Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-08-26
A BRI(KMAsON's STORY.
BY h. Z. SCOTT.

Many years ago / was working at my
trade in large city in one OF the middle
States. I was boarding with q brother
mechanic in the outskirts of the city, and
was engaged to marry his only daughter, q
charm ing young girl. AS was going
home from my work one night at dusk, l
met gentlemanly appearing man of
probably 80 years Of age, tall, well-formed,
dressed in very stylish manner, silk hat
and cane, large diamond pin attached to
his neck scarf, heavy black mustache,
dark complexion, large scar, as though
from knife cut, running across his left
cheek. was about two blocks from home
when | met him.
excuse me-" said he, ''but are you not
q brickmason?"
81 am," said l.
81 DESIRE" said he, ga man to do job
of work tonight, it may take half the
night, it may take all night, but the man
who does the work, shall be we'll paid.
will pay you fifty dollars for the nights
work"
'Fifty dollars" said I, in astonishment.
"Fifty dollars" said he, son condition
that you ask no questions either before or
after you have performed the work, and
permit yourself to be blindfolded both
going to ard coming from the same"
sA singular request" said I; s'do you
want me to assist in the commission of q
crime"
CAN we want of you," said he, sis to
take down a piece of cellar wall, and build
it up again"
"To hide crime behind it?'' said I.
ITO hide behind it," said he, "certain
valuables now in our possession, for which
we have no immediate use, and which we
desire to deposit in a place of safety, and in
a place known only to ourselves. "You
know" he continued, ''they have been
raiding gambling houses lately pretty
freely, and gan. bling devices and imple-
ments cost money"
If that is all, thought l, to secrete a
gam bling outlay, there's no particular harm
in that had mad up my mind he was a
gambler. So replied, ''all right, I'm at
your service"
"First," said he; "you must pledge
your word of honor never to mention the
transactions of tonight, to never refer to
it hereafter or attempt to discover any par
ticulars in regard to it, in fact the trans-
action must from tonight be to you as one
that never occurred; in the meantime, you
must say nothing, between the time we
part, and the time we meet again, of hav.
ing undertaken a job Of the kind. If you
will do this, and do good job, your pay
shall be 800.
Now 500 would go good ways toward
| furnishing house, and starting Lottie ani
housekeeping in good shape, so
promised.
SWELL" said he, ''meet me on the thirt
corner above here at exactly nine o'clock
need not tell you to come alone; hav
your tools iu sack with you. You will
find hack on the corner at exactly nine
open the door and get in. Here's tel
dollar bill to show you that mean bust
ness, and that sha'n't count in the settle
ment. I'll be in the hack. Now, b
prompt" and be was gooe.
went into drug store, and got the te
changed, to make sure it was all right
The money was good. went on home
supper, eongratuiatiug myself over m
good fortune. At supper 1 missed Lott
and enquired for her.
s'She went out about ten O'Clock thi
morning." said Mrs. Dean, sand we can
imagine what has become of her, thoug
} she has probably stopped to visit some {
| her old school-mates.
After supper l put trowel, and wb;
tools thought would need in sack, an
a revolver in my pocket, and at 9 O'Clock,
was on the corner. There stood the hacl
There was no moon and the night W;
dark. l crossed over, opened the bac
door. and got in.
"Wel, you're op time" said the voit
of my employer, ''ncw take off your hat.
| removed it, and be baudased my ey'
most thoroughly, after which be spoke
tie driver, ard the carriage moved rapid
away. We turned several corners duriI
the drive aud we're fully an hour on Il
road, occasionally could hear other Ca
riages passing us, and some times, nois
on the street, indicating that We were pas
ing through some business street. He
trying to confuse me thought I, but
useless for have no idea where l al
finally the carriage stopped and we got on
"Come as soon as you can," said n
employer to the driver.
We walked, should judge, 150 feet,
what seemed to be concrete pavemer