Year: 1877

on the hammer, and proceeded to
the door. pushed back the bolt,
and slowly opening the door, discov-
cred the stranger already on the
steps.


What do you want? l sharply in
quired.


will tell you, answered the same
soft voice, if you dare open the door
wide enough for me to enter.


Come in, said resOlutely, throw
ing the door q jar, and proceeded to
light candle. Having succeeded
| turned to examine my visitor. He
was small and neatly dressed man,
with a heavy Raglan around his
shoulders, and u blue navy cap
drawn suspiciously over his eyes.
As advanced towards him be. seem
ed to hesitate moment, then raised
the cap from his forehead, and lOOkd
me curiOusIv in the face. did not
drop the candle, but l acknowledge
to little nervousness as l hurriedly
placed the light on the table, and 81
lently proceeded to invest myself
with two or three very necessary
articles of clothing. As the lord
Iiyeth, my visitor was a lady, and
the same for whom | had opened the
little box about q month before.
Having completed my basty toilet,
attempted to stammer an apology
for my rudeness, but utterly failed.
the fact is, | was confounded.


Smiling at my discontinue, she
said:


Disguise is useless, l presume you
recognize me?


Ibvileve | told you, madam, that
| should not soon forget your face.
In what way can / serve you?


By doing half an hours work be-
fore daylight tomorrow, and receiv-
ing $500 for your labor, was the re-
ply.


1t is not ordinary work, said |, In
quiringly, that commands so munif-
cent compensation.


1t is labor common to your calling,
returned the lady. The price is
not so much for the labor as for the
peculiar condition under which the
labor must be performed.


And what is the condition, | in
quired


That you will submit to be convey
ed from and return to your own
door blindfolded.


Ideas of murder, burglary and al
most every other villainy hurriedly
presented themselves in succession,
as politely bowed and said:


I must understand something more
of the character of the employment,
as well as the conditions, to accept
your offer.


Will not $500 answer in lieu of an
explanation? she inquired.


No-nor $4,000.


She patted her foot nervously on
the floor. l could see she had plac-
ed entirely to low an estimate on
my honesty, and felt some crafty
cation at being able to convince her
of the fact.


Well if it is absolutely necessary
for me to explain, she replied, l must
tell you that you are required to
pick the lock of vault, and


You have gone quite far enough
with the explanation, madam, / in
terrupted; l 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
three days.


To whom does this vault belong?
inquired.


My husband, was the somewhat
reluctant reply.


Then why such secrecy, or rather
how came a man confined in such
place?


/ secreted him there to escape the
observation of my husband, he sus-
pected as much and closed the door
upon him. Presuming that he had
left the vault and Quilted the house
by the back door, | did not dream
until to-day that he was confined
there. Certain suspicious acts of
my husband, this afternoon, ,convinc-
ed me that the man is there beyond
human hearing, and will be starved
to death by my husband un-
less Immediately rescued. For three
days he has not left the house. |
drugged him less than an hour ago,
and he is now so completely stupefi-
ed that the lock may be picked with
out his Interference. l have search
ed his pockets but could not find the
key; hence my application to you.
Now you know all; will you ac-
company me?


To the end of the world, madam,
on such an errand.


Then prepare yourself, there is
cab waiting at the door,


was little surprised for | had
not heard the sound of wheels. Hast
lily drawing on coat and providing
myself with the required implements
l was soon at the door. There, sure
enough, was a cab, with the driver
in his seat ready for the mysterious
journey. entered the vehicle, tol-
lowed by the lady. AS soon as
was seated, she produced heavy
handkerchief, which, by the faint
light of an adjacent street
lamp, she carefully bound over my
eyes. The lady seated herself be-
side me and the cab started. In half
an hour it stopped-in what part of
the city 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 OBJ
scured, the lady handed me the bun
die of tools with which was provid-
ed, then taking me by the arm, led |
me through a gate into a house
which knew was of brick, and, aft
er taking me through a passage way,
which could not have been less than
fifty feet in length, and down