Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-12-29
BEHIND IRON DOORS.
BY WALT MASON.

Hugh Morse looked gloomily through
nothing in the view to cheer or encour-
age him; a high board fence so feet away
marked the boundary; inside the fence
two or three men labored dismally at
pile of stone, with chains on their
ankles, while q man in uniform sat ON
a bowlder and stormed at them with
threats and curses. Hugh had stood for
hours at that window, looking at the
same scene; the men were not always
the same, but there was always the
swearing official on the bowlder, and the
high board fence, and the pile OF rock,
nnd the mapacled ankles.
When he looked from the barred win
COW, it was 10 envy the men with chains
on their ankles, who were permitted to
follow the exhilirating work of break
| ing rock; and also to escape the gaze Of
curious country people, who came to
| the Jail every day to see the murderer,
| as they would go to the circus to see the
sacred elephant of Siam or the horned
chinoceros of Africa.
The evening was closing in, and Hugh
sat in his broken chair and counted the
hours that must pass before his trial;
he had counted the hours, and was re-
ducing them to minutes, when the
| wicket in the door was opened, and tho
| deputy sheriff presented his face at the
aperture, saying:
There's a gentleman here wants to
see you. You may come into the cor
ridor."
The door was opened and Hugh
stepped into the dingy corridor, where
IL stranger greeted him politely; tn,
| stranger was small and pale, with cold
blue eyes, and was attired in black, like
respectable undertaken in the course
| of his duty.
'My name," said the stranger, sis
John Pauley; am detective; have
been engaged by friend of yours, who
wishes to remain unknown, to WORK
| in your behalf. Your trial is set for the
"a of January, and this is the 10th OF
December 50 have but little time; tell
me all that you can, so that may begin
work intelligently."
There is but little to tell" replied
Hugh, despondently; "and that little
seems to be all against me, although
am as innocent as child. I was en-
rloyed in Mr.. Wilkes store, and had
been there for four years. Although
thoroughly honest man, he was very
avaricious, and had an uncertain TEN
per. He had promised me, again ant
again, an increase of salary, but tn;
increase never came. On the night o.
he murder Mr.. WillSie worked in his
Office late, and, as we were alone. tool
advantage of the opportunity to asl
him when might expect the promised
increase; l told him that was prepar
ing to be married, and urged upon hir
the fact that had served him faithfully
for years, at very low wages; he lost hi!
temper and abused me SO scandalously
that in turn became angry, and we hat
quarrel. 1t is very possible that oul
voices were heard on the street outside
I gave him my resignation, and retiret
to the little room at the back Of tn,
store, where I had slept every nigh
during my employment in the store;
went to bed and slept until daylight
When went to the Office, found MI
Wilkie sitting at his desk, dead; h
had been stabbed with my knife, which
/ had laid OH the desk during our quar-
rel. I heard no sound during the night
When ran out to give the alarm,
noticed that the front door was no
locked, although am sure locked