The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-10-03

purchases, bringing back with him the
magnificent clock, which set everybody
who saw it longing to possess it.
Come in, gentlemen" said Pierret t.
the admiring groups who pressed closely
about his shop window.
"What is the price of itf"
zone hundred crowns"
"Does it striker"
"Certainly. Listenn'
The clockmaker caused the bell to sound
clear, sonorous, silvery.
But nobody will buy it," said Pierret.
81 am afraid have done a foolish thing in
bringing it from Paris"
'Oh, that depends, Pierretl We are not
rich enough, but there is somebody here
"Reallyl Whomf"
"Ehi Locard-good looking Locard-
who is going to marry, and doesn't mind
what he spends"
"If you would not mind putting in q
word for me''-
with pleasure; and-who knowsp-bS
touching him on the side of his vanity
You would be doing me great service
Jacques Locard was not very much liked,
and that for several reasons. In the first
place, he had made his fortune too sud.
denly. 1t had come to him from the clouds
by the intermediary of a notary-oh! net
of this village, but of long way off, over
the mountains-an inheritance which had
at once put him at his ease, and he had in
creased this by dabbling in business.
For all that he was closefsted, spoke in
a loud voice. staggered in the street. drank
heavily and had following. When any
body wanted to unloosen his purse strings
for bowl of punch or a bottle of cham
payne they knew on which side to deal
with him. A man like him-the king oil
the countryl He wagged his head and al
lowed himself to be taken in
The thing, however, was not so easy as il
had at first seemed to be. When the name
of Pierret was pronounced before Locard
it evidently produced an unpleasant effect
on that persons nerves. He dislked Pier
ret, that was clear. Well, everybody is
free to like or dislike according to his i'm
pressions, is he mott Picrret a pettifo9
ger an idlerl No, no; he was not that
but even il he were, what had that to de
with the greatest wonder that had ever
been seen in the placer Besides it cost
nothing to look at it.
While talking Locard had drunk good
deal. He begun TO get warm, saying YES
saying No" and finally consenting te
stroll MS far us the clock makers shop, then
withdrawing his consent.
why, any one would say you wert
afraid to go to Pierret' 81
Afraid II What do l care for Pierreti
Come on"
The little matchmaker was ut his bench
his magnifying glass In his right eye, bend
ing over the works of watch. Certa ,.,ly
he was not looking at anything thu vas
going on outside of his shop, yet he saw
very plainly observed, the approaching
group, and something very much like
smile might have been seen to play about
his lips as he did so. He hoped for Gus
toner, and to II poor tradesman that must
always be pleasant feeling, must it mott
oh, doubtless. But for all possible Gus
toners Pierret hoped for one, and that one
was now Mt the door.
Iocard entered.
as that it?" he said contemptuously.
Perret rose politely Locard turned his
back upon him-from hauteur evidently
In short, he Immediately agreed to give
the twelve pounds, and threw down five
pound note on account, on condition that
the clock should be that same evening in
stalled in his dining room at his house.
This evening, friends cried Locard fdI
course he did not include Pierret), well
drink to my new piece of furniture"
AT what hour"
"Nine o'clock.n
As soon as Pierret found himself uuitt
alone he burned the bank note in the fiata
of a candle. Then he went into the roof
behind the shop and took up a small bos4,
OH which thefewere English labels pasted
Returning, he opened the case of the clock.
no doubt to regulate the movement.
Within the promised time it was placed
prominently placed-amid the rich iur
niture of Locard's dining room
Around the table from which, point up
ward, soodly array of bottles stand, Lo
card and his old friends drink, laugh and
sing
Eleven o'clock-the silver bell record.
the hour What voice-a song, rather
One could listen to it through the whole
night. Midnight-the voice puts forth all
its delightful power.
Attention. One-twoi Light the punch
The flame fits, goblinlike, over the surface
of the bowl. tapping it with upthrowI
tongues Of yellow and blue. The sEgs
frizzles. Now put out the lamp. Huzzahl
Hushi The clock is going to strike.
No it speaks
Jacques Locardl Jacques Tocprlw
"Ehl Who spoke7 Who said that?n
Jacques Locardl Confessl Confessp
"Locardl Locardl What Jest is thss
How very pale You arei"
The voice sounds as if it came from the
cellar
Jacques Locard, you arc murdererrt
ut is false. Who has dared to say thatfn
Jacques Locard, 1t is you who killed old
Pierretl Assassnl"
There are cries, groans Iocard has
risen to his feet-lost, mad. He clutches
at his crayat TO tear it from his strangled
throat. The voice still pitilessly continues
-Veiledi distant, as if coming from tomb
1t repeats, repeats, repeats the word "as-
sassin." :"
Locard falls upon his knees, rises. falls
again.
II confess, confessn he cries. "Yes. It
was who killed the old man and robbed
him, but let that horrible voice cease."
II did not stop, but went ON repeating its
dreadful denunciatious with the persist
ency OF machine in motion.