Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-06-06

key which opened the front door of tn,
house where l was lodging.
81 am afraid it won't be of mucl
use, | said, singing out the key IN,
handing the bunch to the UNFORTUNATE
man. You are at liberty TO try il
/ but
"'Ah! this Will do very well-see,' h,
exclaimed, and sure enough the loci
| clicked, and the door opened.
/ THANKS, very much, he said
warmly. Here are your-but before
he mad finished the sentence the KEYS
/ dropped out of his hand and fell Will
jingle upon the pavement. He
struck match and began a search fol
| them. In the dim light | caught &
/ glimpse Of his face-fortunate for mt
| that l did, though, Of course, l did no.
attach very much Importance to it a.
| the time. He struck another ma tcl
/ and then another, but the keys seemed
| to have vanished altogether OFT OF
sight
I'm afraid they've slipped through
| the cellar gra ting,' he said at length
and if 50, it'll be we'll nigh impossible
| to recover them tonight. I'm awfully
sorry; but, if you don't mind giving
me your card, I'll bring them around
! to your place in the morning.
1T was certainly annoying, but | felt
! that it would be worse than useless to
waste any more time in searching fo1
| them. | had no cards-how could a
man Of all work at boot shop sport
carGS?-but l gave the fellow an en-
7elope, which | happened to have III
my pocket, and upon which my ad-
dress was written in full
You shall have them-first thing
tomorrow morning" said the man, and
with sharp Good night he went into
the house.
When | reached the shop next uorn.
ing 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 a feeble
attempt at a smile. But l don't feel
altogether up to the mark; perhaps
AT that moment some one came into
the shop, and began taking down the
shutters.
Robert said my master, coming
out to me, just as L was about to carry
the last shutter to its place; will you
come into the shop, please"
"'Tbis is Inspector Roundway,' said
my master, indicating man | had
seen enter the shop.
Now, young man. said the officer,
harshly; what explanation have you
to offer concerning your movements
last nignt?-
Last night! | echoed, family, the
blood, despite myself, rushing into my
face.
'Yes-cOme-don't pretend to be
green-the games played outr ex-
claimed the officer, sharply. 4 suppose
you don't know anything about these
keys do your and he held a bunch ND
for my inspection.
YES L gaSped, they are mine
held out my hand to take them, but be
drew them back with a sudden jerk.
Its rum go when a young fellow
i'll your position carries skeleton Keys
about with him. he exclaimed, drily.
Skeleton keysy | echoed, fainUIy
Skeleton keys
"'Of course he said. Here they be
as large as life. You'd forgotten ney
were on the ring, perhaps; but we have
you nailed to them in any case; your
landlady Identified them before | came
II al tln,, ~,
bit of paper, with your name and adj
dress on it-mayhe you'll own up to
that as Well
Il am afraid that my manner was
against me. | went red and white by
turns, Stammered heSitated, and made
just about the worst impression that
| could. But, somehow, | managed to
struggle through the history of my
adventure of the preceding night.
An extraordinary statement!' OK
claimed the otficer-a world of sarcasm
in both tone and manner. Perhaps
Geve it, but eXtraordinary--oh, yes
certainly most extraordinary. are you
aware, young man, that an extensive
robbery was committed in Maldon road
last night?
That same evening the town rang
with the account of my capture. The
police were congratulated on every
side. But the strangest and, for me,
most unlucky part of the whole bust
ness was that-tbe burglaries ceased
from that night.
The case against me was a strong
one. L had come stranger to Red
garth; soon after my arrival the bur-
glaries had commemorative my &C.
parture they had ceased. The eyi-
dence of the keys seemed irresistible,
aid had no one to plead 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-bearng on the necessity Of
protecting society from such daring,
debased and hardened criminals, and
passed upon me sentence Of ten
years penal seryitude.
Then, suddenly, new feeling cook
possession of me. The living, active
conscience Of innocence rushed upon
me. You are condemning an innocent
man. | exclaimed, loudly, 'and'--but d
this moment l TUNED hastily around
and caught a glimpse OF a face in The
front row of the gallery behind me. L
had seen that face before. l recognized
til knew it. l gave a fierce wild CT