Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1895-06-01
A LOANED LATCHKEY,

the effect produced by this startling con-
fession. A sudden and deathlike silence
fell upon the company. Each and all
stared at the speaker in undisguised as
constituent and expectancy.
Robert Clyde was one of the most prom
inent townsmen in the extensive and i'm
portant borough Of Daggerfield Yet he
had not been 10 years in the town. He
had come among them complete stran-
ger, but by dint of unflagging industry,
allied with sturdy, inflexible principle,
he had pushed his way upward into po-
sition of wealth and influence.
well, gentlemen," continued Clyde as
soon as the company had recovered from
the shock, "thls is my story:
II had just entered my teens when my
father died-my mother had been dead for
some years-leaving behind him trifle
over a200, little enough for friendless
lad to have to face the world with. had
neither trade nor profession, but after
good deal of trouble I succeeded in obtain
ing situation as porter to large and
fashionable draper. placed my fathers
legacy in the bank, thoroughly deter
mined never to touch it until absolutely
compelled. was robust, steady, hopeful
and by sheer hard work, coupled with the
strictest economy, managed to live in
some degree of comfort and responsibility.
After awhile, however, grew restless and
unhappy. felt within me an irresistible
better than the daily drudgery to which
my employment subjected me.
about this time an emigration agent
came to Danesleigh, my birthplace, gen
tlemen, and in glowing oolors painted the
splendid prospects which awaited the en-
terprising emigrant
"'Just the thing for me, said to my
self at the close Of the lecture Hero am,
young, energetic, industrious, pegging
away without the faintest hope of better
ing myself. There's no mortal tie to bind
me to the old country, and it's morally
certain that there won't be the keen, saw
age, selfish struggle for existence out in
the far, unpopulated west that there is in
England. At any rate, I'll make bold
bid for fortune
"This resolution quickly carried into
effect, and drawing all the money pos
sessed out Of the bank got together
small outfit, and burning with high
hopes sailed for the land of the stars and
stripes
Concerning my life there will say
nothing. My expectations were not real
lied, and, bitterly disappointed, return
ed, after few years absence, all but pen
niless to England.
How managed to exist during the
first few months after my return I do not
know.
cat length, after many weary tramps
and much privation, obtained post at
the extreme south. My work was neither
very light nor very remunerative, but I
was glad enough of 1T.
"By strange and-for me-unfortu-
nate coincidence the very next week after
my arrival the first of series of startling
and impudent burglaries took place. A
shop was broken into and ransacked.
Then, in rapid succession, no fewer than
four other burglaries were effected. The
gentry and tradespeople Of Redgarth and
it's immediate neighborhood became great
ly excited and alarmed The police redou-
bled their vigilance, new locks and bolts
were fitted on to the doors, but every pre-
caution seemed futile.
'sWell, gentlemen, 1t was my fate-and
a cruel one too-to become entangled in
those burglaries. Talk about a narrow
squeakl No one was ever nearer to ire
trievable ruin than was at that time.
1T was my practice after business hours
to take quiet stroll down the Maldon
road. One eventful night, in accordance
with this habit, was walking leisurely
along, when young fellow suddenly
darted out from the doorway Of large,
substantially built house.
"'You don't happen to have such
thing as latohkey about you, do your he
asked abruptly.
II stared at the speaker in amazement.
The request was an unusual one, to say
the least.
{" Il know It's funny question to ask,
he continued, noticing my hesitation and
attributing 1t to the right cause, but the
fact is I've locked myself out of my own
house. was writing letter in the H.
brary when somebody pulled the bell.
am alone In the house and had to answer
the ring myself, but there was no one at
the door, and l stepped out to see If there
was any one about. In my hurry forgot
all about the latch and pulled the door be-
hind me, thus unwittingy locking myself
out in the street.
+" But are there no windows unfas-
..snedp' I asked
Wa No fear of that, he replied, laughing.
'Th1S wretched burglaries have settled
ali rat sort Of thing Ny only hope Is to
borrowSA key, on the of chance that It
may flt1he lock-
III had q bunch of keys in my pocket
not that they were Of much use to me, but
fpoin the time Of my fathers death had
hspt them in my possession-and among
,hem was the latchkey which opened the
Font door Of the house where was lodg-
lhg.
~ am afraid 1t won't be Of much
Nse,' / said, singing out the key and
handing the bunch to the unfortunate
shan. You are at liberty to try 1t, but
"sAhl this will do very well. See, he
Exclaimed and sure enough the lock
Clicked, and the door opened.
4 Thanks, very much, he said warmly.
I Here are your but before he had fin
fished the sentence the keys dropped out Of
his hand and fell with a jingle upon the
pavement. He struck match and began
70 search for them. In the dim light
caught glimpse Of his face. Fortunate
sor me that l did, though, Of course, I did
not attach very much Importance to II at
the time. He struck another match and
then another, but the keys seemed to have
vanished altogether out Of sight.
".1m afraid they've slipped through
tho cellar grating, he said at length, and
II 20 It'll be we'll nigh impossible TO re-
oovor them tonight. I'm awfully sorry,
go ~ ,or son,t mind rivino ma vonS