Nebraska advertiser. [volume] (Brownville, Nemaha County, N.T. [Neb.]) 1856-1882, 1866-06-14
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.'.THE IRON VAULT;
A MYSTERY or TnE PAST.


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STORY OF A SAN FRANCISCO LocKsMITH
t0I-00 ef0 " 7ins iza3
tofISamasI Iocksmilh by trade. My call
ing is "a strange one, and pOssesses'a a Ger
tain fascination rendering it one Ofsfh
oStagFeeabIe of pursuits. Many 7wh,
follow it, see nothing in it but labor
think Of nothing bot its. returns in gOlc
and silver. To me, is has other charm
than the money it produces. / am callet
upon, almost daily, t9 opep doors anc
peer .info long beglected apaftments; II
spring the stubborn locks of safes, anC
glOat upon the treasure. piled wihinr tC
Egqielly enter The aPartn1ehts. Of ladie;
with more beauty than discretion, and
pick the locksOf drawrs containing peace
destroying missrves, tnat the dangerous
evidences Of Wandering affection may
not reach the eye of husband /, or father
in possession Of the missing keyi 70 force
the fastening q cash boxes, and deposi-
tories of records, lltelling ofAmen- made
suddenly rich. qf corporations plundered
Of orphans robbed, of hopes crushed, Of
families ruined. Is there noucharm in
all this mp food for speculation - no
scope for the range of pleasant fancy
Then, who would not be locksmith
though his face is begrimmed with the
SCOT of the forge, and his hands drestain,
ed with rusll M asbioI
But 1ihave a story to tell mot exactly
story, eitber-f6r implies the
completion as welllas the beginning ofla
narrative-and nine is scarcely more
than the introduction to one. Let him
who deals in ihings of fancy, write the
rest. In the spring of 1861 think it
was in April opened little shop on
Kerney Stress pssd sos1- worked rnyeelf
into fair BUSINESS cLSfeione evening,
a lady, closely yelled, entered my shop
and pulliDg from beneath cloak a small
iapanned box, requested me TO open it.
The,lock was curiously constructed, and
l was all of an hour in fitting ii with a
key. The lady seemed nervous at the
delay, and at length requested me to close
the door. was little surprised at the
suggestion, but of course complied
Shutting the. door and returning TO my
work, the lady withdrew her veil, disclos-
ing, as sweet a face as can.well be iulagin-
ed. There was reslleSsness in the eye
and pallOr in the cheek, however Which
plainly told of heart ill,at ease and in
a moment every emotion for her had CIV
en- place to that Of pity.
Perhaps you are not well, madam and
the night ar is too chilly 7'' said l ralh-
er inqusitively.
I felt rebuke in her reply: I'm re-
questing you to close The door had no
other object than TO escape the attention
of persons, - -. .-..-.,-,.-. -
l did not reply. but thoughtfully cor
tinued my work. She resumed /: That
liule box contains. valuable Papers-Pri-
vate papers-and have lost the key, or
Il has been stolen e should mol wish to
have you remember hat Lever came here
d.i such an efrani,,n shat continued, with
some hisiistion, and giving me a Eook
which it was no difficult mater to Under
srand.6 Hsvs,Eaa ro -aa51 sas2 CIT
"Certainly, madam, if you desire it
If cannot forget your face, 1 viii at
least attempt TO lote The recollection of
ever seeing it here"
The lady lowed rather coldly at what
1 Considered a fine compliment, and l
proceeded with my work, satisfied that a
sudden discovered partially for me bad
nothing to with the visit. Having Sue
ceeded, after much filing and fitting, in
turning the lock, l was seized with Gu
riOsity to get a glimpse atrthe precious
contents of The. box, and suddenly raising
the lid, discovered bundle of letters, and
a Daguerreotype, as | slowly passed lAhe
box TO It's owner. She seized ii hurried
ly, and placing the letters and picture in
her pocket, locked The box. and drawing
the yellow her face, pointed to the door.
I opened it, and as she passed into the
street, she merely Whispered-"Remem-
Der % We met again, and i have been
thus particular in describing her wish to
the shop, TO render probable a'subseqdent
recognition. LLELIE .086I
.Abonl 2 O'Clock in the morning, in the
latter part of May following, | was awOke
BY gentle tap. upon the window Of the
liltIeTodm back of the shop, in which ]
lodged, Thinking of burglars, I sprang
out Of bed, and in moment was at the
window, with a heavy hammer iialmy
hand, which usually kept al that time
within convenient reach Of nv bedside