Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1900-03-01
held in .rust for Rober. for zen years.

Let him have the use and income. and il
he marries let it all be his at once"
IF he should not marry i'll the ten
years" Judge Russell asked.
HE will, he WILL" Olmstead ex-
claimed. Hell not be such fool. II
he don't-if he don't care for me or
the money, then let it go where it will.
The other one can't get it if he signs
off for the ten thousand, and don't
care who else has it if Robert don't
want it. Write quickly. I'm not we'll.
I feel afraid"
The rest returned and did what they
could for the patient while Judge Rus
sell wrote. The storm was still increas-
ing, and to add to it the fire broke out
which destroyed the great building
supporting the tower with the clock
which had so long kept pace with the
clock in Olmstead's library.
Thousands must still remember how
the hands of that clock moved steadily
while all the building beneath it was
wrapped in flame; how the great bell
rang, clear and loud, above the storm,
above the roaring and kissing of the
water, above the grooming and throb-
bling of the engines and the shouting of
the men; how it struck the hour of
midnight, like grand, triumphant
peal, less than two minutes before the
roof and the walls fell in with an awful
crash, stopping the wheels but leaving
the tower with its burden still standing,
like grim minaret rising out of the
ruins; for there was something ghostly
in those long black fingers that for
days remained there, solemnly pointing
to two minutes past twelve.
The engines were heard above the
storm, in the library, and the glare
tinged the curtains closely drawn over
the long windows; but the fire received
little attention from the anxious ones
gathered there.
When the writing was finished, Ohm.
stead read the will, and in more
natural voice remarlled:
st is correct. Give me the PEN"
Rev. DR.. Borden signed as the first
witness, and a moment later Judge
Russell handed the pen to Sam.
Sam was unused to writing. The
solemn scene, the intense excitement
vague sense of responsibility, be-
wildered him, and he made slow work
at it. Judge Russell could hardly en-.
dure the delay. He had left his wife
with a sick child at home, without SO
much as telling her that he was going
out. He glanced at his watch as he
handed Sam the pen.
"Great Heavens! it's IL o'clock. Hur.
ry, man, hurry" he whispered.
Sam tried to hurry, and was so much
the slower in consequence. The tall
clock and the clock in the tower were
striking. He nervously fingered the
pen till they had ceased. Stanton was
kneeling by the armchair, holding his
uncle's hand. DR.. Borden stood be.
hind the chair, with word for comfort
or courage when it could be spoken.
AS the last stroke sounded, Ohm
stead turned his head, resting on the
back of the armchair, till his eyes
looked up at the portrait OF n beautiful
NolHtll, HdhSlAS dDoNe VIC A1c, anu
slowly he repeated: .....
''Twelvc O'Clock, AM. all is we'll"
At last Sam finished writing. Judge
Russell bent over him, took the pen,
wrote for an instant, and
Suddenly the room seemed to vibrate
and shudder. The dull outlines of the
windows glared brighter than the
lights of the library. The awful crash
of the falling walls and the Shrek OF
the crowd about them sounded. Judge
Russell caught up the will and hurried
from the house. Stanton felt a twinge
contract the hand he was holding: for
getting the years that had made man
of him, he laid his cheek upon it.
DIR. Morton glanced at the patients
face, reached his heart, waited a mo-
ment, and, laying his hand on STAN
toms shoulder, said:
"My friend, it is over. He is gone
Reverently DR.. Borden repeated the
dying words:'
''Twelve o'clock, and all is WELL"