Year: 1877

@AAO%N NAOAA-


| live in San Francisco and am :
locksmith by trade. My calling is q
strange one, and possesses a certain
fascination which render it one
of the most agreeable of pursuits
Many who follow it see nothing in it
but labOr-think of nothing but Its
return in gold and silver. To me it
has other charms than the money it
produces. | am called upon almost
daily to open doors and to peer into
long neglected apartments; to spring
the stubborn locks of safes, and gloat
upon the treasures piled within;
to enter the apartments of ladies
with more beauty than discretion,
and pick the locks of drawers con-
tanning peace-destroying missives,
that the dangerous evidences of
wandering affections may not reach
the eye of husband or father in pos
session of the missing key; to force
the fastenings of cash boxes or de-
posltOrles of records, telling of men
made suddenly rich, of corporations
plundered, of orphans robbed, of
hopes crushed, OF families ruined. Is
there no charm in all this? No food
for speculation? No scope for the
range of pleasant fancy? Then who
would not be lock smith, though
his face is begrimed with the SCOT
of the forge, and his hands are stain
ed with rust?


But | have a story to tell-not
exactly story either-fOr story
implies the completion of nara
tive az well as the beginning, and
mine is scarcely the introduction of
one. Let him who deals in things
of fancy write the rest.


In the spring of 1861 think it
was in April opened little shop
on Kearney street. and soon worked
myself INTO fair business. Late
one evening a lady closely veIled
came into my shop, and pull
ing from her cloak a small Japanned
box requested me to open it. The
lock was curiously constructed and
| was all Of an hour fitting key to
it.


The lady seemed nervous at the
delay, and at length requested me
to close the door. l was a little sur
pristd at the request, but of course
complied. Shutting the door and
returning TO my WORK, the lady with
drew her veil disclosing as sweet a
face as can we'll be imagined. There
was a restlessness in the eye and a
palOr in the cheek, however, which
plainly told of heart ill at ease,
and in moment every emotion for
her had given place to that of pity.


Perhaps you are not well madam,
and the night air is too chilly, said |
RAJ her inquisitively.


felt rebuke in her reply. In
requesting you to close the door l
had no other object than to escape
the notice Of other persons.


lrdid not reply bat thoughtfully
continued my work.


She resumed:


That little box contains valuable
papers-private papers-and l have
lost the key, or it has been stolen.
| should not like to have you remem-
Der that l ever came here on such
an errand, she Continued with some
hesitation, giving me look which
Ii was no difficult matter to under
stand.


Certainly, madam, if you desire
it. If | cannot forget your face, l
will at least attempt to lose the rec
objection of seeing it here.


The lady bowed rather coIdly at
what l considered fine compliment
and | proceeded with my work, sat
isfed that a suddenly discovered
partiality for me had nothing to do
with the visit. Having succeeded,
after much filing and fitting, in
turning the lock, | was seized with
curiosity to get a glimpse at the
precious contents of the box, and
suddenly raising the lid, discovered
"A bundle of letters and a daguerreo-
type, as | slowly passed the box to
It's owner. She seized it hurriedly.
and placed the letters and picture in
her pocket, locked the box. and
drawing the veil over her face point
ed to the door. l opened. ani as
| she passed into the street she mere
ly whispered:


Remember!


We met again, and l have been
thus particular in describing her
visit to the shop to render probable
a second recognition.


About two o'clock in the morning
in the latter part of the May follow
ing, | was awakened from my sleep
by a gentle tap upon the window of
the little room back of the shop in
which lodged. Thinking of burg
lars, | sPrang out of bed, and in a
moment was at the window with a
heavy hammer in my hand, which |
usually kept at that time within con.
venient reach of my bedside.


Who's there? inquired raising
The hammer, and peering out into
the darkness-for it was dark as
Egypt when under the curse of
lsrae's God.


Hist! exclaimed figure, stepping
IN front of the window; open the
door, l have business with you.


rather past business hours, l
should say; but who are you?


NO one that would harm you, re.
turned the voice, which | imagined
was rather feminine for a burglars.


Aid no one that can, replied
rather emphatically, by way of