Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-15
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. si.es Observation-Disclosures
A CLEW BY WIRE
Or. An interrupted Current.
BY HOWARD M. Yosr.
Copyright. 1896. by J B. Llpplncoe Co.

AO " AMI Nls IVSks =
2 Copyright. 1906 by J B. Llpplncott Co 8;
SYNOPSIS.
CHAPTER I--Nelson Conway. suspected
of Philadelphia bank robbery, reaches
homestead. gets Jake Hunsicker to drive
him to his boyhood home and recognizes
in .Jake's wife Sarah. servant Is years
GMAPfEk iA year Conway
paying teller IN fhilasdelphiaa IS savings
Morley to party 20 KnoSng this Woud
not allow him to return to bank as early
next morning as usual he arranges with
on hand when the clockwork should release
next morning. Conway discovers the cash
'e GHXp Fl fs fGonWay is accused OF
theft, but Mr.. Morley. q, trustee. proves an
e SH iaISTf; i4@Perry expresses his con.
must hold him in doubt. whereupon Con-
way resigns his position. Mr.. Morley also
believes. in ,Conway's Innocence. but be-
and Florence Morley be discontinued until
AZ SHORTLY ate. this
respect and trust In the old Nelson home.
noises; sees ghostly figure in the NOON
light shoots at it, only to ind 1t ref,ec..
tlon of himself, Unearthly voices are heard
jointed unmeaning phrases. Conway learns
from Sarah that Sylvester Morley and his
daughter have summer residence in near
CHAPTER vI-Discovery is made that
both dooTways to one Of the cellars have
her father sees Conway. but ofrers no no salu-
tation. Jackson has frequently been COM
ing from city and sometimes calls on the
CHAPTER yI1-conway sees sonntag,
hiS agent. He knows nothing Of wallIng up
cellar cellar ao 90 sonntag
GHAPTER Vf1fmMeetin asa besM SearT Fios:
ence ana Conway results in promise to mar
fused. but upon accusing Conway of rob-
bling compact had been made that she
Moula marry jackson In case theft could
cHAPTER i iSewag mysterious noises
are al heard ear at night. and Conway spends
them. A pistol shot from the room below
i heard, whereupon he decides to cut
sn eear an a9 Ea The to the
:. cHAPTER x ~ son nn9ss; discovers that
spond to those of ruined schoolhouse near
where jackson has taken a place The
noss v %t,h heard and BY
telephone arrangement, and an important
conversation is put together from the de-.
.aSHSu piIdSeS HeaFQ. conway learns that
I Hunter, station agent at sidington. is an
a'i 9l Is Tfh5n xfrconwav witnessed meat,
ing between skinner and Miss Morley t Who
ride UP. from opposite directions, converse
earnestly and ride back their respective
appearing. he shows confusion. ana So, When
addressed as Skinner fires at but misses
Conway and disappears. Miss Morley says
tective for her to work on Conway's case,
ana skinner was one whom Jackson sent.
90 G sanadnI iXII-Morley consents TO en-
acts from latter the strange promise that
ne will see that she shall always respect
c ilsfii &2fimffo mGong to sidington Con.
way meets Skinner, who fees at sight of
him. Within the station Conway sees the
attempt to get into the walled-up cellar as
any headstronf course might upset we'll
CHAPTER XIV.
The rest Of the day was spent at
Sarah's house. Here at least were
quiet, calm and peace. No uncanny
mysteries, no disturbing influences
marred the restfulness. The old nurse
herself was certainty; no doubts and
fears were produced by her society.
By her absolute faith in me, by the
many little expressions of devotion to
my best interests, feeling of security
was inspired, so that when started on
the homeward journey the influence of
Sarah's peaceful abode went with me.
The sun was hanging low, and cool
breeze had risen. I insisted upon
walking, much against Sarah's wish.
But the horses had had hard day in
the fields, and would not allow them
to be taken from the cool clover patch.
Reminding the good-hearted woman
of her promise to drive over to Nelson
vile early in the morning, started up
the road toward home. The dust had
been laid by the heavy shower of the
morning; the air was bracing; the last
song of the birds was sounding; the
patches of woodland through which I
passed were Respondent in the rays of
the dying sun, which shot golden
shafts through the leafy masses; over
My spirits answered to the influences
of nature, and in happy reflective
mood proceeded on my way. In my
mind one beautiful object predomi-
nated-Florence.
With the lovely phases of the peace
full evening appealing to the sense, it
seemed natural for my thoughts to
her goodness, her faith, her love for
me.
Anticipation of future happiness,
when my darling should be always at
my side, should be in my life, rounding
it out in the fullness of content, en-
crossed my mind. There were no
cruel forbodings, no forecasting Of
dire events, no warnings. Even the
sight of the station agent, Skinner,
cutting across the fields toward Sun
set Hill, caused only a temporary re-
lapse from my happy mood.
If SINNERS errand was with the
Morleys, Florence would undoubtedly
refuse him admittance after what !
had told her.
By the time arrived at my house the
sun had fallen behind the mountains,
and only the golden rays remained in
the western sky and fired the edges Of
the single cloud.
Going up through the yard, I noticed
the door to the cook house was I'M
latched. I had been unable, in my
explorations Of cherished spots of in
terest in boyhood days, to gain en-
trance to the cook house. The door
had been locked. and / had not con-
sidered it of sufficient Importance to
ask Sonntag for the key.
Wondering why the place should now
be unlocked, pushed the door open and
entered.
The recollection of deep, dark apart