The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-07-21

in her pocket, locked the box, and drawing
veil over her face, pointed to the door.
opened il, and as she passed into the street,
she merely whispered Remember |" We
met again, and have been thus particular
in describing her visit 10 the shop, TO render
probable q subsequent recognition. Il.
About two o clock in the morning, in the
after part Of May following, was awaken
cd by gentle tap upon the window OF the
little room back Of the shop in which
lodged. Thinking Of burglars, sprang oul
OF bed, and in moment was at the window,
with heavy hammer in my hand, which
usually kept at that time in convenient reach
Of my bedside
Who's there 70 | inquired, raising the
hammer, and peering out intn the darkness
for il was as dark as Egypt when under
the curse Of Israeps God.
"Hist r. exclaimed figure, stepping in
front Of tn window; "open the door-I have
business for you"
"Rather past business hours, I should
say but who are you p
mo one that would harm you," returned
the voice-whlch | Imagined was rather
feminine for burglars.
''Nor one that can I" replied, rather EN-
phatically. by way Of warning, as tighten
ed my grip upoa the hummer, and proceeded
to the door. pushed back the bolt, and
slowly opening the door, discovered thS
stranger already upon the steps.
"What do you wanti" l abruptly in
quired.
81 will tell you," answered the same sofl
voice, ''if you dare open the door wide
enough for me TO enter"
Come in" said resolusely, throwing the
door ajar, and proceeded TO light a candle.
Having succeeded, I turned to examine my
visitor. He was q small and neatly dressed
gentleman, with heavy Raglan around his
shoulders, and blue navy cap drawn sus-
piciously over his eyes. As advanced TO-
ward him he seemed TO hesitate moment,
then raised the cap from his forehead, and
then looked me curiously in the face. | did
not drop the candle, and acknowledge 10 a
little nervousness and hurriedly placed the
light upon the table, and silently proceeded
to invest myself with two or three very me-
cessary articles of clothing. AS the Lord
liveth, my visitor was a lady, and the same
for whom had opened the little box about
a month before Having completed my
hasty toilet, attempted to stammer an apol.
ogy for my rudeness. but utterly failed. The
fact is, | was confounded.
Smiling at my discontinue, she said:
Disguise is useless; presume you re-
cognize me y .,
81 believe I told you madame, I should
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.
1T is not ordinary work." said inquir
ingly, "that commands so muniicent com.
pensation.r
1T is labor q mon to your calling,
replied the lady. "9'he price is not 90 much
for the labor, as the condition under which
it must be performed
s.What is the condition f' I inq quired.
"fhat you win submit to being conveyed
from and returned 10 your own door blind
folded"
Ideas Of murder, burglary aud almost
every other crime to villainy, hurredly p. Z
sented themselves in succession, az politely
bowed and said II must understand some.
thing more OF the character of the employ.
ment, as well as the conditions, to accep
your Offer
"Will not five hundred dollars answer ir
lieu of an explanation ?" she inquired.
"N0--nor five thousand"
She patted her foot nervously on the floor
| could see that she had placed entirely tOt
low an estimate on my honesty, and fell
some qualification in being able to convinc.
her of the fact.
"Well, then, ir it 10 absolutely necessary
for me to explain" she replied, Il must tel
you that you are requested to pick the loci
Of vault, and"
"You have gone quite far enough, mad
ane, with the explanation" | interrupted
Il am not at Jour service"
"As said" she continued, you are re
quired to pick the lock Of vault, and res
cue from death man who has been confined
there for three days" ll
ITO whom does the vault belong r. in
quired.
"To my husband" was the somewhat re
luctant reply.
.Then why 60 much secrecy or rather
how came man confined in such place 2
Il secreted him there TO escape the obser
vation of nv husband. He suspected Al
much, ard closed the door upon him. Pre-
sumiDg he had LEFT the vault, and quittet
the house by the back door, did not dream
until to-day that he was confined there
Certain suspicious acts of my husband th
afternoon convinced me that the man i
there, beyond human hearing, and will b.
starved 70 death by my barbarous husband
unless Immediately rescued. For three day
he has not left the house / dragged hin
less than an hour age, and he Is now so com
pletely stupefied that the lock may be pick
ed without his interference. / have searched
his pockets, but could not find the KEY
hence my application to you. Nov yo,
know ali will you accompany me ?"
ITO the end OF the world, madam, OF
such an errand." fA s
"Then prepare yourself; there is q cal
waiting Mt the door"
I was little surprised, for Il had no
heard the sound Of wheels. Hastily draw
ing on coat, and providing myself with th
required implements, was soon at the door
There, sure enough was the cab, with tn
driver in his seat, ready for the mysteriou
journey. ] entered the vehicle, followed b.
the lady. As soon as was seated, she pro
ducedsa heavy handkerchief, which, by tn
faiat light of an adjacent street lamp, sh
carefully bound round my eyes. The lad
seated herself beside me, and the cab started
In half an hour the vehicle stopped-iI
what part Of the city am entirely ignorant
as it was evidently driven 10 anything bu
. direct course from the point of starting.
Examinin0 the handa0ac IN 600 thaf m,