The States and Union. [volume] (Ashland, Ohio) 1868-1872, 1868-10-14

Offer.
"Will not five hundred dollars an
swer in lieu o. an exhibition ?"
'No-nor FIVE thousand.
She pat'ed her foot nervously on the
floor could see she had placed en-
tirely too low an estimate on my hon.
esiy, and felt some qualification in
being able to convince her of the fact
"~ell, then, if it is absolutely neo.
essary for me to explain" che replied,
u post tell You that you are required
to pick the LOCK OF vault, and"
"Y"u have gone quite far enough
with the explanation, I interrupted,
-. en- not at your service"
"You had better wait until / finish,
before you decline the work." she said,
rather testify.
ITO whom does this vault belong?
I inquired.
"My husband" was the somewhat
reluctant reply, "and it is te release
man that I require your assist
ance."
Then Why so much secresy, or rath.
er how came a man confn ID in such
place
81 secreted him there to escape the
observation Of my husband. He sus.
poets as much and closed tie door up
on him presumiug 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
suspicious 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 immediately rescued
For three days be has not left the
house. drugged him less than an
hour ago, and he is now so stupeGed
that the lock may be picked without
his interference. | have searched his
pockets, but could not End the key;
hence my application to you. Now
you know all, sir; will you accompany
me?'
ITO the end of the world on such
an errand."
"Then prepare yourself; a cab is
waiting at the door,"
I was little surprised, for I had not
heard the sound of wheels Hastily
drawing on coat and providing myself
with the required implements, 1 was at
the door. There, sure enough, was
the cab, with the driver in his seat
ready for the mysterious journey.
entered the vehicle, followed by the
lady. ...
As soon as was seated, she pro
duced heavy handkerchief, which, by
th ro11 ~ off,
lamp. she carefully bound around my
eyes. The lady seated herself beside
me, ard the cab started. In half an
hour it stopped-in what part of the
city am entirely ignorant, as it was
evidently driven in anything but di.
rect course from the point of start
ing.
Examining the bondage to see that
.ny vision was completely obscured,
the lady handed me the bundle Of tools
with which I was provided, then, tax
ing me by the arm, led me through a
gate into house which l knew was of
brick, and after taking me through
p ssage way which could not have been
less than fifty feet in length, and down
a fight of stairs into what was evil
IDENTIFY an underground basement, stop
ped beside a vault and removed the
handkerchief from my eyes.
"Here is the ,yault-open it," said
she, springing the door of dark Ian
tern, and throwing beam of light up
on the look.
seized bunch of skeleton keys,
and after few trials, which the lady
seemed to watch with the most pain
ful anxiety, sprung the bolt. The door
swung upon its hinges, and my com
panion, telling me not to close it, as it
was self locking, sprang into the vault
1 did not follow. / heard the murmur
of low voices within, and the next mo-
ment the lady reappeared, and leaning
up N her arm a man with face SO pale
and haggard that started at the sight.
How he must have suffered during the
long three days of his confinement!
"Remain here" she said, banding
me the lantern. 81 will be back in a
moment"
The two slowly ascended the staiEs
and beard them enter a room immed
lately above where I was standing
In less tbap minute the lady re-
turned.
"Shall close it, madam P said I,
placiug my hand upon the door of the
vault.
"No no !" she exclaimed, hastily
sei1ing my arm. sit awaits another
occupsnt."
"Madan. you certainly do not intend
To"
sAre you ready Z" she interrupted
impatiently, holding the handkerchief
to my eyes. The thought flashed ac- !
cross my mind that she intended to
push me into the va ult and bury m.
and my secret together. She seemed
to read the suspicion, and contin-
ued
"Do not lie alarmed. You are not
the mani"
1 could not mistake the fearful mean
ing of the remark, and shuddered as
bent my head to the handkerchief.-
My eyes ,Here carefully bandaged as
before, and was led to the cab, and
thence driven home by q more circuit
ops route, if possible, than the one by
which we came. Arriving in front OF
the house, the handkerchief was re
moved and stepped from the vehicle.
A purse of Eve hundred dollars was
placed in my hand, and in a moment
the cab and its mysterious occupants
bad turned the corner and Bere out OF
sight. 80.
I entered the shop; and the purse |