Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1897-10-26

A CLEW BY WIRE !!
: Or, An interrupted Current. :
BY HOWARD M. YOST.
Copyright. 1896. by J B. Lipplncou Co.

|
Sonntag-or Wilson, as ought to call
! him MOVEMENT first, with the lantern
Jackson had used; Mr.. Perry followed;
1 came next. and Skinner brought up
the rear with another lantern.
"Be careful and don't strike your
| heads against the dirt above, or some of
it will come down." Wilson called back
| than three and n half or four feet in
/ height. it was rather difficult to follow
his advice,
"Do you suppose Jackson did all this
work himself?' heard Mr.. Perry ask.
Undoubtedly" sonntag replied.
'You see, he used to come to Nelson
vile quite frequently. For the past
| six weeks he had not been seen about
here. But then that is no sign that
he was not here. Probably during
those six weeks he was at work. Here
we are" he said, as he crawled out into
the room.
Mr. Perry followed quickly, and l
! heard him exclaim, in tones of horror:
"What in heavens name is that?"
Wilson placed the lantern on the floor
and bent down over the PROSTATE body
Of Mr.. Morley.
"Why, were there two? Is he dead,
too?" Mr.. Perry went on. This is
terrible!-a most horrible affair! Who
can it be?"
| The elder detective silently motioned
/; to Skinner, and together they gently
| turned the body over.
| The president leaned down, and then
started back. CONSERVATION, doubt,
amazement, horror, were on his face as
he glanced from one to the other of us.
Sylvester Morley!" he finally
gasped. Impossible" Then he leaned
over the body again. at looks very
much like him, very much like him."
he whispered, glancing down at Will
son, who gravely nodded his head.
"What? You mean it is Morley-this
body Morley's? Great God in Heaven!"
We stood silently around the body for
some time, none of us willing to utter
q word. But the realization of what
the fathers death, and in such vio-
lent way, would mean to Florence had
been growing stronger and stronger in
my mind, and finally broke down un-
der it, covered my face with my hands
and groaned aloud.
Soon l felt touch on my arm. Glanc-
ing up, l saw Mr.. Perry standing be-
side me.
sit is most terrible affair, Nelson;
but never mind, my boy" he said, soft
ly, in an attempt at comfort. His next
words told me, however, that he did
not know the real cause for my grief.
81 know how you must feel to have q
horrible event like this happen on your
place. But you are cleared, at any rate.
1t will soon be known that you are in
nocent of the crime the suspicion Of
which you have borne 80 long and 10
patiently"
again addressed Mr.. Perry noticed
Wilson and Skinner holding wills
pered conversation. The younger
mans face was toward me, and as
his eye caught mine there was SO
much pity and sympathy in it that ]
could not help feeling some wonder,
ITO think of it all happening on my
grandfather's place, whose character
was as far removed from anything
criminal as heaven is high above
earth" I finally managed to murmur
unwilling to state the real cause of my
emotion.
SIS he quite dcad?" Mr.. Perry asked
again, turning to Wilson. For an
swer the detective pulled back his coat
and vest and pointed to the shirt hos.
ON, which was dyed with the life
stream.
"You see," he answered, quietly
"qulte dead. Shot through the heart
"Did Jackson do it?" the president
asked, turning to me. nodded my
head.
"Why should he? What was Mr.
Morley"
| Fortunately, Skinner, who had arisen
after his whispered conversation with
Wilson, and gone polsing about In the
corners and behind the empty barrels
and boxes, here uttered shout which
caused us all to glance in his direction
He was Juggling at some object inside
of barrel, and soon brought out q
large valise, which from it's apparent
weight and plethoric appearance was
stuffed full,
| "Ah, that looks promising!" ejacu
lated Mr.. Perry, starting eagerly for
ward.
The valise was deposited on the floor
and the president went down on his
knees, in great excitement, to tumble
with the catch.
"Let me get at it." said Wilson.
While the two were endeavoring tc
open the bag. Skinner came to where
was standing, and, gazing down on the
dead man, said, in soft tones: "rhis
will go hard with the young lady"
There was nothing particularly
striking in his words, but the tone o.
his voice had so much genuine feeling
in it that voluntarily turned and ex
; tended my hand.
II hope you'll forgive me-" said.
"You bet" he replied, grasping my
hand. "You did pretty near choke tn,
daylight out of me, though. What {
grip you've got" he added, with ,
bright smile. "But then that's al
right. Pm thankful you didn't shoot
l was going to tell you who 1 was, q!
there was no use for further conceal
ment from you, but you didn't give mt
any chance"
why was the whole affair kept from
me SO carefully?" asked.
The question, for some reason, EN-
barrassed Mr.. Skinner.
81 guess Wilson thought you were
little hot-headed, and might give thu
| ihin,r aNov nv foo much zeol - ha fnal