V 2 ljc tmc0, Htm !3laomftclirf Ja. A MYSTERY. The Lock-Smith's Story. X li! VI' in Sin Franoisoo, ami I am n I l ick-srnlth by trade. Mj calling is Htrutiire one, ami possesses a certain fim ciiiiiimi. rendering it one of tlio most ajireeablo ol pursuit. Many wlio follow it, sen nothin; in it hut labor think ol notliinjr but its rcturu in money. To me it. has oilier charms than these. am called almost dnily to open doors, and peer into loni neglected apartments; to gprin tho Hliiliborn locks of safes, and gloat upon the treasures piled within ; to quietly niter tho apartments of ladies ith inoro beauty than discretion, and pick tho luck of drawers containing pe ice-destroyiiif missives, that tho dan gerous evidence of wandering affections may not reach the cyo of n husband or father possessini; the mystic key; to force the fastenings of cash boxes and deposi tories of records ; telling of lit w ti made suddenly rich, of corporations plundered, of orphans robbed, of hopes crushed, of families ruined. Is there no charm in this no food for speculation no scope for the raniro of fancy ? Then who would not be u locksmith, tliourli his face is be grimed with the smut of tho furyo, and his hands mo stained withrust '( Hut I havu a story to tell not exactly story cither, for that implies tho com pletion as well us the beginning of a narrative and mine is scarcely more than the introduction to one. Let him who deals in fancy write the rest. In the Spring of lS'iii I think it was in April I opened a little shop on Kearney street, and soon work 1 myself iuto a fair business. Late one evening, a clo.-cly veiled lady entered my shop, and pulling from beneath lief cloak a small japanned box, asked me to open it. The lock was curiously constructed, mid 1 was a whole hour fitting it with a key. The lady seemed nervous lit the delay, and tit length requested me to close the door. I was a little surprised at the sug gestion, but of course complied. Shut ting the door and returning to my work, the lady withdrew her veil, disclosing us pretty a face as can be imagined. There was u restlessness in the eye ami pallor in the cheek, however, which plainly told ol a heart ill at ease, and in u moment every emotion for her had giveu place to that of pity. J'crhaps you are not well, madam, and the night air is too chilly '" said I, rather inquisitively. 1 telt a rebuke in her reply. ' In requestng you to cloio the door, I had no (.tlier object than to escape the attention of persons passing '' I did not reply, but thoughtfully con tinued my work. She resumed : ' That little box contains valuable pa pers private papers and I have lost the key, or it has been stolen. 1 should not wish to have j u remember that I ever name here on buch an errand," she Continued with some hentation, and gare me a look which was uo difficult matter to understand. " Certainly, madam, if you desiro it; if I cannot forget your face, I will at least attempt to lose the recollection of over seeing it hero." The lady bowed very cold at what I considered a Cue compliment, and I pro ceeded with my work, satisfied ttuit a suddenly discovered partiality for uic hud nothiug to do with tho visit. Having succeeded, after much Gliug and fitting, in turning the lock, I was seized with a curiosity to get a glimpse at the precious contents of the box, and suddenly raising the lid discovered a bundle of papers mid a dugiierrotypo, as I slowly passed tho box to its owner. ' She seized it hurriedly and placing tho letters and picture in her pocket, locked the box, nud drawing the veil over her (ace, pointed to the door. I opei ed it, and as she passed into tho sircet, she merely whispered " Remember !" We met again, and I have been thus particular in describing tier visit to the shop to ronder probable a subsequent recognition. About two o'clock in the morning, in the latter part of May following, 1 was awakened by a gentle tap upon tho win dow of the little room buck of the shop in which I lodged. Thinking of burglars, I sprang ont of bed, and in a moment was at the window with a heavy hammer in my hand which I nsually kept at that time, within convenient reach of my bedside. V Who's there ?" I inquired, raising the hammer, and peering out ititu the darkness for it was dark as Kgypt, when under the curse of Israel's God. " Hist!" exclaimed a figure stepping in front of the window ; "open the door I have business for you." . " Itather past business hours, I should ay f but who are you V No one that would harm you," re turned the voice, which I imagined was tether feminine for a burglar's. ' No one that can 1" I replied emphat ically, ly way of warning, as I tightened my grip on the hammer, and proceeding to the door, I pushed back the bolt and lowly opened it, and discovered the stranger already upon the steps. " What do you want?" 1 abruptly in quired. " I will tell you, if you daro open the door wide enough for tno to ento.-," an swered tho same voice. " dome in," said I resolutely, throwing tho door ajar, and proceeding to light, a candle. Having succeeded, I turned toexainine my visitor. IIu was a small and neatly djessed gentleman, with a heavy Raglan around his shoulders, and a blue navy cap drawn suspiciously over his ce. A I advanced toward him, lie seemed to hesitato a moment, then raised the cap from his forehead, and looked mo cu riously in the face I diit not drop the candle, but I confess to a little nervousness as I hurriedly placed tho light on the table, and silently proceeded to invest myself with two or three necessary articles of clothing As I live, my visitor was a lady, and the same for whom I had opened the little box a month before! Having completed my busty toilet, I attempted to stammer an apology for my rudeness, but utterly failed. Tho fact was, I was confounded. Smiling at my discomfiture, she said : " Disguise is useless. I presumo you recognize mo 'I" " I believe I told you, madam, I should not soon forget your face. In what way can I serve you ?" " 15y doing half an hour's work before daylight, anil receiving five hundred dol lars for your labor," was the reply. " It is not ordinary work," said I in quiringly, " that commands so munificent a compensation. " It is labor common to your calling," replied tho lady. " The price is not so much for the labor, as the condition un der which it is to bo performed." ' And what is the condition?" 1 in quired. ' That you will submit to being con veyed from, and returned to, your own door blindfolded." Ideas of murder, burglary, and almost every other crime of villaiuly, hurriedly presented themselves to luy visions, and 1 bowed and s-'id : " I inu.-t understand something more of the character of the employment, as well as the conditions, to accept your offer." ' Will not five hundred dollars answer in lieu of an explanation ?" " No nor five thousand." She patted her foot nervously on the floor. She had placed too low an esti mate on my honesty, and I felt some gratification on being ablo to convince her of the fact. " Well, then, if it is absolutely neces sary for me to explain." she replied, " I must tell you that you aro required to pick the lock of a vault, and " " 1 ou have gone quite far enough, madam, with the explanation," I inter rupted ; " I am not at your service." She continued " you aro required to pick the lock of a vault, and rescue from death a man who has been confined for three days there." " To whom docs the vault belong'!1" I inquired. " My husband," was the somewhat re luctant reply. " Then why so much secrecy ? or rather, how came a man confined in such a place." I secreted him thero to escape the observation of my husband, lie sus pected as much and closed the door upon him. I'icsuining he had left ho vault, and quitted the house by the back door, I did not dream until to-day that he was confined there, (,'ertain suspicious acts of my husband this afternoon convince mo that the man is there, beyond hear ing, and will bo starved to death by my baibarous husband, unless immediately rescued. For three days he has not left iho house 1 drugged him less than an hour ago, and he is now so stupefied that the lock may bo picked without his in terference. I have searched his pockets, but could not find the key; hence my application .to you. Now you know all. Will you accompany xuo'l" 'To the end of tho world, on such an errand !" " Then prepare yourself; there is a cub in waiting." I was pot a little surprised, for I had not heard the sound of wheels. Hastily drawing on a coat, and providiug myself with the required implements, 1 was at tho door. Thoie, sure enough, was the cab, with the driver in his teat, ready for the mysterious journey. 1 entered tho vehicle, followed by the lady. As soon as 1 was seated, she pro duced a handkerchief, which by tho faint light of an adjacent street lamp, she carefully bound around my eyes. Tho lady seated herself beside me, and the cab started. In half an hour it stopped in what part of tho city I am cutirely ignorant, as it was evidently driven any thing but the direct course from tho point of starting. Examining tho bandage, to see that niy vision was completely obscured, the lady bunded me the bundle of tools, and taking me by the urm, led me through a gate iuto a house which 1 knew was of brick ; and after taking uie through a passage way which could not havo been less than fifty feet in length, and a flight of stairs which was evidently an under ground basement, stopped beside a vault, ud removed the handkerchief from my eyes. " Here is the vault open it," said she springing the door of a dark lantern, and throwing o beam of light upon the mat J sive lock. I seized a hunch of skeleton keys and niter a few trials which tho lady watch ed with tho most painful anxiety sprung t ie bolt. The door swung upon its hinges and my companion, telling me not to cloHe it. as it was self-locking, sprang into tho vault. I did not follow. 1 heard tho murmur of voices within, nnd tho next moment the lady re-appeared; and leaning upon her arm, a man, with a faoo so pale and haggard that I started lit the sight. How ho must have sufi'ered du ring tho long thrco days of his confine ment. 1 " Remain here," sho said handing mo the lantern. " 1 will bo buck in a minute." The two slowly ascended the stairs, and I heard them enter a room immediately abovo where I was standing. In less than a minute, the lady returned. ' Shall I close it madam 7" I asked, placing my hand upon the door of the vault. ' No ! No !" she exclaimed hastily seizinir my arm ; it awaits another occu pant !" ' Madam, you certainly do not intend to " " Aro you ready ? sho interrupted, im patiently holding the handkerchief to niy eyes. Tho thought flashed across my mind that she intended to push me into the vault, and bury me and my secret to gether. Sho seemed to read the sus picion, anil continued. "Do not be alarmed. You are not the man '!" I could iiot mistake the truth of tlis fearful meaning of the remark, and 1 shuddered us I bent niy head to tho hand kerchief. My eyes wera carefully ban daged as before, and I was led to the cab. and 'hen driven home by a more circuit ous route, if possible, than the one by which we came. Arriving in front of the house, the handkerchief was removed, and I stepped from the vehie'o. A purie of five hun dred dollars was placed in my hand, ami in a moment the cab and its mysterious occupant had turned the corner, and weie out of sight. I entered the shop, ami tho puro was the only evidence I could summon in my bewilderment, that all I had just done and witnessed was not a dream. A month after that I saw the lady mid gentleman taken from the vault, walking leisurely along Montgomery street.. I do not know, but I believe the sleeping hus band awoke within the vault, and that his bones aro thero to this day ! The wife is still u retjideut of San 1'iaiiciseo. NOTHING LEFT BUT HIS BOOTS. A Wolf Story Unit Needed Proof. AN old man, not living a thousand miles from Washington, delights hi nothing so much as telling anecdotes of his pioneer life, to tho people, in the town where ho resides, and though his stories aro not always strictly true, he tells them with such an air of truth that his hearers find it hard to question his veracity. On one occasion, when he had gathered a little audience about him, on a hotel stuop, he was inoro than usually spirited in his descriptions of hunting scenes, probably for tho benefit of a stranger present, who manifested no surprise whatever at unythiiig he heard, though he listened attentively. The story-teller, whose name is lirown, glanced at him several times, u little un easily, but he could not gather from the expression of his face anything to en courage him to proceed. Not willing, however, to give him up us a stupid lei low, he made another utti nipt, and .rela ted that ho hud at one time killed six wolves with one rifle shot, from tho w in dow of a log cabin in the woods, and that he hud six skulls ut home to prove it. ' I rcmi'lubcr the place," said the stranger, now quite worked up. 'Wasn't it about a mile iroin where .luck l'cl ton's farm is now '" "Just so," said Drown. "Kxaetly," said tho stranger," and 1 wuut to tell of u curious thing that hap pened to me in that very cabin. I was out on a hunting expedition, and some how got separated troin my company and 1 stopped there over night, lor it was so dark that 1 could not see the way to go I barred tho door and windows, and felt safe, though 1 could hear the wolves howl ou tho outside." "I've heard tlium a hundred times," said lirowu, quite interested. "Well," continued the stranger, "1 slept soundly until 3 o'clock in tlio morn ing, when 1 was awakened by a dozen or more wolves coming down the chimney, and, sir, do you believe me, they pulled mo to pieces and ate mo tip in precisely two minutes every bono of me, uotli iug left but my boots." "Do you mean to say that the wolves ate you all up V" said Drown, "ale you up." "I do, sir and I havo the boots ut home to prove it." "Well," said Drown, umid the shouts of the audience and with a curious half sold expression ou his face, "ull 1 have to fuy is that that needs prool I" It is said that lirowu bus lost ull lei ibh for stories not strictly tiue. Bay Paris uwuys had the reputation of being tho gayest city in tho world, but the number ol bulls there ut the present time nUiputtCB uuything. Tho Wilkins Family. AUTHORITIES diner in re ar l to the origin of man. Some think he is but a higher grade of the ''What a it ?" and others that ho is only a fully developed clam. I incline to tho lu'ter opinion in the case of certain men who fritter away thoir lives in folly and dissi pation. Dut tho whole subject is a dilll cult one, and peculiarly so to the meta physical mind. This is illustrated in tho caso of young Wilkins. who song' t the author of his being with tho follow ing inquiry: 1 I'ap. weren't nil men in id i by I lo ivo i ?' " Yes, my child," benignly replied ihe paternal Wilkins ; '-but why do you usk ." " 0, nothiug ; only I see in the papers long accounts of ' self-made men.' and I thought maybe some of thoso fell nvs had been a gettin' of thoir own selves up" This is the brother of that other Wil kins, baptized Holofernes Montgomery, who canio home and complained that he didn't like the arithmetic they had ut school, because he couldn't guess the con undrums in it. " Conundrums !" exclaimed his pircn tal guardian ; "why, Holofernes Mi.nt goinery Wilkins, what do you mean ?" " W hy, you know that old nrithim tic of ours is full of conundrums and them things, ami when Mr. Swisetail asked me ' if l'JO bushels of corn will servo four teen horses fifty-six days, how many days will ninety-four bushels serve six horses V I said ' I give it up, 'and he said I was us stupid as an owl. Then he wanted to know why forty rods make one rood? I couldn't guess it ; I can't guess his darned idd jokes, you know, and then he licked me." lie was only trying to domou-trite, my child, that while forty rods make a rood, one rod sometimes makes one polite Louisa, remove this child to bed." This was the same boy who afterward got his teacher foul on the question, ' If it takes four nails to make a quarter, how many carpet tacks will it, take to make a ten dollar bill ?" Wilkins has a taste for these things. Tt was during his connection w'th ti c I'tterly Hopeless Mutual Insurance Com pany, that ho went over to Doston for u few days, and upon his return was asked by Smyth, you know him son of old Smyth coal oil man was asked by Smyth, " Say, Wilkins, where have you been for a week buck ?" " I haven't been anywhere for it. I haven't got a weak buck," and he shot round tho corner. Dot his great point is in educating the minds of his boys; and one day when he had a quarrel with bis aunt, and Duce phalus Alexander, his oldest chihl. want ed to know what was the mat tor, he said it. was simply a littlo grauiatieal error. Tlio relative didn't agree with the unte cedent. lie was strong on grammar ; ami when Mary Jane asked him what Syntax was. he said the tax ou whisky ; for Wilkin will have his tod whether or no, and he thinks it ain't right to put high duties on it. ilkins would sacrifice anything to u joke. When his father died, a venerable friend called to console him upon the Ins of his parental protector. Wilkins sigh cd and said, ' Yes, the old man was good at. that, but now I'm the head of the fam ily, and I suppose I'llliivet i piy-rental in bis place." 11 is friend dropped a sympathetic tear, and drove to the funer al in a hack. The elder Wilkins died of consumption and his sou remarked, as he saw the re mains placed in an undertaker's carriage, that it was singular that the old man should first be carried off by a hackiif cough, ami afterward by a coffin hack. The undertaker did'ut pereeivo that this was a joke until ho g it to tho cemetery, and it made him feel so mad that he kicked u di g that lay in his way, and the dog bit a chop out, of lii leg. " Is it a bull dog!1" said Mrs. Wilkins. " No. love," replied her husband, " it's a ceme terrier." Dut Wilkins hud a brother-in-law nam ed (jougu, who ran for Judge in Schuyl kill county, and the very first case ho tried wus that of a man who owned a coal mine, but had been a major iu the army. His tailor sued him for a uni form, but (Jotigo decided against the tai lor, that lie couldn't havo made those clothes for him, because a miner couldn't be a major. (iougo was an infidel. Uo wus so skeptical (hut his own mother wouldn't believe linn, and ho gave up the law and turned spiritualist. He wus tho medium who received a message from the spirit of Daniel Webster, stating that there were a gicat many errors in his dictionary he wou'.d like to have corrected. It was before Judgo Gouge that Fer guson, the soup fat-man, was sued by a ' C .. f I. . C - . IT. 1. - woman nir u urcucu oi politeness sue thought that was what it was ; and Uougo charged the jury to give her a verdict of thirty thousand dollars, which they did while Ferguson was led out of court, headed by a brass bund playing " Tho Girl 1 1a It Dchind Mo." Ferguson said he was liko Leunder it was-s-wimmin' that i educed him to such greut " stra ts." To which she suid that if ho budu't mort gaged herself to him, he had ut least lieu'd 'er. Judge (JoiifO sent them both to prison (' r contempt of court, fur joking iu his presenco. "Blecs Patent" NOISELESS, LINK MOTION, LOCK-STITCH Sowing Machine Challenge the World In perfection of Work, Strength and ilea tyof Stitch. Durability of Con stnietlou anil llupldily of Motion, fall and exam luu, and for Ageue csuud Circulars, apply AT FKINCIPAI.OITTCF., 623 Broadway, Now York. 4 2Xly-a 1140 ""W I made It In B inns. Willi Sfencll. ulu Sample ma, led lice. A.,J.Ftu.AM.N.Y.Gm A G HE AT O PF E It . HORACE WATERS, A'w. 4S1 r.roddtcdji, Ntw York Wl I.I. dispose of (INK llCNDKKK PIANOS. MS i.oii:oss and Ohoans, of six llrt class ma. I'ci s. including Clnckci Inn & ,s,,ns. at kxtiikmei t utyi I'iiicks nut cash, ni'mxo this month, or will take fr S' toSi iiiniillily until pa d. 4 17 ly a piJIl'l,l, - OI! WOKMS IX Till; KACK. A treiitisv on tliclr Coupes, mid how to curs tlicm lucliidiiii; tliu prc paicd Kcmedv, will b8 nit five ti.v mall for UT, certs, r Jietrriptin 1'auiphlett en t;e on rend tnfit imp. Address. M. LAFAYETTE HYIiON, M. 1)., Hox 4;u, P. 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'I he cmlmd'iucnt of ext. erne sun plicity. ell.h eney and utility, entirely illileient in model and iIi'ukii f rum any low pr.'eed machine It is the mo -I M'i v.ee;ib,i:, elegant and reiiahi Family Kewoiu Machine ever invented, glvet per fect salislactioii whmevcr Inlioiluml. lias re ceived Premium. SUm.U the lest of ten year ami Is full improved of by every family who have them Iu ti'C 1 noiscicss, nuilics tin! strung and beauti ful Elastic liek Stitch, with wiiuderlul rapidity nud certainly. Nw anything a needle will uli llooimh. from the lliiesl to the thickest fabric linn and neat, with case. Use all kind of silk or thread illici t Iroin Uic spool; is inipiovcd witlinew and self-ai tlug Iced, spnna tension, self -gn dcr. nnd use the adjustable sloughl ncedie, perpen dicular motion, with powerful lever anion, pos sesses all the good (iialitie of I he lieulngh pilced machines condensed, willinul their complication or fall. ts. Saiupiesof sewing seat fieeon lece pt of stamp. For certillcate, ;c., see leci Iptlve l'amilhleis, maiied ftee. A thorough practical sewing machine for family use. 7 W'.ioie. A very stronif.reliable machine, ul uinw price. .V.'.tuarrf. This beautiful sewing machine is ouu of the most iiilifhioiis pieces ol mechanism ever invented. UruiM-mt, (ia. Woilh many t lilies it cost to any family. A'. )'. Wnkii). It is ipnlc a new machine Willi lis many late improvements, and sews with astonishing ease, lap.dily and neiilnc. Iii)ml limn. N' . Single machines, a samples sclecled Willi care, for family use, with crerv thing com plete, sent to any part of the eouniiy per cxpies, packed in strong wooden box, lice, on rcee pt of price. 8iK). Sale Ucnveiy ol goods guaranteed. I'orwaid cash by icgistcied lelter, or F. t). money order, Hi our risk. Agents wanted, male or remain everywhere. New pampelcu conUiiliiiig extra liberal Inducement, sent free. Addles Family tawing Machine Co., Oillcu m Nassau Slrcel, New York. JAMES 33. CLARK, MAXUKAOTUlWll AND DKAl.Kll IN Stoves, Tin and Sheet Iron Wart New Uloiiuiruld, Perry eo., l'u., K Kiel's cnnstuntly on hand every article uuUy kept ln.a lust class establishment. All tho latest styles and must linprured I'arlor ami Itilolivn MIovcn, to iicitN i:iTiii:n coal ok woodi V Spouting and Hooting put U In tho mot durable manner nnd at reasonable prices. Call and examine his stock. 31 Use Dr. Frederick's L i y h t u in a It el i ef, THE MEDICAL WONDER! Cure all Tains and Ache In from 1 to Hi Minnie. rsold by liiuggistand Country Mom Keep, ersaud F. MDICI I.HFIt & CO.. New llloomlield. I'a .It I.. slNOI.lt K CO., Wholesale Agent. Wewport, Ferry County, Fa. 1-ltlCK CM t'F.Ni'l!. 1'Eli UOTTLE4-U 1$ E L L S. ( ESTABLISHED I IN lb37. BUCKEYE 15 ELL FOUNDRY I CIIFKCII. Academy, Factory, Farm, Klre J Alarm Hells, &c, &c. made of PUUE DELL METAL, (Copper and Tin.) warranted In iuality, tone, da. lability. &c, and mounted with our Patent 1M PUOVFl) KOTATINU HANOINOS. Illustrated Catalogues sent Free. V AND VZKN C TIFT, Not. 102 and 104 E. 2nd St., CINCINNATI.O. 41101ypt Stop Chewing Tobacco SAVK YOt'lt HONFY and restore your health, by using Dr. Hvru'd Antidote for Tobacco. Tills Is not n substitute but a cine for Hmoklne, Chewing, nnd Siiutl taking. l ew person are nwaie of the terrible ellect of Ihe noxlouweed 011 the human system, llys-islu. Headache, IiHene of Ihe I.lver, Sallow Complexion, Cosli ve in's of the Dowels. Loss of Memory and other disease are the nltllrtlomi lirought on by It use. The Antidote In purely vegetable and harmless. It acts a a tonic on the nvsiein. purities ihe blood, and enable aperHon te,dlgesl the heartiest food, riimplu sent free for tm cents til per doen. Address M. J. Yarned, t6 Ollinuu St. N. Y. (4473m N OTICE TO LAND OWNERS! After the 121 li day of August of this year, (1870) suit will be liable to be brought Iu the Court or Dauphin County for money due on luuds iu Perry County, unpatented. .For Inhu mation relative, to the Patenting ol lands, rail on or address U. ii. OAl.lUtAlTII. Attorney-at-l.aw 4 County Surveyor. Kloomfteld, Marcli 8, 187U. tf. ALL KINDS OK JOll PltlNTlNtl Neatly executed at the Vlouiulleld Tin Uiua Job ouKm.
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