Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1861-01-29

"Come in" said l, resolutely, throwing
the door ajar, and proceeding to light a
candle. Having succeeded, turned to
examine the visitor. He was small and
neatly dressed gentleman, with a heavy
Raglen around his shoulders, and blue
navy cap drawn suspiciously over his eyes.
! As | advanced toward him, he seemed to
! hesitate moment, then raised the cap from
his forehead and looked me curiously in
| the face. did net drop the candle, but
| acknowledge to a little nervousness as
huiriedly placed the light upon the table.
aud silently proceeded to invest myself with
two or three very necessary articles of
clothing. As the Lord iveth, nv visitor
was lady. and the same for whom ! bad
| opened the little box about month before
Having completed my hasty toilette, | at
tempted to stammer an apology for my
rudeness, but utterly failed. The fact is,
was confounded.
Smiling at my discontinue, she said:
Disguise is useless; | presume you rec
ognize me ?"
:" / believe told you, madam, should
not snonr forget your face. Ia what way
can | serve your"
By doing half an hours work before
dayIlghtto morrow and receiving FIVE hund
red dollars for your labor" was the an
swer
1t is not ordinary work." said I, inauir
Ingly, - that commands so munifcent IA
compensation"
1t is labor common to your calling"
returned the lady. The price is not SO
much for the labor as the condition under
which it must be performed"
And what is the condition ?" | in
quired
That you will submit to being conveyed
from, and returned to your own door blind
folded"
Ideas of murder, burglary, and almost
every other crime to villiany, burriedly pre-
sented themselves in succession, as | politely
bowed, and said:
must understand something more of
the character of the employment as well as
the conditions, to accept your offer"
Will not five hundred dollars answer in
lieu OF an explanation ?" she inquired.
No-nor FIVE thousand"
She patted her foot nervously on the floor.
| could sec she had placed entirely to low
an estimate on my honesty, and felt some
qualification in being able to convince her
Of the fact
well, 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 a vault, and"
You have gone quite far enough, mad
am. with the explanation, | interrupted,
- / am at your service
As said" she continued. g YOU are
required to pick the lock of Il vault AID res
cue from death a man who has been con-
fined there for three days"
II, hny, Il Al
inquired
My husband" was the somewhat re-
luctant reply.
Then why so much secrecy, or, rather,
now came the man confined in such
place?
81 secreted him there to escape the Oh
servation 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, convince me that the man is
there, beyond human hearing, and will he
starved to death by my 5arharous husband
unless Immediately rescued. For three
days he has not left the house. | 'drugped'
him less than an hour ago, and lie is now
50 completely Supplied that the ocK NAV be
picked without his interference. | have
searched his pocket but cannot find the
key; hence my application to you Now
you know all will you accompany me p"
To the end of the world, madam. on
such an Grand"
Then prepare yourself; there is a cab
waiting at the door"
L was little surprised, for had not
heard the sound of wheels Hastily draw.
ing on coat, and providing myself with
the requisite implements. was soon at the
door. There, sure enough, was a cab, with
the driver IN his seat, ready for the myste-
rIous journey. | entered the vehicle. fol-
lowed by the lady. As soon as | was seat-
ed, she produced a heavy handkerchief.
which, by the faint light of an adjacent
street lamp, she carefully bound round nv
eyes. The lady seated herself beside me
and the cab started. la half an hour the
cab stopped-in what part Of the city an.
entirely ignorant, as it was evidently driv-
en- IN anything but a direct course from the
% int of starting
Examining the bandaee, to see that nv
vision was completely obscured, the lady
handed me the bundle of tools with which
! was provided, then taking me by the arm
led me through a gate into house which
knew was of brick, taking me along a pas.
sage way which could not have been less
than fifty feet in length, and down a flight
OF stairs into what was evidently an under
ground basement, stopped beside a vaul;
and removed the handkerchief from nv
eyes.
Here is the vault-open it." said she.
springing the door of dark lantern. and
throwing beam of light upon the lock.
l seized bunch of skel ton KEYS, and
after few trials. which the LADY seemed
to watch with the most painful anxiety.
sprang the bolt. The door swung upor it's
hinges. and my companion, telling me not
to close it as it was self locking, sprang IN
to the vault. | did not follow. 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 l started at the
sight. How he must have suffered during
the three long days Of his confinement in
the vault!
Remain here" she said, handing me
the lantern :; - will be back in a mo-
ment"
The two slowly assembled the stairs, and
heard them enter a room Immediately
above where | was standing. In less than
minute, the lady returned.
Shall L close 1t, madam ?'' said plac>
ing my hand upon the do, r OF the vault.
No! mol" she exclaimed, hastily seiz-
ing my arm; 1t awaits another occu-
pautg"
Madam, you certainly do not intend
to"
Are you ready?" she interrupted i'm
patiently, holding the handkerchief before
my eyes. The thought flashed across nv
mind that she intended to push me into the
vault, and bury me and my secret together
She seemed to read the suspicion, aud CON-
tinued
Do not be alarmed. You are not the
maup'