Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1883-04-21

bath OF rear, expecting 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 the 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 he, too, hurried away.
But there was only mammoth lace
work of shadow under the elm. Where
was Petep The master-villain, him
self puzzled, reflected moment. Per.
haps the fellow had the money and
was hiding lit at home. Lucky thought
He would go to the house
and call him up, in spite Of
disturbing wife and children. Then
see if he would refuse to sharej
He took the road, and, passing Top
pans saloon, noticed dim light in the
hor rothar fhof
it should be there SO late, but he had
known it to happen before. He had
just about money enough for dram
He tapped, and then tried the door; it
was unfastened. and he went in ghtly
A man in 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
to help. and Whettles was arrested for
his last crime.
Mrs. Poysett and Linda were afoot
early the next morning, putting the
house in holiday trim.
81 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 bast. "Lindy. you didn't
strike that CLOCK round yesterday, after
ALL"
"No, mother; 1 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' the
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 tor Tinker
Pete and have him come up and fix it."
So the chore boy was dispatched for
Pete. He came like culprlt, uncer-
tain whether the message was teigned
to cover suspicion of him or not. But
no one could look into Mrs. Poysett's
clear eyes for moment or hear Lin
das clear laugh, with even a linger-
ing fear that either hal anything to
conceal. When they described the
clocks malady, am inclined TO think
Pete was as near being FAINT with sur
prise as ever man was in his hre. and
/ 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 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 he began cutting
timber in the old wood-lot, and hired
Tinker Pete to chop there every day
till spring. LippiacoH.
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