Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1862-08-29
FRIDAY. AUGUST 90, 1862.

the den made me lear that they were u
strangers to whatever vas done by thei
n.ighbors.
When It Became 90 dark that movement
nigh, be risked with q chance Of impuni,y
| go, upon the roof OF the house. and NOV
ing along the leads reached that OF the gam
bler., u. as I suspected. they were no, some
thing worse. which I determined on enter
ing at what 10 nearly uneacep'ionally, .h
most vulnerable and least guarded point
the scuttlo.
First. I looked downward over tho stree
front: the blinds were closed impene,rably
so tho rear. save where a few sla,.. worl
on, or no, fitting closely. permitted ,hei
line. Of light to shoo. on, into the else
where dark space.
Tho .cu,,le was like wooden cover to I
box, sheathed with tin. I had fins s,ee
biz AMI a saw, that would have made shor
work with the metal. for II would ha,
been we'll tempered bar Of iron iha, coul'
check their teeth; but feared that un
toward noise nigh, give the alarm an'
spoil everything a, the very threshold. $
took out a small steel crowbar, made o
join,ei pieces for coL,enien, carriage. anc
finding out that the scuitle was A. usual
only fastened with hasp and staple. ~.,l
tho bar. | worked up the opposite side Ill
I could supper, |, with tho aw handle
thus leaving space Of about an inch anC
q halt. through which the bar was ea'il,
passed and the ha.p knocked with . smar
blow on the staple.
lifted the cover carefully OF and low
cred myself by my hands till my feet were 4
little way. from the floor, aud dropped.
was IN box.lIke room. like coffin on end
so scan, Of space as hardly to contain m'
and ladder. This fixed upright on feel
ing IL, n. ascending, adjusted the scuitle .
tha, a .lieh, shove would suffice for ones
exit, for did not snow bu, tha, might
wan, to escape in ,ba, way. found The
door locked. bu, tho key being In the hole
a turn OF apair Of pi?pcrs O'ercano thai
difficulty.
! stood upon IN unlighted landing. NJ
the we'll hole Of the stairs 20 which came q
suhdued. murrnuring confusion. like loud
talking and laughter smo,hered by bail'
door-. All was .,ill on this floor, no, q
breath eIhalins from the wholly or partly
opcnei doors Of two or three bedroom
around. Ny boots, over whi;h were drawn
thick woollsu socks. made no sound upon
the drugget.covcred stairs. and as softly a'
a gliding ghos, I descended two hoor-. only
one OF which had lish, streaming through
a door anr told oi life.
The medley OF voices now was palmer
and luckily my sharp look ou, prevented
my coming abruptly upon eolored man
whose dusky form had much trouble ,C
separate from the darkncs. around door
where hc stood. A. peered through th'
bani.,ers at him, there was rush OF cold
air. and party Of three or four gentlemen
camc with NOISY step up the staircase, and
inyoluntarily shrank back Us the negrc
servant dung open the wide door Tor theiI
entrance into ya't hall. whose ASPECT dar
llcd me with it's brilliancy. had a glimps'
Of mirror. rejecting gnily dressed men and
women, tables covered with yellow gold
aud crisp heaps Of notes, chandeliers with
tinkling, rainbow.tInied pendants, and two
well.oiled door. swung TO inautlbly TO .huI
out the scene. | had seen enough, 90 ! re
traced my steps, and all that night saw m'
elOse,ed with our inspector. Mr.. Mnrdlock
who determined to accompany me and q
force the next night to break up the gam
bling house, if worse deeds than that did
no, also merit our interference.
To the number of ten, well armed. oul
party followed the course | bad previously J
taken, and, lying in wait. We seized upon
the negro usher at favorable moment, and
stripping him Of coat and vest. we made q
colored man. whom we had brought. dor
the clothes and the character, for while
until we succeeded In threatening the orlsi
nal into conforming with our instructions
under promise Of lettin: him turn evidence,
when We let him resume his duties. Then
wc. in obedience TO hint from him, (tha,
is Mr. BurdlOck and three others beside my
seli.) betook ourselves 10 room. the last
but one Of three on the floor the first be.
ing the large hall where the gambling wen,
on, the mex, the one wo occupied, the mex,
again one whose examination gave you
the result OF.
I, vase q place startlinsly opposite to the
modern. papered walls and carpeted floor
and smooth ceiling OF its neighbor. for IL,
walls were stone. its floor brick. the ceiling
vaul;ei stone, and door Of hollow iron
like q safe-door. twelve inches thick, when
closed mus, have completely stiied sounds.
1t was, IN brIet. u stone-box built inside q
room. with q vacancy Of about foot be.
tween II and the partition Of the next room,
to deaden round, furnishing a good place
for one who only desired to look but not
for one eager to bo . participant in whatever
happened 10 tho cell, because the wall could
not DO broken through without enormous
lever power. In the centre Of this cell hung
n strange work Of iron. It was frame
like horizontal giants hcadles' skeleton.
hooped round and banded. with hinge.
where the backbone would have been and
likewise down both less; II vas lined
,h,n,,bont Nth pndded velvet, sott and vet