Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1868-03-19

Is It's owner She seized it hurriedly
and placing the letters and pictur
in her pocket, locked the box, an,
drawing the veil over her face
pointed to the door. ! opened it
and as she passed into the street
she merely Whispered-"R "Remem
berry We met again, and / hav,
been thus particular in describing
her visit to the shop, to render
probable a subsequent recognition
About 2 o'clock in the morning,
in the latter part Of May following,
/ was awoke by a gentle tap upon
the window of the little room back
Of the shop, in which / lodged.
Thinking Of burglars l sprang out
of bed, and in a moment was at the
window, with a heavy hammer in
my hand, which I usually kept at
that time within convenient reach Of
my bedside.
Who's there?" l inquired, rails
ing the hammer, and pecring out
into the darkness-fori it as as dark
as Egypt when under the curse of
IsraePs God.
"Hist" exclaimed a figure, step
ping in front of the window; "open
the door; l have business for you"
"Rather past business hours, l
should say but who are you"
NE one that would harm you"
returned the voice, which l imagin-
ed was rather feminine for burg
lars.
"Nor no one that can r' l replied
rather emphatically, by way of
warning, as | frightened my grip on
the hammer and proceeded to the
door. pushed back the bolt and
slowly opened the door, and discoy-
cred the stranger already upon the
steps.
''What do you want ?" l abruptly
inquired.
81 will tell you" answered the
same voice, "if you dare open the
door wide enough for me to enter"
"Come I'M" said l resOlutely,
throwing the door ajar, and pro-
ceeding to light candle.
Having succeeded, I turned to
examine the visitor. He was a
small and neatly dressed gentleman,
with a heavy Raglan around his
shoulders, and a blue navy cal
drawn suspioiously over his eyes. |
As | advanced toward him, he SEEM |
ed to hesitate moment, then raised |
the cap from his forehead and
looked me curiously in the face. !
did not drop the candle, but | ac- |
knowledge to little nervousness
as l hurriedly placed the light on a
table and silently proeeeded TO IN
vest myself with two or three nee
essary articles of clothing. As the
Lord liveth, my visitor was a lady,
aud the same for whom l had
opened the little box about month
before. Having completed my has
ty toilet, | attempted to stammer an
for my rudeness, but utter
ly failed. The fact is ] was con
founded, Smiling at my discomft-
ure, she said:
Disguise is useless; presume
you recognize me 7"
Il believe l told you, madam, I
should not soon forget your face.
In what way can I serve you?"
"By doing half an hours work
before daylight tomorrow, and re-
ceiving five hundred dollars for
your labor" was the reply.
ut is not ordinary work" said I {
that commands SO t
a compensation"
alt is a labor common to your '
calling" replied the lady. The /
price is not so much for the labor, i
Is the condition under which it is v
20 be performed" b
"And what is the condition ?" ! e
inquired. A
That you will submit to being p
from, and returned to your ii
,wn door, blindfolded" b
Ideas of murder, burglary, and O
lmost every other crime of vii
ainy, hurriedly presented them q
elves to my vision, and | politely .,
owed, and said: Il must under n
tand something more of the char n, n
cter of the employment, as well as
lie conditions, to accept your of
H." al
"Will not five hundred dollars an. y,
yer in lieu of an explanation 2" she ~ ~
lquired. =
"No-nor five thousand. ~ ~
She patted her foot nervously on n II,
lie floor. I could, see she had !,
laced entirely too low an estimate
II my honesty, and l felt some
ratification on being able to con .,
Ince her of the fact. =,
"Well, then, if it is absolutely =,
for me to explain" she ~ :,
piled, 81 must tell you that you Il
e required to pick the lock Of Z Z
lult, and" =,
"You have gone quite far enough, o. =
adam, with the explanation" =
terrupted Il am not at your ser r
ce."
GAS I said," she continued, "you II
e required to pick the lock of a a
lult, and rescue from death a man J.,
ho has been confined for three e
.ys there" = =
'To whom does the vault belong ?" y
inquired.
my husband" was the somewhat n,
luctant reply. Al
"Then why so much secresy ? or h
ther how came a man confined in
Ich place 2"