Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1881-05-21
SKELETON KEYS.
A Story in Five Chapters.
CHAPTER 1.

CHAPTER L.
A sombre landscape and n fading
light. One straight road on leve
plain running darkly to the east, and
with a sombre CLEAN stretching back tC
the patch of silver in the west. A dole.
full place and time, and two doleful fig.
ures plodding away from the silver
CLEAN to assail the wall of darkness IN
the east. Splash, splash, side by side,
and the bitter wind In their ears with O
shrek, and no other sound for an hour.
Tiburce Menseau, native of Paris, six
feet high, powerfully built, but attenu-
ated and ragged John Jones, native OF
London, short in stature, sturdily made,
but attenuated and ragged: these were
the doleful two who tramped together.
They were human scarecrows both, but
the Frenchman was the raggeder of the
two and the more downcast. John
Jones, bullet-he AIDED, fair haired, and of
a naturally cheerful countenance, went
miserably enough, to be sure but now
and again he rammed the shocking bad
hat he wore a little closer to his head,
and always when he did so he smiled as
though something pleased him. Tt
burce Menseau watched this gesture
furtively, and between times awaited it
furtively, and never word he said. Ii
burce lived by his wits; and though
upon occasions they profited him little,
they were sharp. He had found oppor-
tunity for the study of Holy Writ in
several institutions supported by the
British Government, aud one text curl
ously attacked his memory now, recurr-
ing to his mind every time John Jones
rammed the shocking bad hat little
tighter" Where the treasure is there
will the heart be also"
Uncompromising officials in blne uni
forms had ON several occasions de-
scribed Tiburce in public. The phase
they chose was curt, severe and widely
inclusive. Moreover, it never varied.
Do you know any thing of tie pris.
onF?" So ran the question which drew
forth the descriptive criticism. The de-
scriptive critic iii blue uniform re-
sponded
Habitual criminal"
To do 1iburce justice, he looked the
part. Leave a dark-complexioned mar
unshaven for a week, half-starve him fol
month, dress him in rags. and lei
the rags be dirty, and put bitter devi
of resentment in his breast, anC
though he were curate to begin with
these things would tell unfavorably
upon his aspect. A man who lives 10y
his wits should be observent, and Ii
burce watched all things that seemed
worth watching "with lidless dragon
eye" Whenever John Jones's hanC
went up to his hat-and it did so Will
unnecessary frequency - the finger.
seemed to stay little after fixing the
hat more firmly, and there was little
movement i'll them as though they fell
for something, and then John Jone:
smiled as if he had felt the something
and was satisfied.
Tlburce Menseau made continuous
furtive note of this proceeding. What
was a tramp likely to have concealed il
his shocking bad hat ? Half crown ;
Half sovereign? A bank-note? A
stolen ring Of value Tiburce mac
known such things.
Suddenly Tiburce Menseau stopped
short and cursed in Pathological pdtoiS
blending damns and sdcros.
What's the matter?" said John Jones
stopping also and facing him.
Is there no end to the road ?" asked
the other, with a curse upon the dreary
highway.
Fivemiles yet, said John. ga goot
five miles"
Tburce Menseau, taking refuge il
his native language, cursed each in
dividual mile in the iive and his com
panion made another start. Tiburc,
took one step after him and stopped
again to curse the five miles collectively
Take 1t easy" said John Jones; auC
his hand went up to his hat again. FL,
began to sing to no particular tune:
Then m rrily hent the footpath way,
And merr ly ov r The stlle, la
A merry beaIt goes al the day,
Your sad tires III q mile, ha
He went clean through that quain
ditty, and ending with a prolonged
note between a howl and groan, h,
sent his hand to his hat once more an,
smiled cheeifully.
Where the treasure is though
scovliDg TIburce, always watchfnl o
Of the gesture. 1t grew SO dark tina
they could hardly keep the road
Suddenly Tiburce Menseau tripped an,
fell against John Jones, in such wise a
accidtntly to knock off his hat.
q" Pardon y said Tiburce, and gropin,
in the darkness, picked up the hat, all,
passing his thin, thievish fingers swift,
round within the lining, felt and held
little package no larger than penny
piece. 1t came away with a slight tear
ing feel, as though it were gummed o
pasted to the hat. This did not detail
the skilful Tiburce half second. an,
the thing was done with such delicat
rapidity that even in daylight it nigh
have escaped notice.
I" / have knocked Your hat off" sal
Tiburce. ''Thi, filthy road is filled wit
RUS and holes. Oh, l have it. Her
yon are."
The wind howled SO that Tii1r.rce ha