The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-09-18


had brought from the jewelers.. He
slipped it hastily into a pocket Of his
oyercoat when he saw Miss Olmstead.
There was q seat beside her, and Of
course Tyrrell took It Unfortunately
1t brought the pocket containing the
package between them. It's size was
not great enough to cause any incon-
venience, but the wretched thing ticked
with peculiar purring sound. It was,
IN fact, clock which Tyrreu had pre-
scented to Miss Florence Coffin, daugh-
Ter of Laurence Coffin, the theatrical
manager, and herself performer upon
the harp-altogether a young woman
quite impossible as an associate for
Olmsteads and Tyrrells.
It appears that Miss Coffin was ac-
customed to jest about the sepulchral
suggestiveness Of her name, and as a
result Of it her friends delighted to give
her presents Of a grewsome appear
ence. In that spirit Tyrrell had given
her the clock, which was made Of pa
pier mache and shaped and colored like
a human skull, with q glass covered
dial in the top of it's little cranium.
Florence was different from the girls
OF the Olmstead-Tyrrellc caste. She took
presents-when she liked the donors
and was mighty glad to get them. She
had acquired a unique and interesting
collection of jeweled skulls and cross
bones. OF glove boxes shaped like cof-
fms and toilet articles in the form Of
urns and tombstones.
An indiscreet young woman connect
ed with the press mad recently written
up this collection, and she had de-
scribed with great minuteness the clock
presented by Tyrrell, recklessly giving
his name to cold type in connection
with it. Miss Olmstead knew all about
this affair. Having read the article in
the paper. she must even be aware that
the clock purred when it licked. That
popularity had been distinctly men
toned. and. blessed martyrs, how it
purred as II lay in Tyrrells pocket. SO
near to Marie Olmstead.
On the occasion of the terrible expose
which has been mentioned Mrs. Tyrrell
had extorted a promise from her son
that he would break off his acquaint-
ance with the beautiful harpist. AS for
Miss Olmstead. she could not deign to
be jealous Of a person living in differ
ent sphere. but she had shown cold
disapproval that had been exceedingly
painful.
The idea Of marrying Marie Olmstead
had grown into Tyrrells nature so
slowly and steadily that he already suf-
9ered many Of the inconvenience of ac-
Sual matrimony. His conscience said
hard things to him when he had called
upon Florence. and regret to say that
ne did call upon her even after his
promise to his mother.
He called, and thus be learned that
the skull shaped clock needed repairs.
So he took it to the jewelers.. and when
It was fixed he called for it, and, worst
OF all, he paid the bill.
81 was looking out Of the window"
said Marie, '.and | thought saw you
come out Of Heinrich's store"
Heinrich was the jeweler. 1t was he
that had sold the clock to Tyrrell. and
that fact had been mentioned in the
newspaper article. 1t would not do to
admit that he had been there.
It is said that one may learn to swim
by falling overheard, and it may be tie
same with lying. Tyrrell was in deep
water. and he lied.
Indeed, you must be mistaken" said
he. 81 had just come across from
Broadway"
She made no rejoinder. The car had
stopped; nobody seemed to be talking;
a most remarkable silence filed the
car, and in the midst Of it the clock
uurred amiably. Tyrren knew that he
must say something to drown this
sound, but his mind played him the
trick that is customary IN such circum-
e<arcos He co11ld think Of nothing that