Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1863-02-26
He held out paper TO me; il was .

He held out paper 70 me- " was
note for 900 frane5.
"Charles. my boy.,you should let NE
know when you want money. NJ. Yer
nay see that those books are eorree
ted" and my uncle walked away.
How the day vent I do not kpow.--
| 1 noticed, however, that N. Verna,
once or twice went down to the stron,
room and brought up some books, ant
that no woman came for money,
About fYe o'clock II. Vernay cam
to me. after my uncle and the othe
clerk had gone, and said:
an. Watdes, we have been looking
at tie accounts ofMsdame Ia Mar
quise-; will youehelp me 10 carry
down these books7 The potter hal
gone; I'm rather late"
I took the books ard followed hin
down into the basement. He unlocked
the otter gate Of the safe, where the
general books we're kept. and passed
through to the inner safe. id which
we're Kept the deeds and valuable seca.
rites on which my uncle lent money
This was separated from tie outer safe
BY an iron gate 10 the day time and at
night by solid fre-prOof door.
He put his books on tie shelf, and
requested me to pit mine OF the shell
10 the proper order. The numbers OF
the back were almost illegible, and
was come time, even in the strong gas
light, trying to read.
"Cah l help YOU. N. wardesr'
"No. thank yod; I've Just done.''
l put Up the last book. and turhed Ia
g6. The heavy door sHung rapidly on
its hiiges; 1 heard the spfing catch and
the key turn, and l was in black dark
ness -
IN. ternsyi NJ. Yernsyi The
door is shdt"
81 know it," said his voice, mufied
by its thickness: "You have access to all
my books now"
l heard the heavy ciasb Of the door
Of the outer safe. and then silence, as
deep as death. was round me. did not
faint. l felt ] was the victim of mest
horrible trick; it was nothing more; 1
should be released, and would make
him repent it. heard presently his;
sing sound; it continued; presently l
smelled gas. ! should never see the
Ishould be stifed with the
gas--the plan was clear before now
An accIdent-no one knew / helped
him With the books; he did not know l
was in the safe, aud he shut the door.
Il was purely one ofthose accidents that
happen.
Still the gas Kissed like serpent be-
-ore its fatal spring. l must stop that.
felt round the walls for the fatal bur-
her, and soon found It. There was no
apl l remembered now that the tap
vas in the outer safe, and the gas light
ID in the inner one by long stick be-
ween the bars Of the gate. Ny fin.
yers stopped it in moment, but I could
lot keep my fingers there always. l
ried, and the arm became So tired Of
he contracted position above my head,
hat could not keep my finger over 1t
o save my life. thought Of some
'ther plan. To light it--alas! | did not
moke; 1 had no means to do it, and IL
had, it wodld only cohsume the dir,
very inch Of which was precious as
ife itself. At last I thought Of some
hing that would do. I tore some cor
lers of the leaves of book, chewsd
hem into a pulp, and put it over the
loles in the tube, pressing 1t III hatd--
be kissing ceased. I climbed the
heltes and smelled round the brrnet. /.
had one foe the less. 1 then began
o think seriously as to the chances OF
he air lasting me till released in the
morning. In the morning? This was.
Godl Saturday. Saturday! Sunday, !
Monday! Two nights and a whole day!
There was no hope. I might have
ived till the morning, but on Sunday
here was no business done, and my ab-
ehce might be easily accounted for by
hat horrible mistake ID my books.
Two nights and a day-ho& many
lodrs? To Sunday tight at fve. tHen-
y-fout. To Monday tnorhing at ten.
eventeeh. Forty-5 one long hours
There was not air enough to last me
enl I felt fdund the door; it was all
'ut air-proof. If l could make them
learl 1t was impossible7 The house
vas the other side Of noisy courtyard
i must diel And victorinei No
lo-tet thousand times mol ] must
ive--I Willlive.
bethought me OF my old store
How long could I live
Without fresh air7 How many hours
lad l in which to reach it? paced the
ength and breadth of the room. Il
neasured its hight, and found that BY
'featbing only twenty times minute l
night live thirteen hours; that would
'e till si& o'slock Sunday morning. snd
Ifter that must have AFFAIR was life.
must bore through the walls; the lock
Eas impregnshle. The walls Of brick
would yield to tools. Toolsl mockeryl
had but . penknife--a toy-and had
hirteen hours to get through wall at
east two feet thick. 1t was work OF
ears, not hours. Toolsi A long poin-
ed bar and hammar. / remembered
o have seen q mason boring through q
rail- at my fathers with such tools.--
ay penknile was two inches long. The
as burner-I tried it; it was soft brass,
~ knife cut it readily. It might work
trough beside the gas-pipe. The man
urely bored larger bole than the pipe