The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-20

sudden, one of the principal men in gettin'
up the subscription for twas took ill with
fever, and Tony and some other men in
the lodge nussed him. Mrs: Warner told
tellin' what that fever might be. But 60
he would, and the next thing ne was took
down with what turned out to be bad case
of spotted fever. Mrs. Warner she nussed
him night and day; she wouldn't let no one
else go anigh him. One night, she had to
water or somethin', and just es she turned
up the light she saw the ole clock start out
from the wall and pitch forrard onter the
table, right across the place where Tony al
ways set. Nothin' had teched it. 1t jest
jumped ont of its own self, and fell with a
crash like the day of judgment. Mrs. War
floor, for she knowed full we'll what that
meant. She don't know how long she lay
there, but when she looked up she saw the
hired girl standin' over her and wringin'
her hands. The girl was p'intin' at the
clock, and sayin'. II know what that means;
it's death. that's what it is" She helped
girl wouldn't go in, but Mrs. Warner did,
and not a minute too soon, for Tony jest
raised his eyes and looked at her and fell
back with a groan, dead as door nail.
"'After his death, they found out he
hadn't left much money, and everythin' had
when came to that clock, you could have
heard pin drop. "Will no one bid on this
here fine eight-day clock?'' SEE I, for !
hadn't heard the story then. But not a
word was spoken. till some man back in the
s:aI f' hanted; I wouldn't have it for
indlin' woods Then / started it at five
dollars, for knowed it was worth seventy
five dollars an as got no other bid, I
knocked it down to you, Doctor, and there
you have the whole story in NUTSHELL
"a pretty good-sized NUTSHELL
thought, but kept the thought to my
self.
IAN now, after all that, do you want
81 assured him that / did; that was not
at all superstitious (though ] did notice
with something of shudder that we were
standing under the undertaker's awning),
and that he might send it along at once,
which he did. and had it placed on the
stairway where you saw it..
had smoked my pipe empty before the
doctor finished his story, which had found
very interesting.
81 must have another look at the haunted
clock" said I; and the doctor accompanied
me out into the hall. As we stood on the
landing admiring it, Mrs. Bloodgood came
greeting, asked her husband if he had for
gotten that her brother Edward was ex-
pected home that day to birthday dinner.
II had forgotten it for moment" said
the doctor, and looking at his watch added,
little anxiously: ''and he is two hours
overdue"
81 hope nothing has happened to him."
said Mrs. Bloodgood, nervously. "You
know he is the soul of promptness."
She had hardly finished the words, when
a noise like the crack of doom came from
the innermost recesses of the clock, and
without any apparent provocation, it struck
twenty nine ringing strokes. Mrs. Blood
good clutched the balustrade and gasped:
"Great heavens! just Edwards age to-
day!'
The doctor laughed a nervous little
laugh, and told her not to be foolish, while
am free to confess that / felt strange
sensation about the region of my heart. I
put on a bold front, however, and babe
around later and see if Edward had got
home. walked slowly up the street, turn
ing the strange sorry over in my mind when
some one gave me tremendous whack in
the back. looked around and there
stood Edward.
s'Thank heaven" said I. "Unless it is
your ghostr'
SIT isn't, but it might have been," said
he: and | noticed that he looked rather
pale, and his clothes were covered with dirt
and torn. "Our train ran of an embank-
ment and was pretty badly smashed. We're
two hours behind time, besides being some
what shaken up. can tell you l thought
my hour had come"
'.And so did your sister," said I.
ssNy sister?" he exclaimed, in surprise.
"WhO could have told her?''
"The haunted clock," said I, impress
lively.