rather uncomfortable. Just then Miss Thravsli called her father, and wim a hasty apology he rose, and left the room. . 'I' p .At lirucb Margie and I .wore- discussing our new^acerqaintanceK;—•^—r- -— .."How dojymrjife '^^iMmiA: irefcte?- she said. 1 •

'"No! Xo!" she laughel. "I aeked first." ""Well. I think old Mr. .Threj-sh is per- I feetly charming. He is so courteous,and deferential in manner—a polished old! ■gentleman, in" .'act. But •he jdbes - not seem very strong, poor old fellow!*? "And the daughter?'' "Well, I don't think I like her quite so much. She is certainly a handeome girl, but I think she has rather a bold expression—and now, tell mc .what you think about them/ "1 think quite the other way about, I like Miss Thraygh, and d don't care for her father." "Oh. Margie! Such a dear old man! .Such beautiful white hair! and the kindest manner!" "H ni/' sahl 'Margie,'- '•'white hair, like charity, sometimes covers a multitude of sins." "Xoff, 1 do think that too 'bad," I protested, "and I shall not say another word about then;. By and by jou will tfind out that you have done the old man a great injustice." 'My-dear Aunt Jeanette, I haven't said anything against him. and what I have said, is simply in protest. People seem to think that, because a man's hair is white, he must necessarily .be a saint." "Oh. fudge!" ] exclaimed, "don't be so fond of arguing, Margie." She was a dear girl, pretty and sweettempered, hut arguing was a failing of hers. We .became very friendly with our ■tenants, and saw a good deal of them. Old Mr. Thraysh was a most interesting man. He had travelled all over the workl. and had the gift of making one ccc wliat he had seen. When they had been witli us about ten days, he came 'to mc with the "Star." '■■Mrs; Erriott. there's -been another burglary at a place called Greenlane — where is that?" ! H e was looking quite worried and anxious. "lireenliine?" I said, "why, that is not *erv ifar from here!" "Dear-me! il do dLslike these burglaries, nut only for your sake, Mrs. fErrii''it, but for ray own. or rather flwondoline'tj. 1 have all her jewels with mc —her mother's, and my mother's. 1 for■tunateh- had them in the bank at the time of the robbery of which T told you sonip time ago." "In the bank?" I exclaimed. '"Oh. Mr. Thraysh! 'What a happy thought! I have a very good mind to p:ick up all my pretty silver things—my jewellery and Margie's—and take them in to" the bank." "I think you would be vexy wise, Mrs. Erriott, and I wonder if you would do mc a great favour —would you allow mc to pack my valuables in with yours?—it would Kit such a weight off niv mind." I said I would, with pleasure; I wrote a vote then and there to my friend. Mr. Joyner, and aeked if the bank wonld ipnt my box into their strong room. I received a reply next day. The bank would take charge olf my box with pleasure, but they could not 'be responsible in any way for it. I went at once and told Mr! Thraysh. 'T shall pack up niy things, and take thei» in this afternoon." I eaid, "and if you will get yours ready, I will put them in with mine." He ■thanked mc warmly, and seemed very gladabout it. 1 •found a dispatch-box that had belonged to my hueband—a strong, iron box, rather on the large side, but that I thought was a,good fault. I found the key on an old bunch. •lust as I was starting to pack, Mr. Thraysh came in, carrying quite a large parcel. "This looks rather bulky. Mrs. Erriott." he eaid, apologetically, '"but the jewellery is wrapped in wadding—it is that which takes up bo much room." "That's all right, Mr. Thraygh," I answered, "there is any amount of room." 'I put his parcel at th P bottom and all my own on t%o—he helping mc. 'He was quite cleve r in the way he fitted things in. "I will send Gwendoline along to the shop and get her to ring up a motor/ he said. I took thp box in and handed it over to Mr. Joyner. who put it into the etron<» room at once. I felt quite relieved and so did Mr. Thray.-h. About a fortnight after, a telegram came <fo r -Miss Thruysh. She came to mc? a few moment* after they had received it. '"We have had such bad news Mv father's lister, Aunt Patricia, who lives in Adelaide, i* seriously ill—we must <*o jover to her at once, but we wish tou to I keep the looms." Margie heard from IMks Tiirayah at every ppotrt they stopped. We missed them very mik-Ji indeed. It was nearly three months before they got back. When they returned, old Mr. Thraysh tolj mc that, owing to unforeseen occurrences, he wu* obliged to go to En-land. It wa« about eonm property that had been left him. He said they would bleaving ,m about three aud would go by the Vancouver route. I was very sorry to hear this. "And what about your valuables that T havo in the bank for you?" I inquired. "I shall havp to take those with mc. but T shall not want them till tie day before we leave—that will be quite time enough." The weeks went pust quickly. Margie and Gwendoline Thraysh had become Vflry friendly. The lattfr fpent a good deal of her time in our kitchen, and rathev neglected her father. [ thought— aud it seemed to mc that the old man thought to. too. Well, on the Wednesday Ji was arranged that I should go in next morning and bring out my box from the bank. Margie had gone away for a couple of days. It was moonlight, but not very bright. I was going to bed. wihen 1 remembered that that morning I had lost my 1 belt with the silver buckle. I guessed where it was. and had intended looking for it earlier in the day. My Newfoundland puppy Possum \va3 a perfect nuisance, and was ill the habit of taking anything he could find and J carrying it away under the house. Tnis i was his happy hunting ground. So T 1 thought, while 1 remembered, I would go and look for it. My bedroom opened into a little bal- j cony, and that had a llighi or steps leading into the garden. The house was built about five feet from the ground—a couple of pine trees had been cut away to make room for it. The result was that the ground was covered with a thick tarpet of pineneedles, ■which quite deadened all aound. The moon shone faintly through the cracks in the. boards, but there wa>quite enough light to see a brig'at thing, like a silver buckle. 1 wart groping a-bonit. with my mind fixed 011 my search, when 1 suddenly hoard voices juit aibovc inc. ruil motive!}' I stopped to listen". Tt""\V:i* Mr. Tliraysii who Viju speaking' anil in X tone perfectly distinct: "What Ti-nu- is Morgan coniiii.' "»iti>'t«e:-carj"-

! "Half-past ni'ie. The bank does not open until ten/ •'ln two daye we'll be away -from this cursed place and the 'boodle' -witK us. l ßy Jimmy! When I think -of the '.efficient..force of police, just breaking necks to find Finch and Harding's jewels, while all tihe time they are snugly tucked away in the strong-room of a Queen Street bank, I feel as if I should die laughing." "You've done many a smart trick, Banger, but this is "the smartest yon ever did! But we haven't "pulled it off yet." "It'a as good as done, though. That old fool of a woman will bring the stun home in the morning. Oh, Lord! if she only knew!"' "Why, she thinks all the world ot you, Banger. It's the eilvery locks that have done the trick! I think I will go in with her just to keep an eye on tihinge." "Oh no. you won't. Diclcy. I'ou've played the fool quite enough! Why, when I've seen you hanging round that girl as you do. I've hardly been able to keep my hands off you. 1. There was a laugh, and the voices ceased. 1 heard footsteps moving away. Sick and faint I crept away back the way 1 had came. My legs shook under mc, and my head was in a whirl. I stoic out into the moonlight, and up my stops, looking round like a guilty thing, but 1 got safely to my room. I locked my door, also the one that led into the .ball, and eat down to collect my senses. I shall not weary my readers by telling what I went through tba£ night. It k -more easily imagined than described. At half-past nine next morning I wae dressed and waiting in my room. Miss Thraysh knocked 'at my door. "The motor is waiting, Mrs. Erriott, svir said. Sending up a silent prayer for help and succour, I braced myself, and went out and faced them. "(!ood morning. T hope 1 have not kept the motor waiting. Won't one or both of you come in with W? It is such a lovely day." They declined, as ] knew they would. With a smiling adieus T got into the motor and wa-s driven oJF. I was amazed at myself. I Jiad carried it oIT with flying co»oure. When we arrived at the bank' 1 almost ran up the steps and into the outer oflice. "Is the mjinager in:" T asked breathlessly. "I wish to see him at once/ '" lie is in. but engaged." "Oh, tell him," 1 entreated, "that 1 must see .him at" once. It is urgent— urgent, and I cannot wait a moment!" The clerk went in with my message. I I heard something at my back, and turning quickly saw the chauffeur standing there. "What do you want?" I asked, sharply." '"1 came to carry the box out foi you. rca'ani." "One of the gentlemen here will 'do that for mc, you needn't wait." He turned and left the office with a very nasty look on his face. . The manager saw mc at once. I did. not waste a moment, but told him my story. , He rang up the police-station. A police-motor, with -four constablee, was sent out to Kilerelie. The chief inspector came to the bank. I repeated my story to him. "With your consent. Mrs. Erriott," , he 6aid, "we will get out your box and examine tie contento." In my excitement and fright I had le-ft the key behind, but the lock was soon burst open, and one by one I took my own things out. • TMa inspector lifted out the great heavy .parcel.. My friend, Mr. .Tovner, was called in as witness. We all gazed with fascinated eyes, while t.he inspector opened the parcel, and there, sure enough, was- a perfect b'aze of jewe's They turned out to be Finch and HardingV* property. The 'police-motor returned from Elleralie empty-hauded; the birds had flown. My chauffeur had evidently given t.hem the tip. He was one of the "gang" no doubt. Banger, -or "The Scorcher/ and Dicky were known as two of the cleverest cracksmen in Europe. - The inspector was terribly disappointed at losing them. "We'll gpt them yet!" 'he said. "We'll get them yet!" But they never have, and Us my belief they never will.