The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-04-29

walton of my husband. He suspects ss
much, and closed the door upon him. Pre-
Stunning he had left the vault and quited the
house by the back door, | did not dream
until to day that he was confined there. Ger
tain suspicious acts of my husband, this
afternoon convinced me that the man is
there, beyond human hearing, and will be
starved to death By my bArbarous husband,
unless i'm medistely rescued. For three days
he has not left the house. / 'drugged him
less than an hour ago, and be is now so
s,upe6ed that the lock may be picked with
| ont his interference. | have searched MS
rockets, but could not fnd the keyi hence
nv application to you. Now you know ALL
Will you accompany me? 2"
ITO the end of the world on such an
errand |"
"Tnen prepare yourself there is a cab in
was . little Surprised. for had not heard
the sound of wheels. Hastily drawing on a
coat. and providing myself the required i'm
PIGMENTS, L was attic door There, sure
enough, was the cab, with the driver 10 his
seat, ready for the mysterious journey
entered the vehicle, followed by the lady.
AS soon as | was seated she produced q
handkerchief, which, by the faint light of an
adjacent street lamp, she carefully bound
around my eyes. The lady seated herself
beside me, and the cab started. In half an
hour it stopped-in what part Of the city
am entirely ignorant, as il was evidently
driven in anything but direct course from
the point of starting.
Examining the bAndage to see that my
vision was completely obscured, the lady
handed me the bundle of tools, and taking
me by the arm, led me through gate into
house which | knew was brick, and after
taking me through passage way which
could not have been less than fifty feet IN
length, and down q fight of stairs into what
was evidently an underground basement,
stopped besides q vault and removed the
handkerchief from ny eyes.
"Thre is the vsult-open it, said she,
| springiug the door of dark lantern and
throwing q beam of light upon the massive
! lock.
seized bunch of skeleton keys, and
after few trials-which the lady watched
with the most painful snxisty-sprung the
bolt. The door swung upon its hinges, and
my companion, telling me not to close il, as
it Was self-looking, sprang in the vault.
did not follow. heard the murmur oil
voices within, and the next moment the lad y
reappeared, and leaning upon her arm q
man, with face so pale and haggArd that
started at the sight. How he must have
suffered during the long three days of hi.
confinement
Remain here" she sand, handing me th'
lantern, 81 will be back in q minute"
The two slowly ascended the stairs, AnC
/ heard them enter room immedisael,
above where wac standing. In less thar
q minute the lady returned.
"ShAll / close it, madam asked, plAc
ing my hand upon the door of the vault.
"No! Mop she exclaimed, hastily siez
ing my arm; sit awaits another occupant !?
"Msdsm, you certainly do not intsn'
to"
"Are you ready ?" she interrupted impa
tiently holding the handkerchief to my eyes
The thought flashed across my mind tina
she intended to push me into the vault, AM
bury me and my secret together. Sh
seemed to read thesuspicion, and continued
ADO not be alarmed. You are not tn
man"
could not mistake the truth of the fear
fulkmeaning of the remark, and shuddere'
as bent my head to the handkerchief. NJ
eyes were carefully bandAged. as before, snt
was led to the cab, and thence drivel
home by q more circuitous route, if POSSIBLE
than the one by which we came.
Arriving in front of the house, the hand
kerchief was removed, and stepped from
the vehicle. A purse of Eve hundred dol
lars was placed in my hand, and in a NO
ment the cab and its mysterious occupan
had turned the corner, sud were out o
sight.
entered the shop, and the purse was tn
only evidence | could summon in my bewii-
derment, that all had just done and vii
messed was but dream.
A month after that, saw the lady, AND
the gentleman taken from the vault walking
leisurely along Montgomery street. ! dC
not know, but believe the sleeping hus
band awoke within the vault, and that hi
bones are there this day The wife is still
q resident Of San Francisco.