The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1883-04-26

house now. He was still bitterly
at odds. with life, but the after
effects of the whisky Whettles
had given him were nervousness and
irresolution. The clock gave warning
for another hour. False, friendly old
clock, if he could have seen your faca
he would have known it lacked ten
minutes of midnight then; instead,
he believed it would strike one. Too
late for Whettles. Perhaps he was
now at the old elm !; he would hurry
there and bring him back to do his
share of the work. He closed the win
dow behind him and hurried off to the
rendezvous. There was no one there.
At that moment the relief of having
been prevented from sin overbalanced
every other feeling. Something must
have happened to Whettles; perhaps
he had been canght; perhaps he would
say that his accomplice was waiting
for him under the elm !! He started
on q swift run for home, to find his
wife watching for him in the moon
light.
She was too thankful at finding him
sober to worry at the lateness Of his
coming Being woman of tact she
did not question, but went to sleep,
while Pete lay till daybread in cold
bath Of fear, expecting a rap and sum-
mons to Jail at every tapping Of bough
or swapping Of frost-bitten nail.
Whettles had fingered about
Turner'S, great house over the hill,
in the hope that the guests-for there
was a party that night.-Would take
their leave. But no; the house was
lighted from chambers to parlor, and
sleighs came instead of going away.
He walked up and down tie orchard,
cursing himself to keep warm. Later
and later, and the singing and dancing
shadows on the curtains did not cease.
He would hurry over to the Poysett's
and see if the catspaw had done his
work there. He stole up to the desig-
mated window, as Pete had done. No
one was there. He listened and
whistled softly: The clock struck one.
He had no idea it was so late. Pete
must be waiting for him at the elm.
And so hes too, hurried away.
But there was only a mammoth lace
work of shadow under the elm. Where
was Pete? The master-villain, him
self puzzled, reflected moment. Per-
haps the fellow had the money and
was hidingit at home. Lucky thought! !!
He would 60 TO the house
and call him up, in spite of
disturbing wife and children. Then
see if he would refuse to share !
He took the road; and, passing Top
pans saloon, noticed dim light in the
barroom. 1t was rather unusual that
it should be there so late, but he had
known it to happen before. He had
just about money enough for a dram.
He tapped, and then tried the door; it
was unfastened, and he went in lightly.
A man il a great-coat rose from his
seat by the stove and swiftly, dexter
ously pinioned him. Toppan himself,
always on the winning side, was there
toshelp. and Whettles was arrested for
his last crime .tsz!,.34s 8
z. Mrs. Poysett and Linda awere afoot
early the next morning, putting the
house in holiday trim.
"I declare if faint an hour earlier
n thought" said Mrs. Poysett as she
came down into the sitting room,
where the little air-tight was already
doing ardent best. "IIindy, you didn't
strike that clock round yesterday, after
ALL"
"No, mother; forgot it." laughed
Lindy. 81 should forget my head,
nowadays. if 'twasn't fastened on"
"I'll tell you what it is" said the
mother, beginning to spread the
breakfast table, "I'm just out O pa.
thence with that clock, strikin' tne.
hours away afore they get here. 1t
seems real malicious, tryin' to hurry
you off. Now, perhaps it's only half
days job or so; let's send for Tinker
Pete and have him come up and fix it."
So the chore boy was dispatched for
Pete. He came like a culprit, uncer-
tain whether the message was feigned
to cover suspicion of him or not. But
no one could-look into Mrs. Poysett's
clear eyes for moment or hear Lin
da's clear laugh, with even inger-
ing fear that either hal anything to
conceal. When they described the
clocks malady, l am inclined to think
Pete was as near being faint with sur
prise as ever man was in his life, and
1 think he touched the worn old clock
case reverently, thanking it for
keeping his deeds honest, however
he had sinned in thought. He
stayed to dinner, and Mrs. Poy-
sett put up a pail of goodies
for the children. On his way home
he heard the news: Whettles had been
arrested and taken away on an early
train. Again he walked in fear and
trembling; his hair grew used to stand
ing on end in those days. He expected
an interview with Nemesis concerning
his intended crime, but, whether justly
or unjustly, Nemesis stayed away.
The wedding? 1t was a very quiet
one. and the happy pair went away
next morning, followed by blessings
and old shoes. Frank had such an ex-
travagantly good time in Boston that
he felt that he could only counter
balance it by plunging into work
deeper than ever. So lie began cutting
simber in the cd wood-lot, and hired
Tinker Pete to chop there every day
till spring.-Lippincott.
Sborf S;pbfnd Notiou