The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1871-11-16
THE STONE VAULT.

1 have been with Morris ard Grinby
i've aud thirty years, come the first OF
next month. | was forty when I came
here, and so | have habit Of being ex-
act about dates am now within few
weeks OF seventy-fVe. But as for being
old, l am younger than the youngest
clerk, Tom Codgers, who. what with late
suppers and hard drinking, has hand
that shakes like those Old ledger leay es
blowing IN the wind by the opoH window
yonder.
Cold water, early hours, and temper
ance In everything, keeps a man hale his
life through. Ii you don't believe that
look at me; am an example. sir. Yes,
I've seen changes here. The firm was
Morris, Grinby s. Bloom" when [
came, though young Bloom died three
months after, and young Grinby was tax
too and the Offices have been rebuilt on
a different plan. All, yes-changes
enough, sad and pleasant; but the strang-
est and saddest of all was what happen
ed to poor Ben Wade.
All, dear me. It did seem hard, very
hard, looking at it with human eyes, ant
forgetting, as We are apt to, that God
does everything Tor the best
Perhaph you don't know how this
house IS built. 1t is an old place, altho'
the front ct the offices are new Those
great balusterades were only put up last
year. Down below you can Judge how
very old it IS. SUCH cellar, sir,-such
massive walls, and all and all paved with
stone and below the cellar a small stone
vault, which Codgers, who laughs at
serious things. says the old firm built it
to be buried in. My own opinion is, it
was intended to conceal valuables, for it
has great and plated door and three
locks, each fastened with different key
that Is, if they were eyer fastened at
ali. The vault was disused long before
my time. Well, sir, hadn't been here
SIX months, when one day, or rather one
evening, for 1t was nearly six-merchants
Kept later hours In those days-I bad
occasion to go down iu.o the cellar before
going home, to give directions 10 the
porter about some bales to be sent UP in
the early morning next day
Mike and | were at the north end of
the cellar where the bales we're, and |
was giving him my orders, when at my
elbow, as it seemed. l heard an odd
sonnd-a kind or wheeling cough smoth-,
cred in moment.
L looked around, there was nobody
there-not a soul. and | thought, now
our ears deceave US, TO be sure, and went
on talking. But | give to you my word,
L hadn't spoke three words when there
was that sound again. 1t quite startled
me.
Mike, says l, did you cough ?"
honor did,
1t must be imagination, or some
sound from the Office overhead" | said
but just then, ough-ough. We both
heard it.
Its no good, yer honor" said Mike.
There's someone hiding in the cellar
says [.
So with Mikes lanters 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. hearo it, this time very strange
ard faint, and calling ont to Mike;
w hoover It is, is hidden In the vault.
Aud with that we both turned stair
ward, and bolted into Mr. Grinby's Office
together. The old gentleman, Grinbv
Senior, does not come to the office but
once year now. for he's past ninety.
Old Mr.. Grinby was just locking MS desk
and buttonlng his overcoat. He stared
at US through his glasses, aud calculated:
Bless ne, Humphries! is the house
on fire p
mo, sir. said l, bat there is some
one hidden in the stone vault
''Bah!" said Mr.. Grinby, II thought
you had more sense, Mr. HUMPHREYS.
No one could exist ten minutes in the
stone vault. 1t is next thing TO air
tight
1t is my belief, sir. that whoever it is
may be choaling to death, sir. | said
but there is some one there, Mike heard
cough as well as l. -
Very vel" said Mr.. Grinby; eeall
the nearest constable, Mike, and-Nr.
Morris are you in your office, sir. Per
haps you II come down with Us and assist
IN the capture ola burglar Mr. num2h-
ries has discovered in the air-,ight stone
vault below the cellar.
lie was very satirieal so was SIR.
Morris. But we a.; went down together,
the constable with US. aud stopped be-
tore the stone vault The doc. was shut
SO tight that it took al, Mikes strength
to force 1t open. And DIR. Grinby, look
ing straight before him. shouted
Ha, Ia. nobody, as [ told vou.''
But the next moment he saw what the
rest had already seen-a bundle of RAGS
in one corner of the vanlt, down on the
floor. Aud amidst the rags was the
white face and thin hand, and bare.