The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-16
ACCUSED BY A CLOCK

1t was magnificent in it's carved walnut
wood case, with its large enameled dial
and with It's pendulum of brass, bright as
gold, passing and repassing before the
opening covered with disc Of glass All
who caught sight Of it through Pierrct's
the clockmakcr's) window stopped to gaze
at it and formed little knots about his
door.
Pierret, tho clockmnkor, was still man
in his thrties, but nevertheless he was in.
clined to sadness and not Mt all talkntivc.
He had known n great sorrow Seven
years before, while he was serving in the
army, his father had been murdrcd-in
this very shop now occupied by him. Who
was the assassin? On whom could lie
avsnge the old man, who had never done
harm to anybody and who had been so
kind to him? Justice had failed to lay
hands upon the murderer and robber, who
had Carried off $1,000, saved sou by sou by
the father for the son.
All researches had been fruitless. Pier
ret had finished his time of service i, the
army and ms soon as he was free he re-
turned and established himself in the muir
dered mans shop, determined, doubtless,
to drive away care by labor But it was
clear that suffering was gnawing Mt his
heart At nightfall he was seen wander
ing about the village rs if in search of
somebody, that somebody being surely the
criminal.
Time passed-weeks, months, years.
The murder was forgotten by all save the
orphan and-other, who could not but re.
member it.
Quite recently Picrrct had gone to Paris.
and remained there several days making
purchases, bringing back with him the
magnificent clock, which set everybody
who saw it longing to possess it,
Come In, gentlemen" said Picrret to
the admiring groups who pressed closely
about his shop window
What is the price OF itl"
Zone hundred crowns"
Does IL striker"
Certainly. Listen"
The clockmakcr caused the bell to sound
clear, sOnOrous, silvery.
but nobody will buy it," said Picrrct.
81 am afraid have done foolish thing in
bringing it from Paris"
ooh, that depends Pierret! We are not
rich enough, but there is somebody here"-
"Reallyl Whomy"
"Eh Locnrd-good looking Locard-
who is going to marry, and doesn't mind
what he spends"
'If you would not mind putting in il
word for mel
with pleasures; and-who knows?-by
touching him on the side OF his vanity'-
you would DO doing mo great service"
jacques l.ocard 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 u notary-oh! not
OF this village, but Of long way OF, over
tho mountains-sn inheritance which had
at once put him Mt his oase, and he had in
croasedthis by dabbling in business
For all that he Was closetlsted, spoke in
loud voice, staggered in the street, drank
heavily and had following Whom any
body wanted to unloosen his purse strings
for bowl OF punch or II bottle OF cham
payne they knew on which side to deal
with him. y man like him-the king Of
the countryl lie waggod his head and al
lowed himself to be taken in
The thing. however, was not so easy rs 1t
Ind ut first seemed 20 be. When the name
Of Pierret was pronounced before I-ocard
1t evidently produced an unpleasant effect
OH that PERSONS nerves. He dislked Pier
ret, that WAS clOar. Well, everybody Is
free to like or dislike according to his i'm
pressions. is bo'nots Pierret n pettifog-
gor. an idler! No. no; he was not that,
but even il he wero, what had that to do
with the greatest wonder that had ever
been seen in the plaeot Besides it cost
nothing TO hook Mt it.
While talking Locard had drunk good
deal. He begun to get warm, Saying YES"
saying NO" and finally consuming to
stroll as far rs the clock makor's shop, then
withdrawing his consent.
"Why, any one would say you were
afraid to 20 TO Pierret's'-
"Afrnidl II What do care for Pierret1
Come on"
The little matchmaker was at his bench,
his magnifying glass in his right eyo, bend
Ing over the works Of watch. Certainly
he was not looking at anything that was
going on outside of his shop, yet he saw.
very plainly observed. the approaching
group and something very much like a
Smile might have been seen to play about
his lips rs he did so. He hoped for a GUS
tomoPAand to Il poor tradesman that must
always be a pleasant feeling, must it mott
Oh, doubtless. But for all possible Gus
toners Pierret hoped for one. and that one
was now ut the door.
Locard entered.
as that ity" he said contemptuously.
Pierret rose politely. Locard turned his
back upon him-from hauteur evidently.
In short, he Immediately agreed to give
the twelve pounds, and threw down a five
pound note on account on condition that
the clock Should be that same evening in
stalled in his dining room ut his house.
"1'hs evening. friends" cried Locard (of
course he did not include Pierret)S "we'll
drink to my new piece of fmniturc"
"At what hour?"
mine o'clock"
AS soon as Pierret found himself quite
alone he burned the bank note in the flalno