The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-02-04
y more. Mester Halliday, doan't


now.n
"Setb," replied the young man
speaking with q tremor ia his voice
when your child was ill my viii,
nlrsed her and did more for her thar
all the doctors could have doue Yol
know she did, Seth; you owned il thii
morning"
He had come close to the old mar
as be said this, and be laid hand OF
his shoulder as he went on
Nov, Seth, you can save good
men from ruin, and keep me, my wife
and child from poverty. For the sake
of your lass, Seth, do what | ask you
Put the clock on a quarter of au
hour"
For e time the old man stood irres.
olute; and then grasping Harry e
hand he said, with something like q
sob:
"Well, | never tbowt as th'owd
clock | boasted so much on would
ever go wrong 80 long as | were here
to look after it. But I'll do it for tb Y
sake, lad, though the foek will all lose
faith in it and in me- For. fifteen
year, Mester Halliday, tb' clocks al
ways bin up to the mark; but III put
it on for thy sake, lad"
As the old man spoke be turned to
the machinery and made some altera
ton
The hands On the clock travelled on
in more than double. quick time Had
there been anyone looking they would
have been astOnisbed st the rate at
which the time travelled. That done,
larry thanked the man warmly
thanks which were received with q
sorrowful aspect-and FASTENED to
where be was to receive the packet
he found the possessor of it lying on
a couch 10 his room, yawning very
much Ga seeing Harry, he arose
end looked az the clock in the tower
"By Jove! I'd no idea it was so
late. Tea minutes to three? Sir
down ADD wait, my friend III keep
my word about the papers"
So Harry sat down and waited :;
every second seemed a minute, and
every minute an hour What if the
man should by some means fnd out
the deception placed? If be should
look at his watch. would il not arouse
bis suspicion to find the difference be
tween il and ;be tower clock Those
and hundred similar questions rose
in bis mind ss be Sat waiting, listen
ing anxiouslv for the welcome sound
of The stroke As for the other. he
took no notice of Harry, but stood
cut OF the window at the
passers-by.
Then came a sound that sent eIl
the blood back from the young mans
heart, and made his face first fu-b
crimson and then tnrn pale-tbe first
stroke of three rang out He started
TO his feet, and stood waiting, not
With bis face turned to the man at
the window, but away for he feared
that be might betray himself.
"One, two, three, and away" cried
Gilbert Hirley, suiting the word to
the stroke Of the bell, and throwing
the packet into the others hands at
The last word. Now you've got
what you want, and | have got what
/ want"
Not staying to reply, Harry hurried
Jff 10 the bank. where be gave in tine
important packet This doae, he has
iened off TO relieve Mr. Dryson's anx
ety and then after that-leaving
-he lawyer to see the man who had
attempted TO ruin him-he went to
the tower to comfort the clock clean
sr. This was somewhat difficult
process; but it was not impossible,
or be promised to see the old man
safely through any inquiry that might
ne made in case of the alteration 10 |
he time being noticed This, FORUM
itely, was not needed. But Harry IS
gratitude took another shape for be
and bis partner, Mr. Drysop, bought
him an annuity, which rendered him
10 bis declining years,
and which consoled him for having
made to- owd clock tell a lie" A.
% Harry and the old man, they often
l-ed 10 laugh heartily together at ibe
y sy in which Gilbert Hlrley was 'out-
lone by the clock '-BeG Brierly's