The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1866-05-10
ii Tg}Ig ugOES VAULT

smith by trade. My calling is o strange
one, and possesses acertain fascination
rendering it one of the most agreeable of
pursuits. Many who follow it, see moth
ing in it but labor-think of nothing but
it's returns in gold and silver. To me it
has other charms than the money it pro-
duces. I am called upon, almost daily,
open doorssand peer into long neglect
ed apartments; to spring the stubborn
locks of safes, and gloat upon the treasure
piled within; to quietly enter the apart
ments of ladies with more beauty than
discretion; to pick the locks of drawers
containing e-destroying missives, that
the dangerous evidences. of wandering af-
fection may not reach the eye of hus-
band, OF father in possession of the miss
ing key; to force the fastenings of cash
boxes and repositories Of records, telling
of men made suddenly rich, of corpora,
tions plundered, or orphans robbed, OF
hopes crushed, of families ruined. Is
there no charm in all this ?-no food for
speeulation-no scope for the range OF
pleasant fancy? Then, who would not
be locksmith, though his face IS be,
grimmed with the SCOT of the forge, and
his hands are stained with rust9
But I have story to tel--not exactly
o story, either-for a story implies the
completion as well as the beginning of a
narrati7e-and mine is scarcely more than
the Introduction to one. Let him who
deals in things of fancy, write the rest
Irsthe Spring of 1861 think it was In
April-I opened little shop on Kearney
street, and soon worked rayself into fair
business. Late one evening LADY, closely
vailed, entered my shop, and pulling from
beneath o cloak a small japanned box,
requested me to open it. The lock was
curiously constructed, and I was all of an
hour in fitting it with key. The lady
seemed nervous at the delay, and at
length requested me TO close the door. L
was q little surprised at the suggestion:
but of course complied. Shutting the
door, and returning to my work, the lady
withdrew her vail, disclosing as sweet q
face as can well be imagined. There was
q restlessness in the eye and pallor in
the cheek, however, which plainly told of
o heartill at ease, and in a moment every
emotion for her had giyen place to that
of pity.
dPerhaps YOU, are not well, madame,
and the night air is too chilly" said l
rather ineuisitively.
I felt q rebuke in her reply: "In re-
questing you to close the door had no
other object than to escape the attention
Of persons."
[ did not reply, but thoughtfully con-
tinued my work. She resumed: "That
little box contains valuable papers-pri-
yate papers -and l have lost the key, or
it has been stolen. l should not wish.to
have you remember that | ever came
here on such, an, errand," /" she continued,
with some hesitation, and giving me o
look which it was no difficult matter to
understand.
ssCertainly, madam, if yon desire it. If
] cannot forget your face l will at least
attempt to lose the recollection OF ever
seeing it here"
The lady bowed rather coldly at what
T considered fine compliment, and L
proceeded with my work, satisfied that a
sudden discovered partially for me had
nothing to do with the visit. Having
succeeded, after much fling and fitting in
turning the lock, was seized with Gu
riosity to get glimpse at the precious
contents Of the box, and suddenly raising
the lid, discovered a bundle Of letters, and
deguerreotype, as ] slowly passed the
box to its owner. She seized it hurried
", and placing the letters and pictures in
her pocket, locked the box, and drawing
the vail over her face, pointed to the
door. I opened it, and as she passed into
the street, she merely whispered -"Re-
member" We met again, and have
been thus particular in describing her
visit tosthe shop to render probable o
subsequent recognition.
About 2 O clock in the morning, i'll the
latter part of May following, I was awoke
by a gentle tap upon the window of tho
little room back of the shop, in which l
lodged. Thinking Of burglars, sprang
out of bed, and in q moment was at the
window, with heavy hammer in my
hand, which I usually kept at that time
within convenient reach. Of my bedside.
sWho'sS Sthere? / inquired, raising the
hammer, and peering out into the dark
ness-fer it was,as dark as Egypt when
under the curse of Israels God.
Hist !o exclaimed a figure, stepping in
front Of the window; "open the door, i
have business for you."
"Rather pass business hours, l should
say; but who are you Z"
aNo one that would harm you" re-
turned the. voice, which | imagined was
rather feminine fer o burglars.
ssNor no one that camp Ireplied, rather
emphatically, by way of a warning, as |
tightened my grip upon the hammer, and
proceeded to the door. l pushed back
the bolt, and slowly opening the door,
discovered the stranger already upon the
steps.
s'What do you want ?" I abruptly in