The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-08
paill,, argus.
THE STONE VAULT.
Concluded. !

will regret All, there comes the messel.
ger"
And in ran one of our boys.
well, Tom" said Mr.. Grinby.
Mr.. Wade amt bee.. home ell night, sir, |
said Tom"
81 told you So" said Mr.. Morris.
"And / tell you even yet l will not hear
my dear FRIENDSHIPS. my very dear friends |
character Aspersed, said young Grinby. |
"Humpbries, know you love Ben Wade as
do. Fancy 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 US three. "He Was
seen to return late in the evening. He was |
one Of the band of house breakers when We |
took him in, and many declare the charac- |
ter TO be formed at six years old. He was
nine. l believe be has been won back to
his old ways
"You will no. express your belief to 9th
ers,n said Mr.. Grinby.
mot as yet most certainly" said Mr.
Morris.
Well, sir that was bitter day to me-a
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 little O ffse.house as he some
times did when he did not intend to return
home until quite late, and had said to some
there, IL must 60 back to she office. have
forgotten something
An apple woman on the cornev had seen
him enter. He often bought fruit from
her for lunch and she knew him well by
sight,
There the news ended, until Mike, going
in TO light the fires, found the place scene
of confusion--desks and safes rltted, papers
strewed about, and every mark of systemAt-
10 turg'Ary.
Late in the day Lucy Evens came down
Her brother had sent her word OF what had
occurred. She believed some accident had
happened 20 Ben, and begged the firm TO
spare no efforts to discover him. She was
almost distracted, and who can wonder
They had been going together, it seemed, TO
see some plsy the night before, and she had
been sufficiently alarmed by his failing t.
keep the appointment TO be in . measure
prepared for worse. She knew he intended
20 bring her o book. He 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 hin' at what hso
been whispered, in her presence.
For weeks, sir, the authorities were a,
work. Immense rewards were offered for
the burglars, and for the recovery alive or
dead Of young Benjam Wade, but without
the least effect.
We were notified of every body washed
ashore, and of every unknown man found
dead for months and at least there were few
who did not laugh at poor Bsn's friends for
their credulity.
1t seemed plain 10 them-and may heaven
not Judge them as they judged their brother
Ben Wade was guilty
Poor Lucy never looked up. 1t was cas- y
enough to see that her heart was broken
and in q year she died just week too sooI
TO hear what | shall tell you
One morning | was very busy at my dssk
IN the office when 9 gentleman came in snc
asked for either Mr.. Morris or Mr.. Grin by
Old Mr.. Grinby was at home with she govt
but Mr.. Morris and the young gentlema D
were in. l saw the gentleman was q cler
gymRn and fRncied be had called to solici,
subscript 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 burglary
committed here year ago, or more
! could not keep my seat then, but went
forward. trembling like leaf.
Young Mr.. Grinby had turned quite
faint, and was leaning against the wall fol
support.
"You are Agitatsd, +" said the clergyman
~ fear you will be still more affected BY
what you must soon hear. A person now il
custody condemned to execution has q con
fesBion to make 20 you in regard TO tn o.
affairs very horrible one, fear"
He took 8 card from his pocket and wrote
few lines.
''If you will call at the prison anytime to
day, you will not be 100 late. It is Friday
and he 10 to suffer exc C Ition al dawn. Pre-
sent this, if you please, and Iimplore you tt
ask no questions now"
Before they could say much he was gone
afraid think, to be the first to tell the story
and our gentlemen called q cab and took M
with them At my request They seemed t
expect US at the prison, and we we're I'd
mitted. Bu. IN the narrow corridor Morri
stopped us.
Gentlemen" he said, "you must nerv
yourselves. Have you reflected that 20
may see Benjamin Wade when yonder doc
is opened ?"
Young Grinby put his hand upon hi
heart, and seemed turning fAirt again.
was the frat time the thought had entere
ny mind, and it was q blow. It staggere
me.
The next minute the turnkey flung th
door open, and we were in the cell. On tn
floor lay q mAn-a broad shouldered fellow
in rough garments-who seemed to hay
cast himself down in grief or terror. 1t wi
not Ben Wade. At first thought ha
new or seen the face he lifted as he arose.
moment it came TO me.
IL was the leader of the gang who hn
been arrested for that old attempt at rohber
when We had found little Ben in the stor
vault.
you've come, have you" said he, 81
ting down on the stone seat, land sc
you know me. They've caught me sgsi
and it's murder this time, and I've prou
nei, and l always kept my word, ! d.
You remember young man called Be
Wade ?"
"What of him p we cried in breath.
"Not much-he didn't rob your plsc
that's all. We done it-Dick Burch, al
Slippery Tom and me. Tell you how
was. You know that boy informed on u
and was locked up for hard labor for mo
years than most men live. | didn't sta
though, cut off, and came home. And Il
first thing did was to vow vengeance on tn
boy. Why, there was a gay young buck,
fine toys, with the handling of none
and thought of, and trusted ju
for having done for us. Prou
too,-wouldn't speak TO us in the stre'
Threatened to give information if be ev
saw one of MS proving about / heard
all. swore I'd fx him; and it seemed
come to me.
"One night was agoin' to Snapper
shades to have q drink. Burch was wi.
me ; and in Q quiet sort of street we can
mp to Ben, in a mighty hurry.
ard have knocked him on the head, b.
Burch stopped me-"
"'See what he's up TO- says he. And '
EM--l = p !.