Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1866-05-31

, innate on my honesty, and l fel
: some qualification in being able t
convince her of the fact.
swell, then, if it is absolutel
necessary for me to explain" sh
replied, II must tell you that 20,
are required to pick the lock of
vault, and
"You have got far enough, mad
am, with the explanations" [ in
terrupted; Il am not at your ser
vice."
GAS l said, you are required t.
pick the lock of a vault, and res
cue from death a man who ha!
been confined there for three
days"
"To whom does the vault be-
long?" | inquired.
"My husband" was the some
what reluctant reply.
"Then why SO much secresy
or rather, how came a man conGn.
ed in such a place?"
II secreted him there, to escape
the observation of my husband.
He suspected as much, and closed
the door upon him. Presumine
he had left the vault, and quilted
the house by the back door, l
did not dream, until to-day, that
he was confined there. Certain sus-
picious acts of my husband this af-
ternoon convince me that the man
is there, beyond human hearing,
and will be starved to death by my
barbarous husband, unless imme-
diatelyrescued. For three days he
has not left the house. I'drugged'
him less than an hour ago, and he
is now SO completely stupefed that
| the,lock may be picked without his
interference. | have searched his
pockets, but could not find the
key; hence my application to you.
Now you know all; will you ac-
company me?'
"To the end Of the world, mad
am, on such an errand."
"Then prepare yourself; there
is cab waiting at the door"
| was a little surprised, for |
had not heard the sound of wheels.
Hastily drawing on coat, and
providing gmyself with the required
implements, | was soon at the
door. There, sure enough, was
the cab, with the driver in hisseat,
ready for the mysterious journey.
entered the vehicle, followed by
the lady. As soon as | was seat
ed she produced a heavy hand
kerchief, which, by the faint light
of an adjacent street lamp, she care
fully bound round my eyes. The
lady seated herself beside me, and
the cab started. In half an hour
the vehicle stopped-in what
part of the city | am entirely ig-
norant, as it was evidently driven
in anything but a direct course
from the point of starting.
Examining the bandage, to see
that my vision was completely OBJ
scured the lady handed me the
bundle of tools with which | was
provided, then taking me by the
arm, led me through a gate into a
house which | knew was of brick,
and after taking me along a pass
age-way which couldnot have been
less than fifty feet in length, and
down a fight of stairs into what
was evidently an underground
basement, stopped beside vault,
and removed the handkerchief
from my eyes.
"Here is the vault-open it,
said she, springing the door of a
dark lantern, and throwing beam
of light upon the lock.
/ seized bunch of skeleton
keys, and after few trials, which
the lady seemed to watch with
the most painful anxiety, sprang
the bolt. The door swang upon
its hinges, and my companion tell
ing me not to close it, as it was
self-locking, sprang into the vault.
did not follow. Iheard the MUIR
mur of low voices within, and the
next moment the lady re-appeared,
and leaning upon her arm a man
with face so pale and haggard that
1 started at the sight. How he
must have suffered during the
three days of his confinement!
"Remain here" she said, hand
ing me the lantern; ! will be back
! in q moment"