Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-12-17
THE STONE VAULT.


dates; and am now within few weeks of
seventy-fve. But, as for being old, bless
you, I'm younger than the youngest clerk,
Tome Codgers, who, what with late sup
pcrs and hard drinking, has hand that
shakes like those old ledger leaves blowing
in the wind by the open window yonder.
Cold water, early hours, and temperance
in all things, keep man hale his life
through. Ifyou don't believe that, look
at me, I'm an example, sir. Yes, I've seen
changes here. The firm was Morris,
Grinby & Bloom" when | came, though
young Bloom died three months after the
young Grinby was taken into partnership.
We had fire here, too, and the offices
have been rebuilt on different plan. Ab,
yes-changes enough, sad and pleasant; but
the strangest and saddest of all was what
happened to poor Ben Wade.
Ah dear me. 1t did seem hard, look
ing at it with human eyes. and forgetting,
as we are apt to, that God does everything
for the best.
Perhaps you don't know how this house
is built. It's an old place, although the
front and Offices are new, and those great
balustrades were only put up last year.
Down below you can judge how very old
it is. Such cellar, sir-such massive
walIs-paved with stone, and below the
cellar is a small stone vault, which Codgers,
who laughs at serious things, says the old
firm built to be buried in. My own opin-
ion is it was intended to conceal valuables,
for it has CRATE and painted door, AMI
the locks each fastened with a different key
that is, if they were ever fastened at
all The vault was disused long before
my time Well, sir, l hadn't been here
six months, when one day, or rather one
evening, for it was nearly six-mcrchants
kept latev hours in those days-I had oc
casion to 90 down into the cellar before
going home, to give some directions to the
porter about some bales to be sent up in
the early morning next day.
Mike and | were up at the noX1h end of
the cellar, where the bales were, Md was
giving him my orders, when at my elbow,
as it seemed, l heard an odd sound,
kind of Wheeling cough smothered in a
moment.
| looked around; there was nobody
there, not a soul; and l thou. .ht: How
our ears deceive us, to be sure" and went
on talking But, give you my word, |
hadn't spoken three words when there was
that sound again. 1t quite started me.
Mike" said " did you cough ?"
"No, sir" said Mike, :" l thought your
honor did"
a. 1t must be Imagination or some sound
from the Office overhead" but just then
cough. ough" We both heard it.
It's no good, your honor" said Mike.
"There's some orc hiding in the cellar"
said l.
So, with Mixes lantern, we went over
the great stone paved place, looking be-
hind boxes and bales, and under the steps
and up the coal slide. But not soul did
We find until, passing the door of the vault,
l heard, it this time very faint aud strange,
and called out to Mike:
Whoever it is, is hidden in the vault"
Aud with that We both turned stairward
and bolted into Mr.. Grinby's office togeth-
cr-the old gentleman Grinby, senior
lie don't come to the Office once a year
now, for he's past ninety Old Mr..
Grinby was just locking his desk and but
toning his overcoat He stared at US
through his glasses and calculated:
BLESS me, Humphries, is the house on
fire ;"
"No, sir, said I, "but there's some one
hidden in the stone vault"
Bah !" said Mr. Grinby, at thought
you had better sense, Mr.. Humphries.
No one could exist ten minutes in the stone
vault. 1t is the next thing to air-tight."
&" 1t is my belief sir, that whoever it is
may be choking to death, sir" said I !;
"Sut there may be some one there. Mike
heard sound as we'll as l."
every well," said Mr.. Grinby; " call
the nearest constable, Mike, and-Mr
Morris, are you in your office, sir? Per.
haps you'll come down with us and assist
us in the capture of burglar Mr.. Hum
phries has discovered in the air-tight vault
below the cellar"
He was very satirical; so was Mr..
Morris. But We all went down together,
the constable with US, and stopped before
the stone vault. The door was shut so
tight that it took all Mikes strength to
force it open. And Mr.. Grinby, looking
straight before him, shouted:
Ha. ha. nobody, as l told you"
But the next minute he saw what the
rest of us had already seen-a bundle of
rags in one corner of the vault, down on
the floor. And amidst the rags was a
white face and a tiny hand, and bare,
bruised and bleeding foot And we drag.
ged out into such air as there was in the
cellar miserable wretch of little boy,
who seemed quite dead.
Up in the Office, however, we brought
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 little midge, had slipped in some
how, and hidden in the cellar, to open the
door for them, never thinking that any
one would come there that night.