The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1866-08-07

self with two or three very necessary ar
ticles of clothing. AS the Lord liyeth.
my visitor was lady, and the same one
for whom had opened the little box
about month beforel Having compile
ted my hasty toilette, I attempted to
stammer an apology for my rudeness, but
utterly failed. The fact is, I was con-
founded. Smiling at my discontinue, she
said:
disguise is useless, I presumoyou re-
cognize meP"
II believe [ told you, Madam, T should
not soon forget your face. In what way
can | serve you?"
"By doing half an hours work be-
fore daylight tomorrow, and receiving
FIVE hundred dollars fer your labor was
the reply.
"It is not ordinary work." said I, in
quiringly, "that commands so munifcent
recompense."
"It is alabor common to your calling"
returned the lady. "The price is not so
much for the labor, as the condition un-
der which it must be performed
"ADd what is the condition." inquir.
ed.
"That you will submit to be conveyed
from and returned to your own door
Ideas of murder, burglary, and almost
every ether crime to yillainy hurriedly
themselves in succession, as I
politely bowed and said:
81 must understand something more of
the character of the employment as we'll
as the conditions to accept your offer"
"Will not five hundred dollars answer
in lieu Of an explanation?" she inquired.
"Ne-nor five thousand"
She patted her foot nervously on the
floor. could see she had placed entire
ly too low an estimate on my honesty land
l felt some qualification in being able to
convince her of the facts.
"Well, then, if it is absolutely neces-
sary for me to explain" she replied, ST
must tell you that you are required to
pick the lock of vault, and
"You have gone quite far enough, mad
am, with the explanation" I interrupted;
"I am not at your service
GAS said," she continued, ssyou are
required to pick the lock of a vault, and
rescue man from death who has been
confined there three days.
"To whom does the vault belong?' I in
quired.
"My husband, was the somewhat re-
luctant reply.
''Then why so much secrecy2 or rather,
how came man confined in such. a
placer"
81 secreted him thereto escape the OBJ
servation of my husband. He suspected
as much, and closed the door upon him.
Presuming he had quilted the vault and
left the house by the back door, 1 did not
dream until to-day that he was confined
there. Certain suspicious acts of my hus-
band this afternoon convince me the man
is there, beyond human hearing, and will
be starved to death by my barbarous hus
band, unless Immediately rescued. ]
drugged him less than an hour ago, and
he is now so completely stupefed that the
lock may be picked without his interfe-
renee. I have searched his pockets, bu,
could not find the keys hence my appli-
cation to you. Now you know all; vii
you accompany me2"
"To the end Of the world, madam, OF
such an errand."
"Then prepare yourself; there is cab
waiting at the door,"
Twas little surprised, for / had no
heard the sound of the wheels. Hastily
drawing on coat, providing myself witt
the required implements, l was soon a
the door. There, sure enough, was tn
cab, with the driver in his seat, ready fol
the mysterious journey. I entered tn,
vehicle, followed by the lady. As soor
as I was seated, she produced a heav,
handkerchief which, by the faint light 0
an adjoining street lamp, she CAREFUL,
bound round my eyes. The lady seate,
herself by me, and the cab started. L
half an hour the vehicle stopped-in wha
| part of the city l am entirely ignorant.a
| it was evidently driven in anything but
direct course from the point of starting
Examining the bandage to see that m
vision was completely obscured, the lad
handed me the bundle of tools with whic
l was provided, then taking me by th
arm, led me through q gate into hous
which | knew was of brick, and after ia
king me along passage way which coul
not have been less than fifty feet i
length, and down flight of stairs int
what was evidently an underground base
ment, stopped beside vault, and remoy
ed the han dkerchief from my eyes.
.Here is the yault--open it, said sh
springing the door of dark lantern, AN
throwing beam of light upon the locl
| 1 seized bunch Of skeleton keys, ar
after few trials, which the lady SCENE
to watch with the most painful anxict,
sprang the bolt. The door swung upc
its hinges, and my companion telling N
not to close it, as it was self-lockinI
, sprang into the vault. ] did not follow
l heard the murmur Of low voices With
and the next moment the lady reappea
ei, and leaning upon her arm man, wi
, face SO pale and haggard that started
, the sight. How he must have suffer,
during the three long days Of his co
!, tnementl
j ar emain here" she said, handing !
the lantern; 81 will be back in a m
ment.
Z The TIVE slowly assembled the stairs, al
, l heard them enter room immediate
above whore I was standing. In le