Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-09-23

thoroughly and enthusiastically. 1t is
doubtful if we enjoyed its fruition more
than we did talking it over, and eagerly
adding suggestion after suggestisn until
it was, in our estimation, perfect.
"The plan is just this, jamie" said
Fred. ''Take the works out OF the case
fasten them in the fireplace, pat long,
stout string on in place of the striking
weight cord, wind the reel on the striking
sidessas full as we can, then pass the line
up over pulley at the top of the chin
ney, and put on the weight. The old
thing will strike as long as it takes the
weight to run down."
It took some time to get everything
ready. No spy was ever more secret or
cautious in his movements than we. We
never talked of our plans where anyone
could hear. In the workshop, with doors
shut and locked, or at shutdown, driving
home the COWS from the pasture lot, Or
at night, buried in the clothes ws dis
cusSed it.
The preparations, too, had to be made
in the right. We nearly broke our necks
climbing out on the roof night after night
to arrage our "crack o'doom," as Fred
called it. Mailing the works of the clock
in the parlor fireplace required all our
skill in amateur burglary. But we man
aged to accomplish the task, although I
was shut up behind the freboard half the
night and Fred sprained his ankle jump
ing out of the window when mother came
into the room after book.
At last all was ready. By means of a
string which one of US could pull from
the kitchen (where ladder was to furn-
ish a safe retreat to terra firma), Single,
lClI IL o. 40, Of 10
chimney, would be jerked out; and as the
weight began to fall the clock would begin
to strike,
The next thing was to get the OppOr-
tunity 10 put our scheme in operation.
Strangely, Mr.. Pettiiohn's skillfuI feat of
pulling our door bell just so as to cause
the bell to ring out three distinct taps and
no more, was not performed for full
week.
Fred and I were in mortal dread every
day that our preparations would be dis
covered. Any day father might take a
notion to clean out the parlor fireplace
and the chimney. Fortunately he did not,
and Mr.. Rogers peculiar ring at the door
bell at last pealed on ears that were most
intently listening for that welcome
sound.
We boys slipped out of the kitchen,
where we had been engaged in fierce
debate with Aunt Elizabeth on PROPOSE
ton to keep our pet chickens in the eel
lar next winter instesd of in the barn.
Our first impulse was to plant ourselves
in position on the roof of the kitchen
ready to pull the string. On second
thought we reflected that our intended
victim would probably spend the evening
and we concluded to make the best of our
situation by waiting until we thought he
ought to be getting ready to depart The
better to ward off suspicion we spent the
evening several blocks away, with some
of our boy friends.
AS we approached the house, little be-
fore 10 o'clock, we saw the light stream
ing from the parlOr window, and knew
our prey was still there.
took my place at the string, trembling
with expectation of the critical moment
when Fred, who had stationed himself in
the lilac bushes under the south window
of the parlOr, should give me the signal
by throwing a pebble on the kitchen
roof.
Time, always slow when waited, was
never so slow, it seemed, as during that
full hour I waited for the thud of that
pebble on the roof.
The night train came laundering up
the valley while [ sat there, and I count
ed echo after echo of the shrilI whistle of
its locomotive, and traced its snake-like
line of light until it wound around dis
tant hill and was out of sight. How the
dogs barked that night! [ busted myself
in distinguishing the score or more of
canine voices whose nightly bayings were
familiar in our neighborhood.
Now and then old Bose, our family
horse, would shake himself in his stall
and MUNICH his provender for a moment
or two, and then cease to make a living
sound.
A long story could be told of the pic
lures that were called before my mind
by the noises heard in that single hour.
Suddenly in the midst of one of these
mental pictures, Fred's pebble fell, strik
ing me so that pulled the string, without
thinking what I was doing.
Hurrying down the ladder I found Fred
in the lilacs.
The old clock was striking with ner-
vous staccato that fairly made US dance
with Joy. 1t had then struck up to
eleven. Fred had given the signal Just
as soon as the sitting room clock began to
strike.
Flora and her caller we're engaged in
duet, she at the piano and he with his
flute.
AS long as the music lasted we hardly
expected they would be disturbed by the
clock.
For several minutes the piano, flute and
clock kept up the peculiar trio, we boys
enjoying it with gigantic grins and chuck
les. Through fold in the window cur
tain we could see the faces of our vic
Tins.
"Ha!" whisped Fred. "Flo hears it! see!
She thinks something's wrong with the
music
The players kept on for few minutes
longer, when suddenly Flora stopped.
The flute and clock now had it alone for
a moment and then the former ceased,
and the clock was left master of the situa-
ton.
We were where we could see Rogers
face plainly. The puzzled expression
that passed over it and fingered a mo-
ment was indescribable. Flora had not
moved from her place, and sat with one
hand uplifted from the piano keys, listen
ing intently to the measured striking,
which now seemed louder than ever.