The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1899-11-16


much would you take for the patent?"
"Ten thousand pounds down, and q
form royalty on every clock Sold" i
leaned across. afraid to hesitate now.
"But mind, this is in strictest conf
dence, because it's very possible again.
that when leave here may ask you
to let me take Netta-as my wife.
There!"
1t was out. And Baldwin-he could
not have even suspected; he sat staring
and incredulous for time, and then
swayed up unsteadily.
"Well How queer-Netta again?
Let her GO? couldn't; what on earth
should do without. You're rich,
and you want my girl? II daren't
think now, Marcel; let it wait bit. No,
no, don't, don't see her yet. Shake
hands-yes, indeed! Heavens, l sha'n't
sleep this night"
went out, leaving him standing so.
That kitchen door was closed; but l
fancicd-I was sure-I heard sup
pressed sob in there. Should mo,
presently she would be bringing up my
supper, and then! Back to my room
in n whirl l went, and sat down for the
thousandth time to compare those
precious calculations. Why, yes, the
simple idea was perfect; the uncoiling
of the one spring implied the tighten
ing of the second, and so the motor-bar
was bound to rcvolve. My last valuable
must go to obtain the preliminary fees.
but that The sofrcst tap.
"lour supper, Mr.. Marcel-and good
night"
| stumbled to the door. Netta-she
had placed the tray on the floor. l
caught just glimpse of her dress
whisking round the staircase below.
All, then, she knew there was some
thing in the air that night! She was
nervous-futtered; the very cocoa
seemed to have been spoiled in the maxi
ing-for the first time. I Isipped it, and
then sat thinking wildly again. Tick,
tick, went my darling clock over there.
Now-was it wavering? No, no-only
my poor, tired brain. The reaction was
setting in, of course. To bed! To-
morrow. A clear brain, at any price!
l must have fallen asleep before !
touched the pillow. Sunshine was
streaming in when, partly dressed, !
sat up-sat up with vague but terrible
sensation as of something being wrong.
The time? The time-I looked across
to that bench, gave half scream-and
then my heart seemed to become still.
My clock was-not there!
What did do first? hardly know;
something had seemed to snap in my
brain as struggled to realize. Gone
stolen while l slept! My table of cal
culations-gone too. / had left it be-
side the model. Lamont! The
flash-thought sent me reeling. His
manner-his jealousy-his hint at
theft! Dazed, only knew there was
a nameless thing in my mind as I
stepped out OH to the landing and lis
tened. The hands of the clock there
pointed to seven, and Lamont left for
his work at eight. He would swear to
his innocence; would simply hold him
by the throat while / crashed open his
box. 1opened his door quietly.
Lamont was not there. / started round
for his trunk. 1t was gone.
felt my way down the stairs again
like man suddenly blinded. At the
foot / met Baldwin, our landlord, and
clutched his arm. Just one tense whis-
per: "Lamont-that man?"
Goodness, Mr.. Marcel, what's the
matter? Lamont? Why, he's
gone-came down here an hour ago,
woke me and gave me a weeks money
instead of notice, and left the house
without another word"
A month had passed-a terrible
month that ! lived through in alternate
fits of madness and spells of dumb
stupor. One day ! would tramp the
streets with eyes strained for sight
of the man who had ruined my life;
the next, / would sit huddled over that
empty bench, seeing no one, speaking
to no one. At times there would come
that soft tap Mt the door, and Netta's
whisper that she had something to tell
me; then her father would call me
from the stairs; but never answered
either-my interest in life was sus-
pended.
A month; and then, one never-to-be-
forgotten evening, n still stranger thing
happened. Sitting there so, heard
heavy footsteps outside, and next
peremptory knock. Before could stir.
two men had walked in. ! know that
then l sprang up with . choke Of in
credulous passion. One man was
stranger to me; the other-Lamont,
haggard but smiling. Lamont! He
had folded his arms; he could speak
coolly, sneeringly.
$50 you think made off with your
precious invention, Mr.. Marcel? Stand
still-wait! l might have done-I
should nave been justified, considering
that it was you who robbed me of the
one woman I'm ever likely TO love or
want. No matter! Shall tell you why
l went from this house as did? Can
you believe me?"
Speak / could not. The very world