Everyone thought the Horace Denby was a good honest citizen. He wasabout fifty years old and unmarried. and he lived with a housekeeper who worried over his health. He made locks and was successful enough at his business to have two helpers . Yes, Horace Denby was good and respectaple-but not completely honest.
Fifteen years ago Horace had served his first and only time in prison for stealing jewels. The minister at the prison had liked Horace-everyone did-and had tried to help him toward an honest way of life. But Horace did not want to become honest; he only wanted to make sure that his dishonesty never got him into trouble again.