The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1880-05-05

biz nose was sharp and bis small
3 gray eyes were hidden beneath the
bushy eyebrows continual sneer
lowered around the corners OF bis
mouth. He wore long coat reach
, I ing TO bis ankles, gathered at the
Waste with . wide belt and immense
brass buckle. His costume was not
J flattering and the residents of H
did not associate with him willingly.
1t was with great interest that they
looked at him, detailing his dress
scrutinizing his features. He ap-
peared false and perfidous.
i II ask but one thing" said be.
"the permission to put in motion this
clock /"
Il was granted. Then mounting
q chair be put in motion the pendu-
lum. At the fourth stroke the niche
opened and the cuckoo appeared on
the threshold, and singing three
times announced the tour Hardly
I'D it finished when music hidden in
the body of the clock played the
.Rauz des Foches." but in manner
so piercing and wierd that it awed
Ieveryone.
At the moment when the cuckoo
rang. Jean raised himself like one
awakened from q dream; he gazed
at the clock with arm outstretched,
and his mouth open expressing an
awfol fesr.
"On!" said be trying to cover bis
face with his hands.
The clock had resu med its monot-
enous tic-tac and the hands moved
mechanically around its face
| When the music ceased Jean stood
erect, and said with a steady voice.
looking at the judges: "What do
you wish? Why have you srreste d
me? l am innocent. | viii swear
it. My master killed himself / am
sayiog nothing but the truth; / have
come to myself The night of the
murder was fearful one, as you all
know" said the young man "a
storm mixed with rain, hail and thur
der, go that nothing which trans-
pired at my masters could be heard
10 the neighborhood. Samuel Stauf-
fer entered the house at nine O'Clock
ia the evening carrying this clio ck
under his arm, and it was I who
hung it solidly to the wall of his own
room opposite his bed He seemed
enchanted with bis bargain and talk
ed of it necessarily. At ten O'Clock
assisted him to regulate the cuckoo
and to put it in motion. At half
past ten it struck for the iirst time
and played the air which you just
beard. was helping Samuel Stauf-
fer to disrobe. He turned to me sb-
ruptly as if something had struck
him.
"Do you not think that music very
strange ~ said be.
Il told him efsctually that it had
shaken my nerves little, at which
be laughed heartily.
We'll be explained, go to bed,
that will calm you.'
81 lief. him then alone aud ascend
ed into nv room just above his,
where. owing to the age of the house
piece of displaced plastering ena-
bled me to see all that passed in my
masters room. l was preparing for
bed when ii O'Clock struck and the
music began again. / heard my
master turn in bis bed, and it dis
turbed me so cast glance into bis
room. He was standing 10 front of
the clock, candle in his hand, gaz-
ing at it with 40 anxious sir as If the
sound irritated him. / went to bed
and in ten minutes slept profoundly
"The time few by, and 5 O'Clock
bad just struck when I heard an ex-
plosion of furious cries beneath me.
Then it Was that / witnessed bor-
rible spectacle-Samuel Stsuffer,
I aiming at the mouth. his eyes start.
ling from their sockets, shook bis fist |
at the clock. crying, you will cause
nv death, but you will not ring any
more
"ln an instant be leaped upon q
chair, sad passing one of the chains
around his neck, pushed the seat
from under him and remained hang
ing The clock stopped instantly at
three o'clock
Pale with horror / looked at him,
unable to help him I bad fright
fol desire to initiate his example,
bad gone below it would have been
certain death. / do not remember
anything more until to day
That is the whole truth, gentle /
men, and you must have felt the
strange impression produced by the
song of this cuckoo.
As be finished the half hour struck
aud held anew every one with its in
explicable power. The members of
the jury could thus judge by their
own sensations the truth of i;s reel.
tai made by the accused.
The jury retired to deliberate =
When they entered, the verdict ives
simply the aequittal of Jean Muller.
The verdict was received with great
applause.
The Jew, Wolfmano, was brought.
before the bar You will be con-
Quoted to the gates of the city, and
forbidden to ever step foot inside
again. The price of the house pur-
chased by you will be refunded, and
this Internal clock shall be publicly
buroed.D
The hour was about to strike bu.
the movement was arrested
Conducted outside the walls, the ,
jew Wolimann never resppeared,
and the cuckoo was burned on the
place before the prison.
The grocer Bloch is certain that
the devil constructed the clock, and
bis neighbor Herman, more credu-
lous now, dared not contradict him.
The little house Of Samuel Staut-
fer was given to Jean Muller, who
let 1t fall in ruins He replaced it
by new building soon, for every
body tried to sssist him, and they 60
TO bis shop to listen to the history of
the death of the jew, and the terri |
BILE song of the cuckoo.
word ss Husbands.