Middletown transcript., 1897-02-27

ness. ssAnd yet,' she added, 'smy
father says innocent men are seldom
convicted.
"What happens seldom must some
times happen" be replied. And
have been particularly unfortunate
Clara, for the one evidence whicl
would clear me beyond all doubt ii
is now almost within my reach, and yel
because am helpless and no one viii
believe me, cannot get it.'' Hi;
voice had now none of the. defiant ring
in it Clara had noticed in the court
room, but was gentle and sad. the voict
of one who had given up all hope.
"Tell me about it, Mr.. Wentworth p
said the gill, drawing nearer and rest
ing one little white hand ON the rough
iron bars. The close air, the dim
lights and the strange voice made her
feel like one in dream.
"You heard me tell 10 court of the
man from whom | took the revolver"
he began, land you know that my
story was not contradtcted by any
direct evidence. The stolen money
was not found upon me or ever ac-
counted for. Well, Clara, as your
father brought me through the street
to-day after l had been convicted and
all was over. my eye fell on curiously
dressed man in a crowd that stood in
front of one of the saloons on Eighth
street. His red and yellow necktie and
new clothes that did Hi d. we're what
frs caught my attention. but when 1
looked at his face. it came upon me all
of a sudden that this was the very
man from whom took the revolver,
and not only that, but now, with his
face before me, | remembered having
seen him in the rags of mphanging
about the depot the day before the nur
der happened.
turned to your father and tried to
tell him about it in low voice, but he
only told me to shut up, and the man
saw 1 had noticed him and went into
the saloon. And now am afraid he
is gone and with him my last chance.n
''Oh. wish I could help you,n said
Clara earnestly.
The prisoner hesitated a moment,
and then replied, ''you can.''
"How?"
''By making me a free man for an
hour"
Clara was startled. .sOh l couldn't
do that you know" she said. .'Papa
would never forgive me, and besides Z
have no keys.n -
,"Goe would forgive you Clara, and
as for keys, look behind you"
The girl turned around and there, be
fore her very eyes in the lock of an emp
ty cell, hung the bunch of keys which
the deputy had carelessly forgotten.
"Set me free" said Wentworth, sand
/ swear to you that whetherI find the
man or not / will be back in an hour.t
Clara picked up the keys and fum-
bled them in ber trembling hands while
she looked searchingly into the mans
face.
81 will trust you," she said at last,
and slipping the steel into the lock she
swung back the heavy grating. Then
she opened the outsiGe door into the
alley. "Turn toyour right" she whi s.
pered and yon win come out Oh Eighth
street."
Hugh Wentworth took the girls
hand for an instant in his. HDo not be
frightened he said. 81 will come back.
and then he disappeared into the dark
ness.
Clara hastily closed the two doors,
replaced the keys in the lock of the
empty cell and returned to the sitting
room. It was now ten by the big
clock on the mantel; before eleven he
would be back. She sat down by the
liable and mechanically picked up and
opened her latin book. Something
about it seemed changed she felt that
she had never before realized how funny
ATTN 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 his usual tramp and hustle.
"SeeClara he said I've brought you |
lew book You can be looking it over
while go and deliver a message l |
rave for one of the prisoners, and |
when come back I'll read you som Q
If it aloud"
.Can't the message wait fatherpn
"Waiti Why it will only take min
lte To deliver it. Wentworth, you
Know pei iii med for new trial, and
his is the answer refusing it.
BE will take it pretty hard, / suppose
,oor fellow. Why how pale and tired
Iou look, child Pm afraid you have
'een studying too hard lately"
"Ob, I'm all right, father.'' she an
wered, and then, trying to think of
ome means of OBTAINING him, she
pened the book and asked him to look
1t one of the pictures.
just come and see this picture of
ight she cried.
''In a moment he replied, and was
,one. ~
The sheriff walked leisurely down
be hall to the condemned mans cell.
Halo, Wentworth" he said.
There was no answer. "Asleep, 1 |
uppose-Wouldn't have thought it,n
e muttered, as he drew out his own
.eys and opened. the cell door.
nGreat heavens, he is gonels ex-
laimed the sheriff.
whats the matterpn asked the dep
ltv who had inst cofna in.