The Mystery of the Three Skeleton Keys

By George S. Haines and Myra Jane Haines

After enjoying the successful conclusion of the exciting adventure saga entitled:

“THE FOUR POETIC CLUES MYSTERY, detectives Sam Hames, Howie Newbald and Ginny Hames sat smiling at their office conference table. They had a feeling of confidence they were ready for their next challenge.

As they discussed their future as detectives, Sam became serious. He stood up and announced:

“Recently I discovered a large, soiled, envelope, yellowed with age, in my father's World War One trunk or footlocker. After my father's recent death I became the owner of the footlocker and contents.”

Looking at his partners with a serious demeanor he continued, “Inside, among many items, including his army uniform, I discovered this soiled envelope stuck to the lower inside wall. Inside this envelope I found these three old, large, skeleton keys.” He tossed the three keys on the table top.

Sam hesitated, then suggested, “These Three Skeleton Keys could be the focus of our next adventure;

What secret objects, closed containers, doors or unknown places could these keys open?”

Do detectives Sam, Howie and Ginny need to investigate and discover the answers to these intriguing questions? Follow along, engage and participate in this drama as dangerous and exciting events unfold.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Aug 5, 2022
• ISBN: 9781665567640

George S. Haines

The authors, George S. and Myra Jane Haines, have shared their knowledge, ideas and experiences to develop and compose the narrative for this intriguing mystery. Both authors are career teachers at public schools. They also served many years as professors in the Department of Education at Taylor University.

Book preview

© 2022 George S. and Myra Jane Haines. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or

transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse  08/03/2022

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6765-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6763-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6655-6764-0 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022914503

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in

this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views

expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the

views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

To All Readers

A Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Epilogue

To All Readers

As always, we extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you enthusiastic readers who have enjoyed and promoted the ten previous Sam and Howie adventure stories. Your support and appreciation of story lines free from objectionable language is appreciated and continues in this novel entitled;

‘THE MYSTERY OF ‘THE THREE SKELETON KEYS’

Sincere appreciation is extended to Myra Jane, my wife, who supported and advanced this mystery story with her suggestions, prayers and editorial assistance. Her helpful insights guided the flow of the story and the melding of developing events.

As in all Sam and Howie novels the story line is intended to honor the teachings of Jesus Christ and enhance the glory of God.

Betty Wedeles, artist extraordinary, created the imaginative cover design directing the reader’s attention to skeleton keys, the central theme of this novel. Her interior sketches of the Three Skeleton Keys are eye-catching and enhance the reader’s involvement with the ongoing story line.

Betty has taught beginning and advanced art classes during her illustrious career. She continues to respect wildlife and its habitat in her artistic creations.

A Prologue

Byron Neverfine, elected sheriff of Grantor County, smiled as he filled his favorite coffee mug displaying the hand-painted image of a leprechaun on the side. He plodded with firmness toward the jail conference table and plopped down with an audible ‘whomp’ at the head of the large oak table. The historic clock on the wall announced the time, 9 o’clock.

The sheriff, in a positive mood, smiled as he glanced around the table. The sheriff and his associates including detectives Sam and Howie had solved the recent, perplexing case they had labeled, ‘The Four Poetic Clues Mystery’.

However, the sheriff’s beaming smile soon evaporated when he remembered Detective Sam Hames had informed the Council membere he had recently discovered three old skeleton keys in his late father’s World War One footlocker.

On examination the keys seemed to possess letters and numbers molded in the metal frames of the keys. Did these strange images project secret messages of importance?

Becoming curious and with a feeling of responsibility to investigate and discuss the truth or fallacy of the molded images, Sam decided to involve his detective partners, Howie and Ginny, in a search for any information or directives transmitted by the keys to Sam and the Hames family. In his mind, Sam thought an intriguing investigation by the detectives seemed logical and necessary. They would call this new adventure, The Mystery of the Three Skeleton Keys. Follow along and let your curious mind try to determine the possible instructive directions molded on each skeleton key.

Following is a roster of places and participants keeping you, the reader, oriented as you follow the script of this intriguing mystery adventure. Best wishes to you for your active involvement and succestful sleuthing!

THE MYSTERY OF THE THREE SKELETON KEYS

Chapter 1

41502.png

As detectives Sam Hames and Howie Newbald approached their office in downtown Marston, Indiana on that sunny and tranquil morning in July they seemed to be distraught having serious and puzzling thoughts. Pleased that they had helped Sheriff Byron Neverfine solve the most recent troublesome case they had labeled The Mystery of the Four Poetic Clues, they looked forward to a more relaxed work week.

However, they also harbored mixed feelings as they thought about Inspector Hershel Sneupenhauger being ordered by the Sheriff Neverfine to join their team of detectives as an associate member. Everyone addressed him as Snooper, a name given to him years ago by his third grade classmates because the shortened version seemed much easier to pronounce and spell.

The detectives had shared with Snooper and members of the Sheriff’’s Council they had recently become aware of a vexing situation involving Sam’s family history. Sam had discovered a soiled, yellowed envelope tucked away inside a small storage trunk, a footlocker used by his father during his service as a private in the U. S. Army during World War One.

Inside this envelope Sam found three large, old keys. He shared his discovery with his detective partners, Howie Newbald and Ginny Hames. The source and purpose of these keys presented a quandry. The detectives, with Sam’s urging, decided to investigate. They named their new case:

THE MYSTERY OF THE THREE SKELETON KEYS

Howie inserted his key, unlocked the office door and the detectives entered their rather spartan office. As Howie passed through the doorway he pointed to the glass window at the left side and reminded Sam, We need to call the design artist and ask her to add your wife’s name, Ginny, to our sign since she is now a member of our team.

After a slight pause he added, That reminds me. Where is Ginny? I’m sure she heard about this conference we scheduled for this morning at 8 o’clock. Inspector Snooper will be joining us.

She is at The Marston Public Library researching the topic ‘old skeleton keys’. She said she would also stop and chat with Mr. Airway at his radio shop. If you will recall he has a large selection of keys for sale. He can also make replacements for lost or damaged keys.

Ginny has a good idea, Sam. Mr. Airway may be able to share with her more information about the type of keys you found hidden in your dad’s army footlocker."

Ginny said that she also is stopping at the Facett Jewelry Store and talk with Mr. Facett about his experience with making ornamental key arrangements for sale to customers.

And, Sam, he sells necklaces using small jeweled keys as decorative parts to enhance the value of the necklaces.

As the detectives settled in chairs behind the conference table, Howie asked, Sam, your discovery of that envelope containing the three old keys presents several intriguing questions. Did your father mention any names of his fellow soldiers, his bunk mates and other recruits perhaps during training exercises or leisure time?

Yes. He said soldiers in training had a lot of time for conversation with other soldiers, including complaints about the chow. My father mentioned having long, daily conversations and arguments with his bunk mates, two southern Indiana recruits. Their names? Dad just referred to them as Zeke and Seymor.

So your dad and his bunk mates, also from Indiana probably chatted a lot since they spent a lot of time together in training.

Dad said that they talked a lot about the rigors of farming, the pleasures of dating women and, of course, the prospect of making a lot of money after the war when they returned home. Drafted into the Army during the same month in 1918 they ended up at the same training camp in Florida to complete several months of basic training. Their rigorous training exercises caused them to spend a lot of time together. Why do you ask?

I just wondered, Sam, if anyone else other than his bunk mates knew about the three skeleton keys that Wilmer kept in that envelope inside his footlocker.

Howie, if we ended up in the same barracks or being bivouacked out in the open for a long time with other soldiers, we would probably discuss every item that came to mind including our friends, families, politics, early years, girlfriends and yes, our possessions, perhaps slightly exaggerated.

Yeah, you’re right; comradery is a good way to stay sane under the pressures of training and combat, I suppose.

Dad remarked that Seymor, tall, muscular and aggressive, smoked cigars constantly stinking up the barracks and tents. Zeke, described as puny and submissive, constantly complained about the hard life his family experienced trying to scratch out a meager living farming land in those southern Indiana hills. Their families and neighbors used mules instead of horses for farm work. When their local draft board members inducted Seymor and Zeke into the United States Army they were both sent to Florida at Camp Bridle for basic training.

Camp Bridle! Sam, that’s an odd name for a training camp.

Perhaps the name seemed appropriate at the time. The main purpose for the camp centered around training soldiers to handle horses and mules for duty at the war front in Europe, especially in France. Dad said moving the cannons, equipment and supply wagons through the mud and battlefield debris required enormous effort.

Dad, being a farmer and familiar with horses, ended up at Camp Bridle in the same barracks with Seymor and Zeke for his basic training. He mentioned Zeke and Seymor could handle and drive mules more effectively than several of the officers who instructed the recruits.

Howie thought about the difficult task of driving a team of mules pulling a field artillery piece through mud a foot deep on a battlefield with artillery shells exploding nearby.

He shook his head and commented, I heard that mules are very difficult to tame, manage and train for work. Is that a fair appraisal, Sam?

Some mules are very stubborn and difficult to train, Howie....Just like some horses, and I might add, a few persons I know.

I have trouble driving a team of horses pulling a wagon loaded with grain in the bright sunshine on solid ground. No way could I convince a team of mules pulling a wheeled cannon to advance through deep mud in a war zone, answered Howie, shaking his head and frowning.

Look at this picture that Dad mailed home from France in 1918. It shows four mules, fitted with gas masks, hitched to a cannon on wheels. The mules are pulling the weapon through deep mud.

Sam, quiet for a few seconds, added, Zeke told dad mules are slower than horses but they can carry and pull heavy loads. Very popular among most of the army troops; many mules became almost like pets.

I remember a neighbor who farmed a large acreage next to our house back in Ohio. He owned two mules, mused Howie. The animals often brayed at night and kept us awake.

Zeke told dad some of the mules in France became a nuisance because of their loud braying at night. An army veterinarian solved the problem by surgically removing the vocal cords of the mules.

So, Zeke happened to be a natural, experienced ‘mule skinner’, just what the officers at Camp Bridle needed.

Yes, Zeke told dad he could actually talk to the mules. He would rub their necks and noses. Then he would say a few soothing words as he put the bridles and gas masks on their heads and fastened the straps around their necks behind the ears.

Oh yeah; what language do mules speak, Sam? asked Howie with a smirk and smile.

Howie, haven’t you ever talked to a dog as you trained the animal to perform certain simple tricks?

"Yes, of course, Sam. I’m just trying to understand the background of the people who knew your dad and possibly became