Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-10-19

coat. He stared at US through his
glasses, and calculated,
''Bless me, Humphries, is the house
on fire ?''
'.No, sir, said I, ''but there is some
one hidden in the stone vault"
BAH" said Mr.. Grinby, Il tho't
you had more sense, Mr.. Humphries.
No onefeould exist ten minutes in the
stone vault. It is next thing to air
tight"
"It is my belief, sir, that whoever it
is, may be choking to death, SIR" l
said, '.but there is some one there.
Mike heard cough as well as l.
''VerY.well, said Mr.. Grinby; "caIl
the nearest constable, Mike, and-Mr.
Morris, are you in your office, sir?
Perhaps you'll come down and assist
in the capture of burglar Mr.. Hum
phries has discovered in the air-tight
stone vault below the cellar
He was very satirical so was Mr..
Morris. But we all went down to-
gether, the constable with Us, and
stopped before the stone vault. The
door was shut 50 tight that it took all
Mixes strength to force it open. And
Mr.. Grinby, looking straight before
him shouted:
''Ha-ha. nobody, as 1 told you"
But the next minute he saw what
the rest Of us had already scen-a bun
die of rags in one corner of the vault,
down on the floor, and amidst the rags
was a white face and thin hands,
bare, bruised and bleeding foot; and
we dragged out into such air as there
was in the cellar, miserable wretch
of q little boy, who seemed quite dead.
Up in the office, however, we bro't
him to life, and got the story from
him. He lived, it seems, among thieves,
and they had planned to rob US that
night, and he, poor lttle midge, had
slipped in somehow and hidden in the
cellar to open the door for them, never
thinking any one would come there that
night.
But when Mike and [ went down, he
took TO the vault, and there would have
smothered but for my hearing him. I
do not care to tell You how we kept
him, and filed the place with consta-
bles, who when tie burglars came,
pounced out upon them, and took them
into custody. You can guess all that.
It's the boy have to tel! you about
poor Ben Wade. It came ont during
the investigation consequent upon the
arrest that the poor child was kept
among the thieves by force, and that
they used him cruelty. Once a ruff
an Of the gang had broken his leg in
a drunken fury, and he Iimped yet from
the injury. He was such a pale, worn,
miserable thing that every one felt
merciful to him, and it was decided to
pardon him and send him to the poor
house.
But thatvery morning, Grinby, Jun
ior, a young man, came into the Office
where his father SAT, and put his hand
upon his arm.
Father" said he, Il want to ask
you favor. l want my own way in
one thing
'9FeI, said the old gentleman, ''let
me hear you.
4 want to take Ben Wade into the
house as an errand boy said young
Griuby.
Hey" said the old gentleman
''what, a young housebreaker as an er-
rand boy? Bless my soul !"
'Father, 50 said young Grinby, "the
boy is naturally a good boy. | like
him; l want to save him. Perhaps, if
I had not so good father to guide me,
to take care Of me, might have been
worse than he. don t ask you to trust
him, sir. only ask leave to trust him
myself. l am sure he will prove deser-
wing of confidence.
Old Mr.. Grinby took out his snuff
box, and looked at Mr.. Morris.
I've noticed the lads eye; its
good one, said Mr.. Morris.
Its a risk, said Mr.. Grinby, "but
well consider.
And l suppose the result was what
young Grinby wanted, for little Ben
Wade came to US on the next Monday.
Now he was clean and whole, he
din't look so bad, and good food and
no abuse made difference in him in
week.