Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-04-07
Here it seemed was the positive evil

Here it seemed was the positive evil
dence Of the guilt of the man for whose
innocence he had vOuched in the strong
est terms.
The detectives prophesied opinion
seemed to be proven worthless before all
the assemblage, and he felt abashed,
Inundated and defeated
The police sergeant was exultant.
Who was right, friend PaxtOn2" he
said jeeringly. What has become Of all
your fine theory of this mans innOeenee2
1 grant you it was stupid for him to run
away as he did after committing the
crime, but his conduct was not without
precedent. The great YidOcq used to
explain the stupidity of certain crimes
committed by men OF superior intelI-
gence, by saying that they act under the
influence of a kind of vertigo. That they
become dazed after the crimes"
Quite true, I recOllect the theory, but
mark my words your suspicion is all
wrong despite its apparent confirmation.
The mystery of John Oakburn's fate is
still as far from being solved as ever, "
said Paxton in reply, but he could not
avoid betraying some Of the discontinue
which the last denouement had occasion
ed him.
Stuart Harland regained his COM
posture to some extent in a moment or
so, and he muttered:
This is destiny. The immutable law
of bad luck is not to be abrogated. 1t
follows me throughout this entire unfor-
tunate affair.
Aloud he said:
4 believe that I can convince you that
I was entirely ignorant that the articles
just discovered were in my possession. d"
-One moment, sir, and we will hear
you, answered the coroner, and taking
the skeleton keys from the police ser
geant he tried one OF them in the safe.
The key entered the lock, but it would
not move the bolt. The other keys We're
made for the door locks, and turning to
the Office door he tried one of them, find
ing that it fitted the lock perfectly. He
tried the other key in the lock of the
street door and found that it also was a
perfect fit. That the door could be
locked and unlocked by means of it with
ease.
The coroner then examined the wax
impressions and found that they had
been taken from the locks of the street
door, the Office door and the safe.
-Ah," said the coroner, refiectively,
the intricate mechanism of the safe
lock resisted the skeleton key, and so it
was necessary that the robber should
have the key John Oakburn carried"
But what need had Stuart Harland of
a skeleton key to the front doOr?" ven
tured Paxton, suggestively.
The coroner shook his head doubtfully,
and turning to Stuart again he noted
that there was a marked decadence in
his manner from the confident air he
had worn when he entered the office.
You may proceed with your state
ment now, the official said.
Thank you, sir, I will tell you how it
is that those eliminating keys and the
Impressions of the locks must have come
into my possession without my knOwl-
edge" said Stuart. He paused for an
instant as though TO collect his thoughts.
At last the young man fully cOmpre
hended the terrible nature of the accusa-
ton which had been brought against
him and realized the deadly peril of his
situation.
He began TO speak again, when sud
denly there was another cOmmOtiOn at
the door and a loud voice was heard to
call out:
Here is new evidence to throw light
on the mystery of the murderi"
A hope arose in Stuart's heart that
something had been discovered 10 prove
his innocence. At the same time there
was in his mind a dread lest some new
circumstance was TO be brought against
him.
There was a moment of suspense.