, 1876-08-11

Some rude benches served as tables.
and on these some lights were 80 ar
ranged that they fell brightly and
clearly upon them and their work,
while the rest of the vault was in a state
of semi-darkness.
The white robes that they had worn
through the church had been taken off,
and were thrown over a pile of cofins
on one side, and divested of them they
had nothing of the ghost about them,
save the locality in which they were.
Above the din that rose from their
work heard my name mentioned.
g He'll hardly watch again very soon,
I think; but If he should, we must
either dispose of him or leave these
quarters" said one of the gang, who
seemed to be an acknowledged leader.
Yes" said another, by way of an
swer, but if we leave this place we
will hardly find one that suits us so
well. Better make way with him if he
gets to be-"
What more he said 1 do not know, for
at that moment was conscious of some
one behind me, and the next O violent
blow sent me TO the earth, and for few
minutes was unconscious of what was
passing about me.
The first words heard as 1 came to
myself were these:
I" Let's put him into this empty coffin
and nail him up. They'll never think
of looking for him there"
Yes, that's o good project, and if
they delay in finding him it will give us
the more time to get of. 1t was lucky
foIs khak l.
Yes, devilish lucky; but let's put
the old fellow in, for we must be out of
here as soon as possible"
I tried to speak, but try as I would
could not raise my voice to q whisper.
The demons about me would bury
me alive, and could not utter O word
for my life.
Two of them took hold Of me and
dropped me into the coffin they had
placed by my side. In vain it was that
I struggled to move or speak
It's just fit," heard one of the
villains say. "Now for the lid"
1t was placed on, and a nail or two
driven into the decayed wood. Then l
felt myself lifted up and placed on the
top of the pile beside them.
Cry out I could not. 1 was buried
alive.
Now, boys, let us secure what we
have got, and then get out OF this den
as soon as possible, T" said the leader of
the gang. Pack everything up, so
that those who come here in search shall
see nothing to attract their attention"
There was a sound Of people moving
hurriedly about me for a few minutes,
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as the grave. The next moment . cry Of
alarm rang out, and voice shouted:
Through the church, We are dis
covered"
There was the sound of many feet,
and the report Of q pistol.
heard a cry from one of the gang,
Too late; we are surrounded" and
then cry for quarter, and 1 knew by
the voices and the tramping Of feet that
the vault was full Of police.
1 was sitting in the old musty coffin,
and struggled to free myself In my
efforts, as returning strength came back,
the coffin in which was enclosed
slipped, and came toppling down among
the group beside me. and bursting, left
me struggling at their feet.
Thepolicemen started back in alright.
but glance at me, and a few words /
managed to utter, reassured them, and
they gathered round, eager to hear how
came in that situation. told my
story in few words, and with q thank
full heart that I had become restored 10
consciousness sufficiently soon to escape
before they took their prisoners away.
A portion of the money and tools
were found lying upon the tables, and
the rest was hidden in the coffins that
had been emptied of their contents for
that purpose. That which I had occu-
pied had been used for q like purpose.
The counterfeiters were marched
away to the lookup, and from the chief
of the police I learned how they had ar
rived so opportunely as they had done.
Immediately back of the church, in the
cellar of baker, an entrance or passage
had been found the day before, and the
baker, upon being arrested, confessed
that 1t led to the vaults Of the church,
and that both passage and vaults were
used by q gang of counterfeiters.
They were to meet that night, and,
unknown to me, he had placed guard
concealed in the evergreens about the
church, through which portion of the
gang had entered, through the window
beneath which 1 had seen the ivy dis
turbed.
They had sought this means Of en-
trance, as at times it was impossible for
them to enter the vault by way of the
bakers passage, for fear that the police
might be on their track. They knew that
1 was in the church, though seeing moth
ing Of me as they had entered; half an
hour after the last one had climbed the
wall, they surmised that had fallen
asleep, and they were going to call me
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