The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1897-04-14

estly, though frightened at her bold
ness. "And yet," she added, "m,
father says innocent men are seldom
convicted"
"What happens seldom must some
times happen" he replied. "And
have been particularly unfortunate
Clara, for the one evidence which
would clear me beyond doubt is now
almost within my reach, and yet be
cause am helpless and no one will be
lieve ME, l cannot get it," His voice
had now none of the defiant ring i'm il
Clara had noticed in the courtroom
but was gentle and sad, the voice o
one who had given up all hope.
'Tell me about il, Mr.. Wentworth, u
said the girl, drawing near aud resting
one little white hand on the rough
iron bars. The close air, the dim light:
and the strange voice made her feel
like one in a dream.
"Gou heard me tell in court of the
man from whom | took the revolver u
he began, "and you know that my sto
ry was not contradicled by any direct
evidence. The stolen money was not
found upon me or ever accounted for.
Well, Clara, as your father brought me
through the street to-day after | had
been convicted and all was over, my
eye fell on a curiously dressed man in
a crowd that stood in front of one oI
the saloons OH Eighth street. His red
and yellow necktie and new clothes
that did not fit, were what first caught
my attention, but when | looked at his
face, il came upon me all of sudden
that this was the very man from whom
l took the revolver, and not only that,
but now, with his face before me, re-
membered having seen him in the rags
of tramp hanging about the depot
the day before the murder happened.
''I turned to your father and tried to
tell him about it in a low voice, but he
only told me to shut up, and the man
saw had noticed him and went into
the saloon. And now | am afraid
he is gone and with him my last
chance
"Oh, l wish could help YOU" said
Clara, earnestly.
The prisoner hesitated moment and
then replied, "you can."
"How?r
''By making me free man for an
hour"
Clara was startled. "Oh, couldn't
do that, you know" she said. ''Papa
would never forgive me, and besides, |
have no keys"
"God would forgive you, Clara, and
as for the keys, look behind you"
The girl turned around and there,
before her very eyes in the lock of an
empty cell, hung the bunch of keys
which the deputy had carelessly for
gotten.
''Set me Free" said Wentworth, "and
/ swear to you that whether find the
man or not, will be back in a hour. y
Clara picked up the keys and fum-
bled them in her trembling hands
while she looked searchingly in the
mans face.
al will trust you," she said at last,
and slipping the steel into the lock she
swung back the heavy grating. Then
she opened the outside door into the
alley. "Turn to your right" she whis-
pered, "and you will come cut on
Eighth street"
Hugh Wentworth took the girls
hand for an instant in his. ado not
be frightened" he said. al will come
back" And then he disappeared into
the darkness.
Clara hastily closed the two doors,
replaced the keys in the lock of the
empty cell and returned to the sitting
room. 1t was now ten by the big
clock on the mantel; before eleven he
would be back. She sat down by the
table and mechanically picked up and
opened her Latin book. Something
about it seemed changed; she felt she
had never before realized how funny
Latin words looked. The whole thing
seemed ridiculous, and she wondered
how she had ever taken an interest in
such stuff. Just then her father came
in with the usual tramp and hustle.
''See, Clara" he said, "Fve brought
you a new book. You can be looking
it over while go and deliver a mes
sage have for one of the prisoners,
and when / come back, I'll read you
some of il aloud"
"Can't the message wait, father?'
"Wait? Why, it will only take a
minute to deliver it. Wentworth, you
know, petioned for new trial, and
this is the answer refusing it. He will
take it pretty hard, | suppose, poor
fellow. Why, how pale and tired you
look, child. I'm afraid you have been
studying too hard lately"
"Oh, I'm all right, father" she an
swered, and then, trying to think of
some means Of detaining him, she
opened the book and asked him to
look at some pictures.
aust come and see picture of a
fightr' she cried.
'In a moment" he replied, and was
gone.
The sheriff walked leisurely down
the hail to the condemned mans cell.
"Hallo, Wentworth, he said.
There was no answer. "Asleep, l
suppose-would'n have thought it,"
he muttered, as he drew out his own
keys and opened the cell door.
"Great heavens, he is goner' ex-
claimed the sheriff.
"What's the natter" asked the
deputy, who had just come in.
"Why, what in the name of Moses
have you done with Wentworth
"Done with him?" asked the aston
ished deputy.
ayes, done with him." replied the
sheriff, his anger rising. He looked
about him for moment in a bewild-
cred way; and then his eye fell on the
keys. He pointed at them derisively.
$50, that's the way you keep my pris-
on, is it?"
The deputy flushed with shame. and
then, eager to shift the blame, he said,
"Keys don't go back and forth across