The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-06
TRE STONE VAULT.

hVe' Duli as LOT OelnR oldi bless you, IN
younger than the youngest CLERK, Tom Cod
gers, who, what with late suppers and hard
drinking, has a maud that shakes like those
old ledger leaves blowing al the wind BY
the open window yonder
Cold water, early hours, aud temperance
in all things, keep man bale his iite
through If you don't believe that, look at
me, Pm an example, sir Yes, We seen
changes here The firm was morris, Grin
by 4 Bloom" when | came, though young
Bloom died three months after the young
Grinby was taken into partnership. We
had q FIRE here, too, and the offices have
been rebuilt on a different plan. Alb, yes
changes enough, sad and pleasant; bu, the
strapgest and saddest Of all was what hap
pened 20 poor Ben Wade.
All, dear me. 1t did seem hard, looking
at 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
ia built. It's an old plsce,. although the
front aud offices Srs new and those great
bslustrades were only put up last year
Down below you can Judge how very old it
is Such cellar, sir,-suoh massive walls
paved with stone; aud below the cellar
small stone vault, which Codgers. who
laughs At serious things, says the old firm
built to be- buried in. My own opinion is,
IL was intended to conceal valusbes, for it
has great aud painted door and three
locks, each fastened with different key
that is, If they were ever fastened Rt all
The vault was disused long before my time
Well, sir, | hadn't been here six months,
when one day, or rather one evening, for it
was nearly six-merchants kept later hours
i'll those days-I had occasion to so down
in the cellar before going home, 20 give
directions to the porter about some bales to
be sent up in the early morning next day
Mike and we're up at the north end of
the cellar where the bales were, and was
giving him my orders when at my elbow, as
il seemed, | heard an odd sound kind
of wheeling cough smOthered 10 a moment
| looked around, there was nobody there
not q soul and | thought: how 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 startled me.
mike, said |, did you cough2'
No, sir said Mike, 81 thought your
honor did"
at must be imagination. or some sound
from the office overhead" but Just then
ough-ough We both heard ii.
"It's no good, yer honor" said Nike.
There's some one hiding in the cellar,
said /.
So with Mikes lantern, We went over the
great stoue-psvsd place, looking behind
boxes and bales, and undsr the steps, and
up the coal slide. But not a soul did We
6ud, until, passing the door of the vault,
heard it, this time very faint and strong, and
called out to Mike.
"Who ever it is, is hidden in the vault"
And with that We both turned stairwArd
and bottled into Mr. Griuby's office together
the old gentleman, Grinby senior. h
don't come TO the office once year now
for he's past ninety. Old Mr.. Grinby wal
Just locking his desk and buttoning his over
coat he stared at us through his glasse:
and calculated.
"Bess me, HUMPHREYS, is the house OF
fre?"
mo, sir, said I, "but there is some ont
hidden in the stone vault"
bah ~ said Mr.. Grinby, 81 thought YOU
had more sense, Mr. HUMPHREYS. No one
could exist ten minutes in the stone vsnlt
1t is the next thing 20 air tight
otis my belief sir, that whoever it is
may be choking to death. sir" said "bu
there is some one there. Mike heard
cough as well as ,"
Very WELL" said Mr. Grinby; "call til,
nearest constable. Mike, and-Mr. Morris
are you in your office, sir? Perhaps you'll
come down with US and assist in the aptur,
Of burglar Mr. HUMPHREYS has discovered
in the sir-tight stone vault below the eel
lar
He was very sstiricsl; so was Mr.. Morris
But we all went down together, the cousta-
BILE with us, and stopped before the stone
vault The door was shut go tight that i
took all MiSe's strength to force it open
And Mr.. Grinby. looking straight befor,
him, shouted.
''Hs, ha, nobody, as / told you"
But the next minute he saw what the res
Of US had already seen-s bundle of rags i
one corner OF the vault, down on the floor
And amidst the rags was white face and
thin hand and bare bruised and bleed
ing foot. And we dragged out into cue
air as there was in the cellar miserabl
wretch of little boy who seemed quit
dead
Up in the office, however, ve brought hir
to life, aud got the story from him. Fl
lived, it seems, amongst thieves, and the
had planned to rob us tina. night and h.
pbOE hbAir u4ANHOg Ahu bllpptu Al hOme0ON
and hidden In the cellar, to open the doc
for them, never thinking any one woul
come there that night.
But when Mike and went down, he too
10 the vault, land there would have smothere
but for my hearing him. don't care
tell you how we kept him, and filled Il
place with constables, who when the bur
lara came, pounced ont upon them, and toe
k11- Ill al
It's the boy have to tell you about-poC
Ben Wade. Il came out during the invest
CATION consequent upon the arrest, and Il
poor child was kept Amongt the thieves
force, and that they used him cruelty. One
a ruffian of the gang had broken his leg
a drunken fury, and he limped yet from ii
injury. He was such q pale, worn, miser
Bile thing, that every one felt me-ciful to hin
and it was decided to pardon him and sen
him to the poor house.
But that very morning, Grinby, JUNO
"A young man-came into the office whe,
his father sat, and put his hand upon h
arm,
"Fasher," says, 81 want to ask yc
favor l want my own way IN Oh
thing"
"Well," said the old gentleman, "let N
hehr you.
81 want to take Ben Wade into tn
house as an errand boy" said Young N
Grinby.
Hey ?" said the old gentleman, what
Young hOusebreaker as errand boy. Bless N
soul ~
Father" says young Grinby, "the boy
naturally good boy. like him, want
save him. Perhaps, If had not so good
father to guide me and to care for me,
might have been worse than he don't as
you to trust him, sir. ! only ask leave t
trust him myself. am sure he will prov
deserving of confidence"
Old Mr.. GrinbY took out his snuff. boz
and looked at Mr.. Morris.