Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1898-06-16
A CLEW BY WIRE
Or, An Interrupted Current.
BY HOWARD M. YOST.
Copyright. 1896. by ]. B. Llpplncot Co.
CHAPTER XVII.

Sonntag-or Wilson, as ought to call
him now-went first, with the lantern
jackson had used; Mr.. Perry followed; {;
Il came next, and Skinner brought up
the rear with another lantern.
I "Be careful and don't strike your
heads against the dirt above, or some of
1t will come down." Wilson called back
ito us. AS the passage was not moro
than three and a 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
Inc was not here. Probably during
Those six weeks he was at work. Here
I'VE are" he said, as he crawled out into
the room.
MFR. Perry followed quickly, and l
heard him exclaim, in tones of horror:
t'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
terribIe!-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
be glanced from one to the other of us.
Sylvester Morley" he finally
gasped. "Tmpossible!" Then he leaned
over the body again. "It looks very
he whispered, glancing down at Will
son, who gravely nodded his head.
"What? You mean it is Morley-this
body MorIey's? Great God in Heaven!"
We stood silently around the body for
some time, none of us willing to utter
O. word. But the realization of what
the fathers death, and in such a vio-
lent way, would mean to Florence had
been groN ng stronger and stronger in
my mind, ard finally broke down un-
der it, covered my face with my hands
and groaned aloud.
Soon / felt touch on my arm. Glanc-
ing up, l saw Mr.. Perry standing be-
side me.
"It is most terrible affair, Nelson;
but never mind, my boy" he said, soft
(y, in an attempt at comfort. His next
words told me, however, that he did
not know the real cause for my grief.
"I know how you must feel to have a
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 SO long and SO
pattAutyy."
ulade an effort at control, and when
I again addressed Mr.. Perry noticed
Wilson and Skinner holding a whis-
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.
'"To think of it all happening on my
granufather's place, whose character
was as far removed from anything
criminal as heaven is high above
e2rth," L finally managed to murmur
unwilling to state the real cause of my
emotion.
"Is he quite dead?" Mr.. Perry asked
again, turning to Wilson. For an
swer the detective pulled back his coat
and vest and pointed to the shirt bos
ON, which wan dyed with the life
stream.
'sYou see" he answered, quietly
"ouite dead. Shot through the heart
1'Did jackson do it?" the president
asked, turning TO me. nodded my
head.