Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1867-01-30

~ A"'e SonS IN''S ~o"'
madam, with the explanation" inter-
rupted, 81 am not at your service
"As | said" she continued, ''you are
required to pick the lock Of vault, and
rescue iIom death man who has sbecn
confined there for three days"
10 whom does this vault beloag?" l
inquired.
To my husband" vas .he somewhat
reluctant reply.
"Then why so much secresy, or rather,
how came man to be confined in such q
place ?"
II secretcd him there to escape the ob
servation Of ny husband. lie suspected
as much, and closed the door upon him
Presuming he had left the vault, and
quilted the house by the back door, did
not dream until to-day tha: he was con-
fined there Certain suspicious acts ol
my husband, this afternoon, convinced
me tha. the man is there, beyond human
hearing, and will be starved TO death by
my barbarous husband, unless immedi-
a!ely rescued For three days lie has rot
left the house drugged him less than
an hour ago, and he is row SO completely
Supplied that the lock may be picked
without his interference. have search
ed his pockets but could not find the key ;
hence my application to you, Now YOU
know ali will you accompany me ?"
To the end Of the world, madame, OF
such an Grand"
"Then prepare yourself. there is cab
waiting at the door"
l was little surprised, for I had not
heard the sound oe wheels Hastily
drawing on a coat, and providing myself
with the required implements, l was soon
at the door. There, sure enough, was
/ the cab with the driver in his seat, ready
for the mysterious journey. l entered
the vehicle, followed by the lady As
soon as | was seated, by the faint light Of
an adjacent street lamp, she carefully
bound handkerchief round my eyes
The lady seated herself beside NE, and
the cab started. In half an hour the We
hicle s,opped-in what par; cf the city |
am entirely ignorant, as it was evidently
driven by anything bet direct course
from the point Of starting.
Examining the bandagc to see that my
vision was completely obseured, the lady
banded me the bundle Of tools with which
| was provided, then taking me by the
arm, led me through gate into house
which | knew was of brick, and after
taking me along a passage way which
could not have been less than fifty feet in
length, and down fight of stairs Into
what was evidently an underground base
ment, stopped beside 4 vault and reuoS-
ed the handkerchief from my eyes.
Here is the vault-open it," said she,
spr:nging 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 swung
upon It's hinges, and my companion, tell
ing me not to close it, as it was self lock
ing, spraug into the vault
| did not follow. | heard the mur-
murs of low vcices within, and the next
momsnt the lady re appeared and leaning
upon her arm, a man with face SO pale
and haggard that started at the sight.
How he must have suffered during the
three long days Of his confinement. :.
Remain here she said, handing me
the lantern; Il will be back in a mo.
ment."
The two slowly ascended the stairs, and
| heard them enter room Immediately
above where l was standing. In less
than minute the lacy returned. Shall
1 close it, madam ?" said l, placing my
hand upon the door Of the vault.
'No. no." she exclaimed, hastily seiz-
ing my arm sit awaits another occu-
pant
MADAM, yen certainly DO not intend
to"
care you ready ~ she interrupted, i'm
patiently, holding The handkerchief to
my eyes. The thought flashed across my
mind that she intended to push ME into
the vault, and bury me aud MY secret to-
ge;her. She seemed to read the suspi.
cou. and continued:
''Do not be alarmed. lou are not the
man.