Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-12-31
BEHIND IRON DOORS.
By WAIT MASON.

Hugh Morse looked gloomily through
the window OF his apartment and found
nothing in the view to cheer or encour-
age him; high board fence 50 feet away
marked the boundary; inside the fence
two or three men labored dismally at
pile of stone, with chains on their
ankles, while a man in uniform sat on
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
end the mapacled ankles.
When he looked from the barred win
COW. it was to envy the men with chains
on their ankles. who were permitted TO
follow the eNhilirating work of break
ing rock; and also to escape the gaze Of
curious country people. who came to
the Jail every day u see the murderer
as they would go to the circus to see the
sacred elephant of Siam or the horned
rhinoceros 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-
dueing then to minutes. when the
wicket in the door was opened and the
deputy sheriff presented his face at til.
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
4 stranger greeted him politely; th1
stranger was small and pale, with cold
blue eyes. and was attired in black. like
a respectable undertaken in the course
of his duty.
My name" said the stranger. sis
John Pauley; / am detective; 1 have
been engaged by friend of yours. who
wishes to remain unknown. to work
in your behalf. Your trial is set for tho
"a of January, and this IS the 10th of
December, 81 l 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
am as innocent as a child. l was en-
rloyed in Mr.. Wilkes store, and had
been there for four years. Although
a thoroughly honest man, he was very
nvaricious, and had an uncertain tenn
per. He had promised me, again and
again. an increase of salary, but the
increase never came. On the night of
he murder Mr.. Wilkie worked in his
office late. and, as we were alone, took
advantage of the opportunity to ask
him when l might expect the promised
increase; l told him that l was prepar-
ing to be married, and urged upon him
the fact that had served him faithfully
for years, at very low wages; he lost his
temper and abused me so scandalously
that in turn became angry, and we had
quarrel It is very possible that our
voices were heard on the street outside.
] gave him my resignation, and retired
to the little room at the back of the
store, where / had slept every night
during my employment in the store: /
went To bel and slept until daylight.
When ! went to the Office. found Mr.
Willlie sitting at his desk. dead; he
had been stabbed with my knife, which
/ had laid on the desk during our quar-.
rel. / heard no sound during the night
When I ran out to give the alarm,
roticed that the front door was not
,ocked, although l am sure / locked il