The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-11-04
THE STONE VAULT.
TcoNoLUDED I

comm0tpQ. 0i6fAs tubAAD5 HAAbcA
and thither, thehcads Of the hrm
standing about in the most nHbusinesa
ike manner, aud three coOsiabie7 Oh
the premises.
What i The matter. sii?' SAID /.
addressing Mr Griaby.
Matter enough, said he. We've
been very heavily robbed.
Il fancied that couldn't harp n
here" said l. Il really believed 1t
would be impossible for burglars to
break into Morris, Geinby & Sons,
sir"
"Ah," said he, they did not break
in. The door has been quietly opened
from the inside
And l believe" began Mr.. Nor
Sir" cried young Mr.. Grizzly. out
of breath, Il beg, as q gentleman, as q
man Of principle, you will not give ut.
terance TO your unfounded suspicion
totally unfounded and unworthy
Prove them 50, sir, said Mr.. Nor
ris, coolly, "and I'll apologize"
| looked an inquiry.
Don't ask explanations, I beg, Mr..
HUMPHREYS, said Mr.. Grinby. Some
thing has been said, which the speaker
will regret. All, there comes my
messenger.
And In ran onepof our boys.
well TOMB said Mr.. Grniby.
Mr.. Wade amt been home all
night, ST." said Tom.
Il told you 50, said Mr.. Morris.
And l tell you even yet L vii not
hear my dear friend 's-yes, my very
dear friend's-characse aspersed,"
said young Grinhy. "Humphries, |
knew you love Ben Wade as / do.
Fanny imagining him connected with
this robbery. As well suspect my
father or myself or you.
Hes missing" said Mr.. Morris,
shutting the Office door upon as three.
He was seen to return late in the
evening. He was one Of a band of
house breakers when we took him 10,
and many declare the character to be
formed at six years old. He was nine
l believe he has been won back to his
old ways"
You will not express your belief to
others" said Mr.. Grinby.
Not as yet, most certainly" said
Mr.. Morris.
Well, sir, that was a bitter day to
ma bitter day. We could learn
nothing Of young Wade after eight
O'Clock on the previous night. Then
several had seen him. He had taken
tea at a little coffee house, as he some
times did when he did not intend to
return home until quite late, and has
said to some one there, II must 20 back
to the Office. / have forgotten some-
thing"
Half an hour afterwards Mike, the
porter, had passed him ia the street,
and young Wade had said:
"Wha's the time, Mixer"
The porter No1 him.
II shall be = late" he said. Il
have an engagement, and must go back
to our Place for q parcel I've forgot
ten"
An apple woman on the corner had
seen him enter. He often bought
fruit from her for lunch, aud she
knew him we'll by sight
There the news ended, until Mike,
going in to light the fires, found the
place a scene of confusion-desks and
safes rifed, papers streWn about, and
every mark of systematic burglary.
Later IN the day Lucy Evans came
down. Her brother had sent her word
Of what had occurred. She believed
some terrible accident had happened
to Ben, and begged the firm to spare
no efforts TO discover him. She was
almost distracted, and who can won
der. They had been going together,
it seemee, to see some play the night
before, and she had been sufficiently
alarmed by his failing to keep the
appointment 10 be In a measure pre-
pared for worse. She knew he in
tended TO bring her a book. lie had
spoken OF it, That must have been
the parcel he went back for. OF
course she never doubted him, and no
one dared TO hint at what had been
whispered in her presence.
For weeks, sir, the authorities were
at work. Immense rewards were Of
ferad for the burglars, and for the re-
covery. alive or dead, of young BeDja-
min Wade, but without the least
effect.
We were notified of everybody
washed ashore, aud of every unknown
man found dead for months, and at
were last there few who did not laugh
at poor Ben's friends Tor their credu-
lily.
It seemed plain to ihem-and may
heaven not judge them as they judged
their brother-Ben Wade was guilty.
Poor Lucy never looked up. twas
easy enough to see that her heart was
broken, and in year she died, just a
week too soon to hear what / shall
tell you.
One morning | was very busy at my
desk in the office when q gentleman
nwA noEaT Fnw NJ 80
Mr.. Griuby. Old Mr.. Grinby was
home with the govt, but Mr.. Morris
and the young gentleman were in. /
saw the gentleman was a clergyman
and fsncied he had called to solicit
subscription for some mission to the
heather, or Sunday school, or new
church. But his first words made me
start. They were these:
You remember, of course, a bur
glary committed here a year ago, OF
more"
I could not keep my seat then, but
went forward, trembling like q leaf.
Young Mr.. Grinby had turned quite
faint, and was leaning against the wall
for support.
You are agitaied, said the clergy
man; II fear you will be still mora
affected by what you must soon hear
A person now in custody, condemned
to execution, has confession to make
to you in regard to that affair-a very
horrible one, / fear.
He took a card from his pocket, aud
wrote few lines.
IF YOU will call at the prison any
TINA o-day, you will not be too late
Tomorrow is Friday, and he is to suf.
fer execution at dawn. Present this
if you please, aud, l implore you, ask
no questions now.
Before they could say much he was
gone. Afraid | think, to be the frs
10 tell the story, and our gentlemer