Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1870-08-03
Stircte0 5HisceIInn1.
THE STONE VAULT,


and am now within few weeks of seventy
five. But, as for being old, bless you, Tn
younger than the youngest clerk, Tom Cod
geis, who, what with late suppcrs 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. If you dom believe that, look
at me, Tn an example, sir. Yes, I've seen
changes here. The firm was ''Morris, Grin
by q 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
rebuilt on a different plan. All, yes
changes enough, sad and pleasant; but the
strangest and saddest of all was what hap
pened to poor Ben. Wade.
All, dear me. 1t did seem hard, looking
mt 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
ink and offices fare 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 walls,
cellar is q small stone vault, which Cod
gers, who laughs at serious things, says the
old firm built to be buried in. NV own
opinion is, it was intended to conceal valu-
abies, for it has a CRATE and painted door,
and the locks each fastened with a differ
ent key that is if they were ever fastened
at all. The vault was disused long before
my time. Well, sir, | hadn't been here six
months, when one day, or rather one eve
ming, for it was nearly six merchants kept
later hours in those days-I had occasion
to go down into the cellar before going
home, to give directions to the porter about
some balls to be sent up in the early morn
ing next day.
Mike and / were up at the north end OF
the cellar, where the bales were, and was
giving him my orders, when at my elbow,
as it seemed, l heard an odd sound-a
kind of wheeling cough smothered III a
moment.
looked around; there was nobody there
not a soul; and / thought: GLOW 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 1, ''d1d you cough?"
f'No, sir, " said Mike, 81 thought your
honor did"
sIt must be imagination or some sound
from the office overhead but just then
ough-ough. We both heard it.
''It's 10 good, your honor" said Mike.
''There's some one hiding in the cellar, >
said |.
So, with Mikes 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 q soul did
We find until, passing the door of the vault,
L heard it this time very faint and strange,
and called out to Mike:
''Whoever it is, is hidden in the vault. D."
And with that we both turned stairward
and bolted into Mr.. Grinby's Office togeth-
er-the old gentleman, Grinby senior. He
don't come to the Office once year now,
for he's past ninety. Old Mr.. Grinby was
Just locking his desk and buttoning his
oyercoat. He stared at US through his
glasses and calculated.
"Bless me, Humphries, is the house on
fre2'
"No, sir" said I, ''but there's some one
hidden in the stone vault"
''Bah!' said Mr. Grinby, 81 thought you
had better sense, Mr.. Humphrles. No one
could exist ten minutes in the stone vault
1t is the next thing to air-dght."
'It Is my belief, sir, that whoever it is
may be choking to death, sir, " saidI 'but
there may be some one there. Mike heard
a cough as we'll as [. ="
''Very well" said Mr.. Grinby; ''call the
nearest constable. Mike, and-Mr Morris,
are you in your Office, sir? Perhaps you'll
come down with us and assist in the cap
ture of n burglar Mr. Mumphries has dis
covered in the air-tight vault below the
cellar"
He was very satirical; so was Mr.. Morris.
But we all went down together, the con-
stable with us, and stopped before the
stone vault The door was shut so tight
that ii took all Mikes strength to force it
open. And Mr.. Grinby, looking straight
before him, shouted:
''Ha, la, nobody, as 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 white face and
a thin hand, and bare, bruised and bleed
ing foot. And we dragged out into such
air as there was n the cellar a miserable
wretch of a little boy, VINO seemed to be
quite dead.
Up in the office, however, we brought
him to life, and got the story from him.
He lived, it seems, amongst thieves, and
JuSy udl plduueu W IOD US lIIdt ulSnl, anu
he, poor little midge, had slipped in some
how, and hidden IN the cellar, to open the
doorfor them, never thinking anyone would
come there that night.
But when Mike and | went down, he took
to The vault, and there would have smoth-
cred but for my hearing him. l don't care
10 tell you how we kept him, and filed the
place with constables, who, when the bur-
glars came, pounced out upon them, and
took them into custody. You can guess all
that. It's the boy have to tell you about
poor Ben Wade. 1t came out during the
investigation, consequent upon the arrest
that the poor child was kept amongst the
thieves by force, and that they used him
cruelty. Once ruffian of the gang had
broken his legs in a drunken fury, and he
limped yet from the injury. He was such
a pale. worn, miserable thing, that every
one felt merciful to him, and it was decid-
ed to pardon him and send him to the poor
house.
But that very morning, Grinby Junior
a young man came into the office where
his father sat, and put his hand upon his
arm.
Father" says he. Il want to ask you
one favor. l want my own way in one
thing"
'Well, said the old gentleman, "Iet me
hear you.
81 want TO take Ben Wade into this house
as an errand boy, said young Mr.. Grinby.
.'Hey?" said the old gentleman, ''want a
Young house-breaker as errand boy? Bless
my soul.
Father, says young GriDby, 'the boy
is naturally good boy. | like him; want
TO save him. Perhaps, if l had not so goot
father to guide me and TO care for me, I'd
might have been worse than he. | don't
ASK you to trust him. sir. l only ask leave
70 trust him myself. | am sure he will
prove deserving of confidence.
Old Mr.. Grinby took out his snuff box,
and looked at Mr.. Morris
I've noticed the lads eye; it's good
one, said MIR. Morris.
"lts risk, said Mr.. Grinby, ''but We'll
Cl,llI ana suppose the result was whatyoGn
>1rlnoy wanted, for little Ben Wade came
TO as the next Monday.
NO" he was clean and whole. he didn't
iook SO bad, and good food and no abuse
Enaue a difference In him in q ,yaalJ