The Shasta courier., 1861-09-28


not soon forget your face. In what way can
serve your"
By doing half an hours work before day
light tomorrow, and receiving FIVE hundred
dollars for your labor" was the reply.
g 1t is not ordinary work." said l, inqur.
ingly, "that commands such a munifcent
compensation;
SIT is labor common 10 your calling" re-
turned the lady. .The price is not so much
for the labor as the condition under which il
must be performed"
ssAnd what is the condition ?'' inquired
That you will submit to being conveyed
srorn, sz11 return 70 your own door blindfold
ed"
Ideas of murder, burglary, and almost ev-
cry other crime incident to villainy, hurried.
ly presented themselves in succession, as
politely bowed, and said: 81 must under
stand something more of the character of the
employment as we'll as the conditions, to ac-
cept your Offer"
!" viii not five hundred dollars answer in
lieu of an explanation ~ she inquired.
" No-not five thousand"
She patted her foot nervously on the floor.
/ could see that she had placed entirely too
low an estimate on my honesty, and / felt
eoAo sIAsinSSu0n AZ pein6 apiS " eoutihce
her Of the fact.
"Wen, then, if it is absolutely necessary
for me to explain she replied. Il must tell
you that you are required to pick the lock of
= vault, and
. You have gone quite far enough madam.
with the explanation" l interrupted,
am not at your serviee.'
AS | said this, she continued, "you are
Il sl,n l. e ~
rescue from death q man who has been con-
fined there for three days"
ITO whom does this vault belong?' in
quired.
Ny husband" was the somewhat reluc-
tant reply.
"Then why so much secresy, or, rather
how came man confined in such place?"
81 secreted him there to escape the obser-
vation of my husband. He suspected as
much, and closed the door upon him. Pre-
suming he had left the vault and quilted the
house by the back door, / did not dream until
to-day that he was confined there. Certain
suspicious acts of my husband this afternoon
convinced me that the man is there beyond
human hearing, and will be starved to death
by my barbarous husband unless immediate
ly rescued. For three days he has not left
the house. I"drugged'' him less than an
hour ago, and he is now so completely stupe-
fed that the lock may be picked without his
interference. / have searched his pockets
but cannot find the key hence my applica-
ton to you. Now you know all will you
accompany me?"
ITO the end of the world, madam, on such
an errand."
"Then prepare yourself; there is cab
waiting at the door,"
l was little surprised, for l had not heard
the sound of wheels. Hastily drawing on a
coat, and providing myself with the requisite
implement, | was soon at the door. There,
sure enough, was the cab, with the driver in
his seat, ready for the mysterious journey.
entered the vehicle, followed by the lady. As
soon as | was seated, she produced heavy
handkerchief, which, by the faint light of an
round my eyes. The lady seated herself be-
side me, and the cab started. In half an
hour the vehicle stopped in what part of the
ly driven in anything but direct conrse
from the point of starting.
Examining the bandaSe to see that my Wis
ion was entirely obscured, the lady handed
me the bundle of tools with which l was pro
vided. then taking me by the arm led me
through gate into house which knew was
of brick, and after taking me along passage.
way which could not have been less than fif-
ty feet in length, and down flight of stairs
into what was evidently an underground
basement, stopped beside vault, and remov-
ed the handkerchief from my eyes.
q. Here is the vault, open it." said she,
springing the door of dark lantern, and
throwing beam of light upon the lock.
seized bunch of skeleton keys and after
few trials, which the lady seemed to watch
with the most painful anxiety, sprang the
bolt. The door swung upon its hinges, and
my companion, telling me not to close it, as
it was self-locking, sprang into the vault. I
did not follow. l heard the murmur of low
voices within, and the next moment the lady
re-appeared, and leaning upon her arm a
man with face so pale and haggard that /
started at the sight. How he must have suf-
fered during the three long days of his con-
fnement in the vault
Remain here,' she said, handing me the
lantern II will be back in moment"
The two slowly assembled the stairs, and 1
heard them enter room Immediately above
-ho-A xas standing In less than a min
ute. the lady returned.
Shall close it, madam ?" said I, placing
my hand upon the..door of the vault.
"No no - she exclaimed, hastily seizing
my arm; g it awaits another occupant?''
Madam you certainly do not intend to-"
"Are you ready?" she interrupted impa
tiently, holding the handkerchief before my
eyes. The thought flashed across my mind
that she intended to put me into the vault
and bury me and my secret together. She
seemed to read the suspicion, and continued:
+" Do not be alarmed. You are not the man. y
| could not mistake the truth or the fearful
meaning of the remark, and shuddered as
bent my head to the handkerchief. My eyes
were as carefully bandaged as before, and
led to the cab, and then driven home by q
more circuitous route, if possible, than the
one by which we came. Arriving in front
of the house. the handkerchief was removed,
and stepped from the vehicle. A purse of
FIVE hundred dollars was placed in my hand,
in moment the cab and its mysterious occu-
pant had turned the corner and were out OF
sight.
/ entered the shop, and the Turss of gold
was the only evidence could summon In my
bewilderment, that all | had done and wit
messed was not dream.
A month after that saw the lady and the
gentleman, who was taken from the vault,
leisurely walking along Montgomery street;
do not know, but believe the sleeping hus-
band awoke within the vault, and his bones
are there to-day. The wife is still resident
Of San Francisco.