‘I don’t like this sort of thing,’ he declared. ‘It’s carrying a joke too far.’
“The officers only laughed and slipped manacles upon his wrists. Then they led him away to prison. Not until brought into court did poor Jim know that he had been made the victim of a hellish scheme.
“Murder had really been committed in that house into which he had been dragged, and where he was smeared with blood. A man unknown, was there found literally carved to pieces with a knife.
“Blood had been found upon Jim in his room. A trail led from the house to his room. A knife was found in his coat pocket. The evidence was all against him and his trial had just come off and he had just been sentenced to death by hanging with only three months of grace.”
Frank Reade, Jr., listened to this thrilling tale with sensations which the pen cannot depict. It was so horrible, so strange, so ghastly that he could hardly believe it true.
He arose and walked once across the floor.
CHAPTER II.
THE NEW STEAM MAN.
Then the young inventor paused before his father, and in a deeply impressed manner said:
“Then an innocent man stands convicted of murder?”
“Yes.”