The Mystery of the Three Skeleton Keys

Myra Jane Haines, George S. Haines

Description

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.

Sujets

• Thrillers
• Suspenso
• Suspense
• Fiction

Informations

• Publié par: AuthorHouse
• Date de parution: 05 août 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781665567640
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 2 Mo

Extrait

PREVIOUS MYSTERY ADVENTURE NOVELS
BY
GEORGE S. HAINES
The Giant Horseshoe Mystery
The X Y Z Mystery
The Red Pick-Up Truck Mystery
The Professor with Many Faces
The Wreck of the ‘Cincy Queen’
The King Bee
The Legend of the Bent Organ Pipes
Intrigue at 404 Appalling Street
The Tatterbitty
The Four Poetic Clues Mystery
THE MYSTERY OF THE THREE SKELETON KEYS
 
 
 
 
 
 
GEORGE S. AND MYRA JANE HAINES
 
 
 
 
 

 
AuthorHouse™
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.authorhouse.com
Phone: [phone]
 
 
 
 
 
 
© 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’
S incere 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
Sheriff Byron Never fine............................
long-time chief law officer of Grantor Co unty.
Never Drip Coffee Shop............................
popular eatery in Mar ston.
Inspector Sno oper.......................................
Hershel ‘Snooper’ Sneupenhauger, second in command at Sheriff Neverfine’s of fice.
Sam H ames..................................................
partner of the S G and H Detective Ag ency.
Howard (Howie) New bald........................
second partner of the S G and H Detective Ag ency.
Captain Fi rmly............................................
Division Commander of the Indiana State Po lice.
Zeke...............................................................
prisoner at Grantor County Jail.
Se ymor..........................................................
prisoner at Grantor County Jail.
Sh orty............................................................
Owner of gas station in southern Ind iana.
Egaad and Ono............................................
checker pla yers.
Ginny H ames...............................................
third partner of the S G and H Detective Ag ency.
Sven VanderSa nten.....................................
president of First Express Bank in Mar ston.
Mr. Fa cett......................................................
owner of Falstone Jewelry S tore.
Jill’s Jiffy J oint.............................................
general store in Ja dson.
Jill Sho dder...................................................
owner of Jill’s Jiffy J oint.
Oliver and Ma nuel.......................................
operators of sawmill at Ar cana.
Spade Di gger................................................
owner of local mort uary.
C indy..............................................................
communications secretary at Grantor County jail.
Mrs. Bed lamm.............................................
owner of rooming house in Mar ston.
Mr. Ai rway....................................................
owner of electronics store in Mar ston.
Ja dson.............................................................
village a few miles from Mar ston.
Clara Morh usky...........................................
owner of Bangles and Beads Shop in Mar ston.
Ar cana...........................................................
village in Grantor Co unty.
The Friendly Co rner...................................
gas station in Grantor Co unty.
Mrs. Ol dham................................................
employee at First Express Bank.
Mrs. Rea dmor..............................................
head librarian at Marston Lib rary.
Inspector Shr ewdy.......................................
detective at National Police Headquarters in Lo ndon.
Doov ille.........................................................
hamlet in Grantor Co unty.
First Express Bank......................................
bank in Mar ston.
Geraldine Metic ular....................................