The Sweetwater forerunner. [volume] (Sweetwater, Tenn.) 1867-1869, 1869-01-14


"Hist p exclaimed figure, stepping
in front of the window; "open the door, |
have business for you"
"Rathsr past business hours l should
say, but who are youl"
"No one that would harm you," retnm-
ed the voice, which | imagined was rather
feminine for burglars. a.
sNo one that cam" replied rather en-
phatically by way of warning, as l tight
ened my grip on the hammer, and pro-
ceeded to the door. | pushed back the
bolt, slowly opened the door. and discover
ed the stranger already upon the stairs.
aWhat do you wantl" abruptly in
9uired. .
81 will tell YOU" answered the same
voice, "if you dare open the door wide
enough for me to enter"
"Comc in," said resolutcly, throwing
the door ajar, and proceeding to light a
candle,
Having succeeded, I turned to examine
the visitor. He was a small neatly dress
cd gentleman, with a heavy Raglan around
his shoulders, and blue navy cap drawn
suspiciously over his eyes. AS | advanc-
ed toward him, he seemed to hesitate a
moment, then raised the cap from his fore
head and looked me curiously in the face
did not drop the candle, but | acknowl,
edge to little nervousness as | hurrledly
placed the light on tsb.e and silently
proceeded to invest myself with two ol
three necessary articles of clothing. Az
the Lord liveth, my visitor was lady
and the same for whom | had opened thC
, little box a month before. Having com
pleted ny hasty toilet, l attempted tt
stammer an apology for my rudeness, bu
utterly failed The fact is, was con
Y founded. Smiling at my discontinue
D she said:
a disguise is useless; I presume you re
+ cognize me!"
81 believe I told you madam, shoul
" not SOON forget your face. In what wa
n can I serve you9"
: "By doing half an hours work, befOr
e daylight tomorrow, and receiving fly
a hundred dollars for your labor" was tn
y reply.
1t at is not ordinary work." said Iinqui
ingly, ithat commands so munifcent
y, compensation 2"
|, SIT is labor common to your calling,
In replied the lady. "The pFipe is not
much for the labor as the condition und'
I which it is to be performed"
t "And what is the cOnditiopp lmqui
ed.
n "That you will submit to being conve
ed from and returned to your own dc
a. bliudfolded."
ne Ideas of murder, burglary, and almo
OF every other crime of vilIainy hurried
er presented themselves to my vision, and
n politely bowed and said
ng 81 must understand something more
It. the character Of the employment, as WI
as the conditions, to accept yopr Offer"
e; "Will not FIVE hundred dollars answ
ISL in lieu of an explanation p
OF "No-nor FIVE thousand"
She patted her foot nervously on t
a' floor. I could see she had placed enti
~ ly too low an estimate on my honesty, a
a. | felt some qualification on being able
M convince her of the fact.
~ "Well, then, if it is absolutely neces
~ ry for me to cxplain," she replied,
~ must tell you that You are required
W. pick the lock of u vault and"
hg "You have gone quite far enough W
no the explanation" 7 interrupted, 81 am
ne at your Service.h
iy' "To whom does this vault belong :"
''' inquired.
'ne "My husband," was the somewhat
: luctant reply.
lH0 "Then why so much secrecy or ratl
'ih- how came man confined in such plac
zen
"I secreted him there to escape the
~, servation of my husband. He suspects
much and closed the door upon l.
!, PresgRling he had left the vault and q
''o ted the house by the bsckdoor, but
" "" not dream until to-day that he was con
= ed there. Certain suspicious acts Of
husband this afternoon convince me I
. the man is there, beyond hpmap hear
~ and will be starved to death by my
~, barous husband unless Immediately ro'
~ ed, For three days be has not left