St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-01-18
THE CLOCKS SECRET;
Or. Guarded by Ghosts.


It was hard work to build up doc
tors practice in such an out-of- the-way
Southern town, but held on and hoped
for the best. Annie taught in the pub
lie school there, and said she was con-
tent to wait if it was ten years until we
should be able to marry.
was just beginning to despair when
l heard of my uncle's death in the
North. He had left me nothing, how
ever, but his old manor near the town
where lived. A mouMy old structure,
inhabited by an old darky care-taker,
and for years the upper floors had never
been lived in.
took Annie down one Saturday to
look over the place, for after all it was
something to own house and be free
Of rent when we married.
EFF was you," said the old negress
when we explained the reason of our
visit. 81 wouldn't go up those
windin' stairs. The upper floors is full
of ghosts and ghostesses. Why, my
brudder went up one day, and he was
found nigh dead the mex mawn."
only laughed at her superstitlons,
and started up the fatal stairs. When
about halfway up the most horrible
sounds greeted us. 1t was, as the old
woman had said. as though whole host
of demons were grooming and crashing
their teeth,and the sounds seemed to en-
velOp US. They were horrible, and
were enough to make the stOutest
heart quail. for they seemed to in
crease AFTER they had dice commenced.
L turned to Annie as quickly as | could,
ana seeing by her face that she was
likely to faint, put my arm about her to
support her as L seated her on lower
step, for the sounds ceased as we
stepped back.
"Do you mind waltingsfo me down
stairs?' asked, ''while examine into
this, or would you prefer to have me
wait and come out another time?"
mo, am going up stairs with you"
she said bravely. Il am ashamed of
my want OF nerve just now"
As she spoke she leaned back and
rested one elbow onthe step above her.
Instantly the horrible sounds were
heard again. hut as Annie moved for
ward again they suddenly ceased.
You had better let me take you
down. said quickly, as saw her face
lose color again.
NO." she said, in half subdued
voice. II felt something give way just
then. Tom. See what it is."
1t did not take me many minutes to
remove the carpet, but in dong il,
found that | could, at will, render the
sounds audible or inaulinle. Annie.
became as much interested and as eX-
cited as |, and when | raised the loose
plank that seemed to cause il all. she
peered with as much interest as | into
the cavity ii revealed.
I'm not afraid of ANYTHING now" she
had said when hesitat Il toremove 1T.
II must zee what it is, Tom"
nv nat we did STE was conglOmerate
mass of machinery. There were wheels
So put together THAT they grated fright
fully when touched.
What do Nou suppose this was for?!''
asked Annie.
II do not know, unless my uncle used
it as s1rt of watch dog to keep from
being moested While up stars. He sur
rounded himself with mystery to make
himself and everything about him ter
ror to both bia * and white during the
war"
We examined the machinery and its
connection. and found that each step
above it was connected with some part
of it. so that the sounds kept increasing
as onr proceeded up the stairs, hut just
as was about 10 restore the plank to it's
place. she stopped me. and. drawing out
slip of yellow paper, read:
''Behind the clock on the stairs"
Above us, still and silent. stood the
old clock on the landing. Slowly, and
with feeling of awe, we went to it
and moved it, wondering what new
MY stery was about to be explained;
bat, apparently, there was nothing I'M
usual; examined the clock itself and
then the wall. having some visionary
idea of secret panels, but all of no avail,
and we were about to give us the search
when the sun came out again, and,
shining through broken shutter,
showed solitary speck in the
old fashioned paper that gilt
teie like diamond. Eagerly
we worked at it until we could
understand the workings of it.
and then-yes, there was our secret
panel and there was my dead and gone
uncle's money box. Taking it into an
adjoining room and examining it, we
found papers and money amounting to
50 900, which had been hid during the
war for safe keeping. AS the money
was all IN gol |. 1t would have teen a
Godsend to some one, had not my uncle,
by his ecceutricities and mysteries, kept
every one at bay. Unfortunately he did
not live to enjoy it himself. and it was
left for Inc to inherit and make the most
of.
Annie and decided Immediately to
make orr home there, and it is very
happy one, for the winding stairs send
forth none but happy sounds now.
y