The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-26
My Secret.

/ arose and looked out Evidently
something had happened, for | saw
people moving about, nearly all OF
them with horror depicted in their ex-
pressions.
My colored man. Sam, was coming,
carrying my heavy shoes. He had
taken them from my door, opening
on to the porch, for the purpose OF
blackening them.
whats up, SamT asked as he put
down the shoes.
"why, haben't yo' heered, Marse
Tom2 Yo' uncle done been murdered
in dc night"
s'My unclel Heavensw
lost no time In putting on my
clothes. Nathan Clingham, my uncle.
had made will, ! knew, leaving his
plantation and what other property he
possessed to me. AS soon as I was
dressed I went 10 his house and found
the neighbors in charge. At my APP
pearance all fell back, giving place to
me. Ny uncle had been killed with
an az, and several hundred dollars
which he had with him were missing.
There was no clew to the mystery.
MY FIRST act was to summon a doctor
to learn how long my uncle had been
dead. He gave It as his opinion that
the period was not less than two hours
nor more than three saw at once
the Importance Of quick pursuit. ! or
ganized party at once and sent them
In every direction. i, with several
men and boys, took the road running
past the plantation and, sending a part
OF my force southwark. led the balance
northward.
Coming to a place In the road coin.
cident with the northwest corner Of
the plantation, saw fresh tracks that
had evidently been made by some one
who had left the plantation at that
point. stopped to examine them.
Long I looked at them, bending my
face down over them rather to con-
ceal the terror that was in me than to
get close view. Then ! arose and,
staggering to the side Of the road, lean
ed against the fence.
What's the matter with your ask
ed Steve Burton. one Of the party.
You're white as ghost"
I'm sick must 80 home. You fell
lows go on"
"All right" said Burton. Better
take one Of the boys with you"
II don't want any one. I'll be all
right presently"
They insisted, but ! wouldn't have
any one with me. They helped me
over the fence, and I made bee line
for home. When I saw them turn
around the base OF hill, where they
couldn't see me, / ran, never stopping
till reached the house and had gained
my room. Then I sank into chair
with a thank Godg"
And what was II that 80 suddenly
threw me into such condition?
| had on the shoes that Sam had
BACKED From the heel Of the right
shoe the lowest layer Of leather was
gone, leaving six protruding nails.
The forward part of the sole Of the
left shoe I had cut with an az while
chopping wood. Tue moment had
caught sight Of the tracks in the road
knew they had been made by my
shoes. There were the indsntations of
the six nails, and the cut in the toe
had left its mark. If this discovery
were made by those tracking the muir
derer, It would be proved that had
killed my uncle doubtless to gain pos
session Of the property he had wtlled
me. took on the shoes, hid them and |
put on another pair Then 4 began to
think.
First, the murderer had seen my |
shoes on the porch, and 1t had occur
red to him that, since he must leave |
his tracks, 1t would be safer to leave |
the tracks Of my shoes than of his |
own; second, he had either come back
after using them and was probably
now on the plantation or be had a
partner; third, he was not Sam. II |
was more sensible to believe that Sam |
k1a0 lahcn LIE DOVbS W uiANh altSK tuo !
had used them than to be-
Iieve that he had committed the muir
der himself, for he had been owned by /
our family In the days or slavery and |
was very much attached both to my |
uncle and to me.
The question with me was what l
should do. TO make known that my
shoes had been used by the murderer
would DO equivalent to putting my
neck 10 a halter. And the shoes
should destroy them7 If I did and
It was discovered that ] had done SO,
| would be in danger. IL the shoes re-
NAMED intact, were found and COM
pared with the tracks, would swing
Tor murder.
/ took the shoes from their hiding /
Ind placed them with my other pairs.
A committee hunted all over the plan
alton for the shoes that had made the
racks and sent diagrams Of them ev-
anywhere. I waited, In terror every
fearing that my shoes would
De examined. In a week the excite
nent died down, and I breathed easier.
Nevertheless for years I lived bur
Tened by my secret. In time I sent
he shoes of in box Of clothing for
,oor minister's family In a far distant
tate. 1t was comfort to get rid Of
hem, but I could not get rid OF the
ear that the person who had worn
hem on that fatal night might some
lay accuse me-
At last, four years after the murder.
be murderer, before being hanged for
mother crime confessed, telling how