The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1877-03-23

lore Having cOmpleJeu my nasty
toilet, / attempted to stammer an
apology for my rudeness, but utterly
failed The fact is, was confounded
Smiling Mt my discontinue, she said :
Disguise is useless; / presume you
recognize me9"
81 believed told you, madam, should
not soon forget yonr face. In what way
can serve you?"
By doing half an hours work before
daylight tomorrow, and receiving $500
for your labor, was the reply.
ut is not ordinary work, said /, in
quiringly, "that commands so munif-
centa compensation.
cit is n labor common to your Calling"
returned the lady "The price is not so
much fer the labor, as for the condition
under which it must be performed.
And what is the condition p in
quired.
"That you will submit to be conveyed
from and return to your own door blind
folded"
Ideas of murder, burglary, and almost
every other villainy hurriedly presented
themselves in succession, as 1 politely
bowed, and said:
tillittISbuuO SOlleUlllllR more
of the character of the employment, as
well as the conditions, to accept your
Offer"
Willnot $500 answer in lieu of an ex-
PLANTATION ?" she inquired.
"No-nor $4,000"
She patted her foot nervously on the
floor / could see she had placed en-
tirely too low an estimate on my honesty,
and / felt some qualification in being able
to convince her of the fact
"Well, if it is absolutely necessary for
me to explain" she replied, 81 must tell
you that you are required to pick the lock
of vault, and"
"You have gone quite far enough,
madam, with the explanation, L inter
lupted 81 am not at your service.
"As | 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 rath-
a
place ?"
81 secreted him there, to escape the
observation of my husband. He sus-
pected as much, and closed the door upon
him. Presuming he had left the vault
and quilted the house by the back door,
L did not dream, until to-day, that he
was confined there. Certain suspicious
acts OF my husband, this afternoon, con-
WINGED 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. ] drugged him
less than an hour aoo, and he Is now so
completely stupefied that the lock may
be picked without his interference. L
have searched his pockets, but could not
find the key hence my application to
you. Now you know all will you ac-
company me thercl"
"To the end of the world, madam, on
such an errand.
Then prepare yourself there is cab
waiting at the door
] was a little surprised, for / had not
heard the sound of wheels. Hastily
drawing on coat, and providing myself
with the required implements, was soon
mt the door There, sure enough, was
the cab, with the driver in his seat, ready
for the mysterious Journey. / entered
the vehicle followed by the lady. AS
soon rs / was seated she produced q
heavy handkerchief, which, by the faint
light of an adjacent street lamp. she
carefully bound round my eyes. The
lady seated herself beside me, and the
IA l., Ill a
stopped-in what part of the city | am
entirely ignorant, rs it was evidently
driven i'll anything but a direct course
from the point of starting.
Examining the bandage, to see that
vision WAS completely obscured, the lady
handed me the bundle of tools with
which was provided then, taking me
by the arm, let me through gate into a
house which L knew was of brick, and.
after taking me through n passage way
which could not have been less than fifty
feet in length, and down fight of stairs
into what was evidently an under
ground basement, stopped beside
vault, and removed the handkerchief from
my eyes.
Here is the vault-open it !" said
she, springing the door of dark lam
tern, and throwing beam of light upon
the lock.
seized bunch of skeleton keys, and
after few trials, which the lady seemed
to watch with the most painful anxiety,
sprang the bolt. The door swung upon
its hinges, and my companion, telling me
not TO close it, as it was sef-locking,
sprang into the vault cid not follow.
/ heard the murmur OF low voices within,
and the next momentthe lady reappeared,
and leaning upon her arm was man,
with face so pale and haggard that [
started at the sight. How he must have
suffered during the three long days of
his confinement
Remain here" she said, handing me
the lantern 81 will be back i'll mo-
ment.
The two slowly assembled the stairs,
and / heard them enter room immedi-
ately above where / was standing In
less than minute the lady returned to
me.
"Shall L close it, MADAME" said /,
placing my hand upon the door OF the
vault.