The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1892-11-25

\ iSser! No, no! 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,
it cost nothing to look at it.
While talking, Locard drank alb
sinthe. He began TO get warm, say
ing: "Yes," saying NO" and finally
consenting to stroll as far as the clock
makers shop, then withdrawing his
consent.
"Why, anyone would say you are
afraid TO go to Lierret's-''
Afraid! /? What do l care for
Lierret? Come on"
| /. The little matchmaker was at the
bench, his magnifying glass in his
right eye, bending over the works of a
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 smile
might have been seen to play about his
lips as he did so. He hoped for a
customer, and to poor tradesman that
must always be a pleasant feeling, must
it not? Oh, doubtless. But of all pos
sible customers Lierret hoped for one,
and that one w as now at the door.
Locard entered.
rs that it?' ne said, contempt
uously.
Lierret rose politely. Locard turned
his back upon it-from pride evidently.
In short, he Immediately agreed to
give e1OO, and threw down e5 note on
account, on condition that the clock
| should be that same evening installed
in his dining-room at his house.
This evening, friends cried Locard,
''we'll drink to my new piece of furni-
| ture.''
''At what hour?"
Mine o'clock"
AS soon as Lierret found himself
quite alone. he burned the bank rote
in the flame of candle. Then he went
into the room behind the shop and took
up a small box, on which there were
pasted New York labels. Returning,
he opened the case of the clock, no
doubt to regulate the movement.
! Within the promised time it was
placed amid the rich furniture of
Locard's dining-room.
! Around the table, from which, point
upward, goodly array of bottles
stand, Locard and his old friends drink,
| laugh and sing
Eleven o'clock. the silver bell re-
cords the hour. What voice-a
song, rather! One could listen to it
through the whole night. Midnight
the voice puts forth all it's delightful
power.
Attention. One, twol Light the
punch! The fame fits, goblin like,
over the surface of the bowl, tapping it
with upthrown tongues of yellow and
blue The sugar frizzles. Now put
out the lamp. Huzzah! Hush! the
clock is going to strike.
No, it speaks.
Jacques Locard! Jacques Locard!"
"Eh! Who spokel Who said that?'
Jacques Locard! Confess! confessr'
"Locardl Locard. What jest is this?
How very pale you are!"
The voice sounds as if it came from
the cellar.
Jacques Locard, You are murder
er!''
1T is false! Who has dared to say
that?''
Jacques Locard, it is you who killed
old Lierreu Assassin!'
There are cries, groa ms. Locard has
risen to his feet-lost, mad. He clutches
at his cravat to tear it from his straDg-
ling throat. The voice still pitilessly
continues-veiled, distant, as if coming
from the tomb. 1t repeats the word
assassin"
Locard falls upon his knees, rises and
falls again.
81 confess Iconfessr' he cries. 'Yes,
il was ] who killed the old man, aSd
robbed him; but let that horrible voice
cease"
1t did not stop, bat went on repeating
its dreadful denunciations with the per-
sistency of machine in motion.
''1t is the clock that speaks!"
screamed Locard, seizing it, shaking it,
dragging it from its place, casting it
upon the floor. The works were scat
tered, and in their midst was seen
small cylinder covered with metallic
paper.
Lierret, wno had heard all, sprang
into the room through the open window
and seized Locard by the throat.
You are all witnesses that this man
is the murderer of my father!' he
cried.
VIII Odss LAGh NlP b0AC
the lives of their fellow men for gain
always think their cunning more than
a match for proverbial wisdom. So
thought Locard, and had not seven
years impunity justified his estimate
of his own cleFerness? No; it had only
put him off the guard which the muir
derer must meyer for a moment cease
to keep Thepolice had utterly failed
20 track him down-had not even as
sociated him Ia any way with the
crime; yet there had been detective
at his heeia, ~ be gov saw with hqF~
T9p