Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1882-02-15

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comm g in?
As l hung up the tool-bag in its place
L remembered the keys the young lady
had given me, and took them ont to see
If could fit them to some locks then
awaiting keys.
As L took up the bunch one key struck
my notice. The like 1 had never before
seen, and 1 knew that it was never
wrought by locks NTH this side of the
Atlantic, but came, no doubt, from
strange lands, where they needed such
curious things to hide strange doings.
1t was flat piece of steel about two
inches long, and had four Sits in the
square end. two ON each side.
1 wondered what use it had ever
served. and if it belonged to the young
lady's happier days: but being a slow
thinking man, and little given to ROM
nance L hung up the key bunch and
went to work at my locks, thinking no
more of the strange key or the inmates
of the cottage.
But the next day 1 was made to recall
them by strange coincidence.
was sent for to come at once to a
number in a fashionable locality, and on
presenting myself at the front door
found it to belong to an elegant brown
stone mansion. but with an air of soli-
tude about 1t, as the windows were all
tightly closed, save on the second
floor.
A colored man admitted me, and with
out word led me upstairs to the Sec
ond story frontroom. He raped loud
II.
1.-The locksmith, madame
The door opened, 1 entered, the LACK
man went down stairs, and was left
with sudden nervousness to find out
my business in this silent place.
A tall, dark woman, richly dressed,
with wild, dark eyes, was walking up
and down the room, as if angry, or as 1
looked closer at her. as if excited by
terrible fear of anxiety. She turned on
me sharply:
"Have YOU ever seen me before" she
demanded, rather abruptly, passing by
table.
Then my slow mind placed her at
once.
Eyes, ma'am, at hotel, some two
years ago." 1 answered in astonish-
ment.
"You were sent for then to open
box?"
"Yes ma'am, and couldn't
"Yeu are sent for now to do the same
thing" she cried out. fercely, "and You
must do it. 1 can trust no other smith
with the mystery-you look trustwor-
thy"
A second time was receiving COM
pliment for my good plain face, and
(give credit where Its due) to my moth
er's honest, straightforward, training.
1 picked up the box, remembering it
then very well, also the long hour 1
worked at fitting keys to its singular
lock without success, while the dark
woman walked the floor, then as now,
with savage haste.
1 mechanically drew out my keys, and
they fell with crash to the floor, for the
first one 1 looked at was the strange key
1 had COTTON from the young girl, and in
a moment knew that it belonged to
this square metal box. And 1 knew
further, by Instinct, that great wrong
had been done through this strange key
and its mystery, and that it had fallen
to my lot to detect it.
1 heard the tide coming in, now, full
and fast: 1 bent down to pick up the
keys, and like flash the young girls
words came into my mind.
'Ah, if only we had the locks those
keys once fitted how quickly would
our cares fade away!"
And L held there in my hand one
lock that her key fitted, and l mentally
resolved that it should be restored to
her. But how?
1 secreted the steel key in my palm,
as 1 held up the bunch to say:
81 need piece of steel-you see
these will not answer-with Sits in the
square end, to open this box"
She interrupted me with quick gest-
ure.
YES, yesr she cried brokenly that is
like the lost key? Oh, if it had but
been mine long agol'
She began her walk again.
A thought come into my mind. l
was determined not to lose sight OF
the box, and to Struggle for it if neces-
sary.
sWill you let the colored man go to
my shop for what 1 need? asked half
fearing, she would order me to go in
stead.
''Yes, yes! she cried quletiy.
q will go down and tell him" L said
rot wishing her to know what 1 meant
10 do.
Hastily writing a few lines in the hall
below, and wrapping the key securely
in the paper, ] gave the man his mis-
tress' order to carry it to its address.
And then 1 went back to the dark
woman, and sat down by the box and
waited.
She never ceased to pace the floor,
and now and again raised her hand with
a terrible gesture.
l thought she was weeping. At last
she came to the table.
.'What do you think is in that box?'
she said, and wistful sound came in
her voice, as # she felt confidence in
me and wished to hear me speak.