The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1892-11-26
ACCUSED BY A CLOCK.
This Ingenious Device That Brought
a Murderer to Justice.

6D sadness, and was not talkative. He
had known a great sorrow. Seven
years before, while he was serving in
this army, his father had been muir
3uTed--in the shop now occupied by
the son. Who was the assassin? On
whom could he avenge the old man
-who had never done harm to anybody,
1uad had been so kind to him? Justice
had failed to lay hand upon the mur-
dETer and robber who had carried off
&oGr Thousand pounds, saved sou by
sou by Ghe father for the son.
AL researches had been fruitless.
gSIerret had finished his time of service
in the army, and as soon as he was free
la,s UetRrned and established himself in
Che murdered mans shop, determined to
drive away care by labor. But it was
,cstsar that suffering was gnawing at
his acart. At nightfall he wandered
about the village in search of the
e8CimjDaL
Gltme passed-weeks, months, years.
The murder was forgotten by all save
;s8ae cGp,bau and the-other, who could
-nOJ b1t remember it.
Quite recently Lierret had gone to
Paris and remained there several days
fEy2zing purchases, bringing back with
&frn . magnificent clock which caused
every body who saw it to long to pos
sess 1t.
''Come in, gentlemen, said Lierret
go khe admiring groups who pressed
closely about his shop window.
What is the price OF it?"
''One hundred pounds"
''Does it strike?'
Certainly. listen"
The clockmaker caused the bell to
noUnd-clear, sonorous silvery.
''But nobody will buy it," said Lier-
-~s1- IL am afraid have done fool
Lab thing in bringing it from Paris"
@~oh, that depends, Lierret! We are
loody here"
s-Really! Whom?"
~Ehl Locard-good looking Locard
who is going to marry and doesn't
mind what he spends"
eli you would not mind putting in a
word FOR me-
with pleasure; and-who knows?-
by touching Him on the side of his van
sey-'
''You woul9 be doing me a great sew
6ss"
jacques Lccnrd was not very much
sIlgd and that for several reasons. In
:s1ae FIRST place he had made his fortune
e0n suddenly. 1t had come to him from
Ehc clouds by the intermediary of a
vlotary-oh! not of this village, but
Of a long way off, over the mountains
an inheritance which had at once put
aim al his ease, and he had increased
1sbis by dabbling in business.
For all that he was closefsted, spoke
IN a loud voice, swaggcred in the street,
drank heavily and had following.
When anybody wanted to unlooSen his
purse strings for bowl of punch or
0ottle of champagne they knew on
(which side to deal with him. A man
Bike him-the king of the country! He
vpegged his head and allowed himself
fiO be taken in.
THE thing, however, was not so easy
aas il had at first seemed to be. When
,Ghe name of Lierrct was pronounced
before Locard il evidently produced an
unpleasant effect on that PERSONS
CsGrYes. He dislillcd Lierret, that was
ss&esr. Well, everybody is free to like
or dislike according to his impressions,
Ss he not? Lierret-a pettifogger, an
sdler! No, mol he was not that; but
even if .he were, what had that to do
with the greatest wonder that had
ever been seen in the place? Besides,
III cost nothing to look at it.
While talking, Locard drank alb
.siHthe, He began to get warm, say
zng. Yes" saying No" and finally
,Csonscnting to stroll as far as the clock
an1aGer's shop, then withdrawing his
consent.
''Why, anyone would say you are
afraid TO go TO Lierret's--"
afraid! 1? What do l care for
iElerret? Come on"
The little matchmaker was at the
bench, his magnifying glass in his
right eye, bending over the works of
watch. Certainly he was not looking
st anything that was going on outside.
oSa his shop; yet he saw, very plainly
,nbseTwed the approaching group, and
ssomething very much like a smile
might have been seen to play about his
Rias as he did so. He hoped for
N:Hsbmer, and to poor tradesmau that
must always be a pleasant feeling, must
dt not? Oh doubtless. But of all pos
aillo customers Lierret hoped for one,
,slnd that one was now at the door.
LsOcard entered.
lis that it?" ne said, contempt
v1Ously.
Lierret rose politely. Locard turned
hfa back upon itfrom pride evidently.
In short, he Immediately agreed to
give 91OO, and threw down So note on
.aeeount, on condition that the clock
should be that same evening installed
an his dining-room at his house.
'",Ehis evening, friends, " cried Locard,
~@Well drink to my new piece of furni-
euEe"
''At what hour?"
'sSine O'clock"
As soon as Lierret found himself
quits alone, he burned the bank note
sn The fane of candle, Then he went
Fzt0 The room behind the shop and took
eup small box, on which there were