THE MYSTERIOUS SAFE

  For many years the offices of Smith-Lesher Insurance occupied the corner of 5th Ave So and 8th St, kitty-corner from the 5th Ave Rexall. A reputable, respected company, it was remarkable to us in only one respect. The huge safe within. And what was in it.

 Judge Harold Smith was the cause of this wonder. He'd left orders that in the event of any criminal attack on the property he was to be notified immediately. Burglary, armed-robbery, larceny, anything. Particularly, if it involved the safe. He would never tell us why he had this vested interest. (He wasn't the "Smith" in the agency name, that being the ex-mayor Roy Smith family.) 
 Once we had occasion to call the Judge. There was a B&E and the office had been ransacked to some degree. There was no indication the safe had been violated. And being built like a Sherman tank, we would've been surprised if it had. It was a monster, of superior quality, and would've tested the talents of Willie Sutton. These burglars were of the smash and grab variety, not possessing such talent. But we called Judge Smith quickly and he promptly arrived on the scene.

 Judge Smith told me: "I'm going to open that safe. I want you to stand behind me, with your back to me. I want you to insure that no one looks into the safe, including yourself." He than went to work, from the sound of it shuffling papers for about 15 minutes. Then it was over. "We're okay, here," he told me. Then turned to leave. "Oh," he added, "leave this part out of your report." And we did.

 We did know that Judge Smith had had some ties to military intelligence. And that he was on the list of folks to contact in case of a national emergency. But, if this was some high level government intelligence material he was guarding, would he put it in an insurance office safe in the Elephant's Graveyard?
 The secret died with Judge Smith. And whomever else had the combination to that safe.
 Thanks to Dave Dampier for additional facts.