, 1877-03-23

of the character of the employment. as
well as the condition, to accept your
offer"
"Will not five hundred dollars an
swer in lieu Of an explanation ?" sine in
quired.
"No-nor five thousand.
She patted her foot nervously on the
floor. l could see she had placed en-
tirely too low an estimate on my hon
esty, and felt some qualification in be-
ing able to convince her of the fact.
Well, if it is absolutely necessary
for me to explain" she replied, Il
must tell you that you are required to
pick the lock Of a vault, and"
You have gone quite far enough,
madam, with the explanation" l inter-
rupted 81 am not at your service"
"As l said," she continued, "you
are required to pick the lock of vault,
and rescue from death an unfortunate
man who has been confined there for
three days"
"To whom does the vault belong?" 1
inquired.
my husband, :" was the somewhat re-
luctant reply.
"Then why so much secrecy? or
rather, how came a man confined in
such place."
"I secreted him there to escape the
observation of my husband. He sus7
pected as much and closed the door
upon him. Presuming he had left the
vault, and quilted the house by the back
door, I did not dream until to-day, that
he was confined there. Certain suspi-
cious acts of my husband, this after
noon, convinced me that the man is
there, beyond human hearing, and will
be starved to death by my barbarous
husband, unless Immediately rescued,
For three days he has not left the house.
1 drugged him less than an hour ago,
and he is now so completely stupeied
that the lock may be picked without bis
interference. have searched his pock-
cts, but could not find the key hence
my application to you. Now you
know all will you accompany me
there?"
"To the end of the world, madam,
on such an errand."
"Then prepare yourself there is a
cab waiting at the door"
was little surprised, for / had not
heard the sound of wheels. Hastily
drawing on a coat, and providing my
self with the required implements, 1
was soon at the door. There, sure
enough, was the cab, with the driver in
his seat, ready for the mysterious Jour
ney. 1 entered the vehicle, followed
by the lady, As soon as was seated,
she produced a heavy handkerchief,
which, by the faint light of an adjacent
street lamp, she carefully bound round
my eyes. The lady seated herself be-
side me, and the cab started. In half
an hour the vehicle stopped-in what
part of the city 1 am entirely ignorant,
as it was evidently driven in anything
but direct course from the point Of
starting
Examining the bandage to see that
my vision was completely obscuSed, the
lady handed me the bundle of tools
with which 1 was provided then, tax
ing me by the arm, led me through a
gate into house which I knew was of
brick, and, after taking me through a
narrow passage way which could not
have been less than fifty feet in length,
and down a fight of stairs into what
was evidently an underground base
ment, stopped beside o vault, and re-
moved the handkerchief from my eyes.
Here is the vault-open iti' said
she, springing the door of dark Ian
tern, and throwing beam Of light upon
the lock.
1 seized q bunch of skeleton keys,
and, after a few trials, which the lady
seemed to watch with the most painful
anxiety, sprang the bolt. The door
sprang upon its hinges, and my COM
panion, telling me not to close it, as it
was self-locking, sprang into the vault.
I did not follow. heard the murmur
of low voices within, and the next mo-
ment the lady reappeared, and leaning
upon her arm was q man, with face so
pale and haggard that I started at the
sight. How he must have suffered dur
ing the three long days of his confne-
ment.
"Remain here" she said, handing me
the lantern will be back in a mo-
ment."
The two slowly ascended the stairs,
and I heard them enter a room immedi-
ately above where 1 was standing. In
less than a minute the lady returned.
"Shall I close it, madam ?" said I,
placing my hand upon the door of the
vault.
"Nol nor she exclaimed, hastily
seizing my arm: it awaits another oc-
cupant."
Madam. you certainly do not intend
to"
care you ready?" she interrupted,
impatiently, holding the handkerchief
to my eyes. The thought flashed across
my mind that she intended to push me
into the vault, and bury me and my Sc
cret together. She seemed to read the