The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-02-03
their hands, and they had seen him

He felt Of q skeleton key that he
had designed one evening in his cell,
and, with special permission, had fash
Toned. He knew something Of the
locksmith's trade, and he knew his
key was different from any he had
ever seen.
Might it not be of use to the police
He hardly hoped to convince them of
that, but it was the excuse he needed.
The sergeant at the desk directed
him to the inspector on the second
floor. The inspector eyed him closely,
but babe him be seated, and listened
to half the suggestion before he said
anything more.
Then he asked bluntly:
when did you get out?"
There was that in his tone that
brought back to Cummings vivid recol.
lections Of night six months before,
when the same voice had told him he
lied-that he had taken the money,
and did know where it was
Its sound was unpleasant now, but II
had no terror for him. He was Thomas
Cummings now, upholsterer. and he
answered unashamed.
Yesterday noon. i didn't think
you'd remember me. figured this key
out one night, and the jailer let me
file it out the next day. It's different
from any of the old kinds. because
it."
Never mind about the key. We
don't want it," the inspector inter
rupted, and with the next words his
tone took something of humor into it
And We don't want you round here
either. You know too much about
skeleton keys. You get out of towr
tonight. II we find you round here to
morrow, we'll pick you up as a vag. Do
you hear?"
The man with the key heard the
words, but he doubted whether he un
derstood their meaning.
Get out of town! What for? He was
working now. He was doing no wrong
And he had no other place to 60 to-
nor money to 60 with.
But. inspector, I've found work
and you needn't expect any more
trouble from me. /"
The inspector wheeled round from
the desk to which he had turned.
Nov. don't sit there arguing with
me. You heard what l said, and you
know what mean. You don't belong
here. You're an undesirable. Now
get out, and remember what said"
In the street again everyone seemed
to be watching him. His step lost Its
spring.
A man brushed against him, ant
said:
Il beg your pardon"
1t sounded like a mockery.
He was an undesirable Il
leave town or 60 to Jail. The old feal
Of the prison came on him, and ht
shuddered.
Il will never sleep in prison eel
again"
1t droned through his mind persist
emily.
Must 1t be retracted? Yes. unless b,
could leave town. How could he leav,
town, and where could he go to?
He found himself at the upholster
ing shop. and a sudden hope burned
within him.
| His employer had trusted him. ant
he would appeal to him-his wort
might have some weight with the in
spector. But the girl behind the cash
ier's window said his employer woul,
not be back again that afternoon.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES andere,
out into the shop.
A comfortable looking man was ex
aiming the couch he had fixed a few
hours before. His hands, inspire,
then by the vision of a new purpose
had worked as never before. and tn
handsome piece stood there now,
monument to his skill.
'Is that for sale?" the man asked.
Cummings hesitated a moment
only a moment-just long enough t
remember he was an undesirable an
must leave town.
YES" he answered. Its a beauty
too"
Whats the price,"
Cummings thought again-though
as he had one night six months before
when the inspector told him he lied.
well, party left it here with US {
sell, and told US to get what We coul
cash. Wen let you have 1t for fift
dollars. That's a bargain, too. b
cause it's solid mahogany an
| trimmed with real Spanish leather