The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1891-02-27
A QUARTER PAST SIX.

mo, can't get to sleep with one in the
room. And yet clock once saved my life
after it had come near making me lose
it."
As he spoke, Lieut.. Halford lifted a
dainty little timepiece from its position in
the center of the mautel, and carried it off
to the closet, where he deposited it on one
of the shelves.
Nonsense, Frank" rejoined his room
fellow for the night, an old time school
mate, Grant Young. you're the last man
Iwould ever accuse of being fussy."
mot having heard my clock story, you
are, of course, ignorant of the fact that
was once tried for murder"
"See here, Frank, don't trifle with fel-
lows nerves on a night like this"
Then, seeing that his friends face was
deeply serious, Young added. go on,
Frank
ut was shortly before joined the army,
and when was ont in Arizona prospect
ing with a party from Denver We had
struck good thing near the little town
with the most inappropriate name of Blue
bell. 1t was newly settled place, and set
tied with some pretty poor material, too.
A vein Of silver had been struck in the hill
close by. and the town spraug up like a
sky rocket. You needn't knit your brows,
Grant. and try to recall the place; the vein
proved a very short one, and Bluebell's
soaring soon came down like stick, and
now doubt if there are dozen families
left there
"At the time of which speak, however,
Bluebell was city of considerable preten-
sions-for its kind, 1t boosted hotel
with two rooms, a shaving saloon with a
regular BARRIERS chair, and small tailor
ing establishment. as the sign had it,
which we fellows of the Baby Mine found
great improvement on amateur darns
and button fastenings.
"This tailor shop was kept by German,
named Bilsing, one OF the most repulsive
looking men I have ever seen. He was
short almost a dwarf in size, with fingers
like talons and nose that was almost a
perfect beak. I,e was surly and disagree
able, but being Il good workman. and hay
ing monopoly IF the trade, he did Il thrv-
ing business. Put he was avaricious to
degree and resorted to all sorts of devices
to eXtort pay that was not due him.
Zone afternoon had gone to his place
to have rent in my coat lining sewed up
While he was at work on it, not wishing
to be detained in the shop longer than |
could help, asked him how much it would
be, and on his answering % cents took
quarter from my pocket and laid it on the
table in front of him. When the job was
finished put on my coat and was about to
hurry off when Bilsing called after me:
Say, you go off mitout leaving me some
dings. 1t cost twenty-five cent
i paid you once retorted.
No, you did not he insisted, and then,
rather than have fuss with the man, |
paid him over again, and took occasion at
the same time to tell him plainly that |
knew he was cheating me.
Jack Darling and Nate Gray, two min
ers from Bluebell, happened in while Bill
sing and | were in the thick of it, for the
mpudent fellow answered back and con-
Bidered myself luc.y to get ont Of the place
without having to resort to my muscles to
defend myself. AS ! walked back to our
claim 1vowed never to go to the shop again;
you can imagine, then, how annoyed was
when discovered that had lost a locket
from my watch chain.
at contained atpcture of my mother
which priced most highly. had noticed
that the ring by which it was attached to
my chain was wearing perilously thin, and
had determined to file it through, take the
locket off, and put it away safely till had
an opportunity of having it fastened on by
a jeweler. But | had delayed to do this,
and now the thing was gone.
Gould have lost it at Bilsing's shop?
asked myself. remembered that had
been leaning against the work table, the
edge OF which would come just about
where the locket had been. | resolved to
return at once and make search, deeply
as disliked the idea of interviewing the
man again.
II turned and retraced my steps, walk
ing slowly, with my eyes on the ground.
But saw no sign of my locket on the way.
Just before | reached Bilsing's place !
looked at my watch to see how much time
had before supper, and saw that it was
twenty minutes to 6.
1.-THE irascible German was seated cross
legged on his table, busily AZ work, when
entered.
"'Vell, vat you want nowP he grunted
out when he saw me.
az think dropped locket on the floor
here | answered, and began to search
among the litter under the table. You
didn't see it. did youT | added, when
three minutes hunt proved barren of re-
suits.
"'Yur dink steal him, eh?' he snarled,
dropping his work and beginning to glare
at me.
"'No; l didn't say SOP I returned.
might have added that thought so, but
he scarcely gave me any time to do any
thinking for all at once he burst out with
torrent of brutal invectve
HE sprang down from the table, and
thought he was going to strike me.
squared off and made ready to defend my
self, and in that instant the door opened
and a man entered the shop. He was quite
a young fellow and had a pair of trousers
over his arm, which he flung down on the
counter, raging something in German, and
then got out as quickly az possible Bill
sings attention was momentarily diverted
from me by this episode, and seized the