The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-04-25

Portable about those keys-something
seemed to whisper to me that they would
get me into trouble. A heavy shadow set
tied over me. / was heartily glad when
morning came and had to turn out OF
bed to go to my work.
when / reached the shop, my master
remarked that looked pale, haggard and
generally out of sorts.
Been out all night" he asked, half
jokingly.
No, sir, l replied, with feeble at
tempt at a SMILE but don't feel alto
gether up to the mark, perhaps
''At that moment some one came into
the shop, and I began taking down the
shutters
Robert, said my master, coming out
to me just as I was about to carry the
last shutter to its place, will you come
into the shop, pleaseS'
~ did as directed
This Is Inspector Roundway,' said
my master, indicating a man had seen
enter the shop.
9 Now, young man, said the officer,
what explanation have you to offer con.
cerning your movements last night
Last nightS' / echoed family, the
blood despite myself rushing into my face.
'Yes-oome-don' t pretend to be green
tho games played outp exclaimed the
officer sharply. / suppose you don't know
anything about these keys, do your and
he held bunch up for my inspection.
Yes, l gasped, they are minel l
held out my hand to take them, but he
drew them back with sudden jerk.
It's rum go when young fellow
in your position carries skeleton keys about
with him, he exclaimed dryly.
Skeleton keysH l echoed family.
Skeleton keysf'
"'Of course, he said. Here they be,
as large as life. You'd forgotten they were
on the ring perhaps, but we have you
nailed to them in any case. Your land.
lady identified them before came round
here, and then there's this ERE bit OF pa
per, with your name and address on it.
Maybe you'll own up to that as we'll
II am afraid that my manner was
against me. / went red and white by
turns, stammered, hesitated and made
just about the worst impression could
But somehow / managed to struggle
through the history of my adventure of
the preceding night.
IAN extraordinary statementl' ex.
claimed the officer, world of sarcasm in
both tone and manner. Perhaps you
may succeed in making jury believe IL,
but extraordinary-oh, yes-certainly
most extraordinary. Are you aware, young
man, that an extensive robbery was COM
mitted In Maldon road last nightp
THAT same evening the town rang
with the account of my capture The po-
lice were congratulated ON every side
But the strangest and for me most un-
lucky part of the whole business was that
the burglaries ceased from that night.
"Subseqnent events appear to me now
like hideous nightmare. First came the
preliminary investigation before the Dor.
ough magistrates, then followed my COM
INITIAL to the assizes next there was the
anxious weary waiting for my trial, and
by the time the day appointed for 1t arrived
was In most wretched and deplorable
condition, both of mind and body.
"The case against mo was a strong one
had come stranger to Redgarth; soon
after my arrival the burglaries had COM
mencedi with my departure they had
ceased The evidence OF the keys seemed
irresistible, and had no one to plend for
me. The result you have already foreseen.
The verdict of the jury was Guilty, and
not a soul In all that crowded court pitied
me. The Judge delivered short address,
bearing ON the necessity of protecting So
oiety from such daring, debased and hard
ened criminals, and passed upon me sen.
tence OF ten years penal seryitude.
Then suddenly new feeling took pos
session of-me. The living aotiys conscious.