Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1892-11-12
ACCUSED ~ A CLOCK.

True Flag: 1t was magnificent in ITS
carved walnut wood case, with a large
enameled dial and with its pendulum
of brass, bright as gold, passing and re
passing before the opening covered with
a disc of glass. All who caught sight
of it through Pierrct's (Ihe clock
makcrsl window stopped TO gaze at
it and formed knots about his door.
pieITet the clOckmakeT was still 4
man in his thirties, but nevertheless he
was inclined to sadness and not at all
tallatiye. He had known a great sor-
row. Seven years before, while he was
serving in the army, his father had been
murdered-in this very shop now oc-
cupied by him. Who was the assassin?
On whom could he ayenge the old man,
who had never done harm to anybody
and who had been 50 kind to him!
Justice had failed to lay hands upon the
murderer and robber, who had carried
off $4,000 saved sou by sou ly the faith
er for the son.
All researches had been fI1Iitless.
Pierret had finished his time Of service
in the and army rs soon rs he was free
he returned and established himself in
the murdered mans shop, determined
doubtless, to drive away care by labor
But it was clear that suffering was
gnawing at his heart At nightfall he
was seen wandering about the village
as if in search of somebody, that some
: loIyv hYir,er a1,tsA1Vr thn fsf- ffliTlol
Time passed-weeks, months, years.
The murder was forgotten by all save
the orphan and-other, who could not
but remember it.
Quite recently PieTet had gone to
Paris, and remained there several days
making purchases, bringing back with
him The magnificent clock, which set
everybody who saw belonging to possess
it,
Come in, gentlemen" said Pieret 40
the admirng groups who pressed closely
about the shop window.
"What is the price of ito
"Oue hundred crowns.
Does il siriket'
Certainly Listen"
The clockuaker caused the bell TO
somd-cleur, souorous, silyey.
But nobody viii buy it, said Pier
ret I'll am afraid i have done "a foolish
thing ia bringing t from Paris
"Uh that depends, Pierret. We are
not rich cuough but there is somebody
here Really. Whom
Eth. Locard good looking Locard-
wliJ is going TO marry, ANA doesn't mind
what be spends.
IF you would not mind putting in a
word for me
"WiM pleasure; and-who knows:-
by touching him on the side of his
vanity
You would be doing me a great ser
vice"
Jacques Locard was not very much
liked, and that for several reasons. Ia
the first place, he had made his fortune
too suddenly. 1t had come TO him from
the clouds, by the intermediary Of a
notary-oh! not Of this village, but OF q
long way OF, over the mountains-an
| inheritance which had at once put hiu
/ at his ease and he had increased uhis
( by dabbling in business.
/ For all mat he was clOsefistcd, spoke
I in loud voice, staggered in the street
4 drank heavily and had a following
/ Wueu anybody wanted to unloosen bis
/ purse strings for a bowl Of punch or q
bottle Of champagne they knew Oh
which side to deal with him, A mar
/ Ike him-the king of the country. HC
wagged his head and allowed himself
I 70 be taken in.
The thing, however, was not so easy
as 81 had at first seemed to be- WhI
the name Of PierTet was pronounced be-
fore Loeard IL evidently produced al
. unpleasant effect On that person,
nerves. lie disliked PieITeg that wa.
clear Well everybody is free 70 lik'
or dislike according 10 his impressions
is lac n0tg Pierret, q Pefutogger, al
idIer. No, no; he was not that bu
even If he were, what had that 10 q.
with the greatest wonder that had eve
been seen in the place. Besides ii COS
nothing to look ut it,
While talking LOcard had drunk
good deal He begun 10 get warm, say
Ing Yes, saying NO. and finally con
senting to stroll as far as the clock
makers shop, then Withdrawing his con
sent