Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1896-10-22

though some being, hitherto uncreatod
were about to take visible life out Of In
ertta, and move in the form Of a vast har-
monious entity in which all this distract
Ing detail! Of movement would emerge
into homogeneous fife.
The framework Of the clock consisted
Of four upright polished steel pillars,
which touched the ceiling Of the room
about nine feet from the floor. One side
OF the parallelogram measured twelve
feet, the other ten. The sole window in
the room was in the middle Of one Of the
larger sides IT the paral!e!ogram. and
could be approached only through the
body of the clock itself. The body Of the
clock close by the window was not fully
filled up with mechanism. and this free
space, combined with the embrasure OF
the window, made a small interior cham
Der, in which were a stout ~high-backed
easy chair, and an oak watchmaker's
bench. The framework Of the clock was
secured to the foor by screws.
After a long and searching look through
the metallic network OF the machine.
Oscar Leigh sat down on the chair, and
gave himself up to thought.
"Ay," he said, crossing one Of his short
legs over the other. II have succeeded
SO far In my labors here. l began my
clock as an excuse, as q cloak to cover
any other matter that might come my
way. 1t has grown on me from day to
day, from week to week. from month to
month. from year to year, until it has
swelied in size and efficacy altogether be-
You'd my original designs or desires. 1
wished to have a slave that might be used
as an excuse for solitariness and eccen-
tricity in dealing quietly IN precious met
ais and precious stones, and now l lind
myself face to face with a master. With
er will this master lead me? l do not
know. l do not care. l first intended this
room as a chamber Of mystery; it has be-
com a cave of magic. My heart ought
to be drunk with JOY. My heart would be
drunk with joy only for" He paused
and waved his HAND before his eyes as If
to clear the air before him. "Only for
that girl. This mere girl, this mere
Edith Grace, this mere Edith Grace whom
/ have seen. What noise is that in the
street? Something out Of the common"
He caught hold of one Of the polished
steel pillars that formed the framework
of the breathing machine and dropped
- ~AAA va MS AliSsudpcu ClipSl. VIII
care l could now become rich-no matter
how. A forth .ght ago l brought all my
arrangements to perfection. l have hit
upon a plan for t~ranscending the won
ders of mystery gold with its tin and
platinum and copper imposture. I have
hit upon a plan Of making miracle gold!
A fortnight ago l had made up my mind
to 60 on with its manufacture. l am but
a weak, tickle creature, ! who had been
80 firm and strong, and whole hearted!
l advertise for a companion for my poor
DID mother and l see this girl, this Edith
Grace, with her airs and graces and high
notions. And now she will not have me,
she will not rest under the roof to which
l am free, she flies from me as from vile
contagion, and l am driven back upon
this miracle gold. Timmons will be here
with some OF it tonight. That is the
first step on the way down. All, there's
that noise again below. Let me see what
It H."
lTN~