The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1904-06-01
TI,lIR ROBERT MAYHEM

E> | stairs, timing his steps to
AEA%I the tick of the great clock
l9n leIIlD in the hall. At the newell
NJ, post he paused and glanced
back with an expression of frowning
regret then, with lift of his shoul-
ders, half shrug, half sigh, he briskly
crossed the hall and stood before the
timepiece. The room was dimly
lighted by the staned-gl windows,
which We're the only unshuttered ones.
and there was barren precision in
the arrangement of the furniture. an
unwonted silence, a formality as of n
mother waiting TO greet new daugh-
ter-in-law, that lent n cold, echoing
rastness. The clock that stood on a
dias raised three steps from the floor
had cathedral-like architecture. Its
carvings were almost black with age,
and the ticking was tense and slow.
Out Of a dusky window seat a girl
arose, small, graceful, red-haired
girl. AS she went toward Sir Robert
her heels struck noisily on the bare
spaces on the floor, and half way to
him she stopped with something of en-
barrassment.
t,'They put me in the library" she
said. abruptly. "But couldn't stay
there. Father is somewhere about. lie
had more dellcacy than l have. He
said he wouldn't intrude."
t"Do you fancy there is a place where
you could intrude, Miss Dunn?' Sir
Robert asked meditatively as he moved
a chair out of its prim position ana
motioned her into it.
G"That may be nice speech, and it
may not" she returned, as she sat
down. "I've been waiting here" she
continued, "in this stiffness, with moth
ing but the rain singing on the panes
and that dolorous clock ticking. until
1t seemed that all the dead old May
hews came out and stood around me
whispering, I'm awfully glad to see
some solid flesh.'"
tSir Robert laughed somewhat me-
chanically and turned the large and
curiously wrought key over and over
In his hand, as If for the first time
he was aware of its oddity.
N"Do you know" he started slowly
nfter a pause, during which she had
studied him pltyingly, II didn't think
should see you again."
t"You We're going without saying
goodby?" she asked reproachfully.
II don't-I think it is better to keep
unpleasant truths to oneself" he an
swered with gravity
Miss Dunn gazed for a long while at
the clock. Sir Robert sat down on the
Aiird step of the dais, still turning the
key.
do you know what It sounds as If
It were saying" she began. "Listenl
n't it 'Me-a cul-pa,' 'Me-a culpa 2
-Nst rs 1 It we're very weary and very
Cry?S
YSir Rober. stared Mt her, with some
Abatement, then he nodded.
$50 1t does. And that is just what it
Dught to say, for it has enough to say
It for"
f'How do you mean?" she asked.
' "Don't you know about the Mayhem
nlock?" He looked surprised. "Why,
this is one of the first clocks built in
England, and I think it is the most
famous. 1t would never do for you to
have the house and not know some
thing of what this is. What is the
use OF buying an estate If you don't
get its traditions?"
is"Don't be bitter about it," she re.
turned lightly. "What about the
clock? Has it n ghost? Is there q
secret door? Did the Pretender sleep
among its cogs and wheels. He seems
to have spent most of his time taking
odd places to sleep in. I'm looking foi
a place he didn't sleep in, SO that / car
write n book about it,
"Write it about this, for he didn't
sleep here; but it's large enough
Lookw Sir Robert unlocked the door
and motioned her to come and look a
the interior of the case. "You see,'
he said. as she stood beside him, "it'l
very old. though the various parts o.
khe mechanism have been renewed, al
fhey have to be Mt different times
This house and the property do no
pass with the title, you know. OH
Sir Matthew. who put the clock here
had some sort Of a grudge agains
his oldest son. and precious little faitl
In his youngest. 30 at his death b
made It condition that the clocl
mould be stopped until the first cart
was cast upon his coffin. and then tn
arst one Of the MAYHEM name an
b1ood who started the clock going e1
Erred upon possession Of the property
0esides that, n from any cause th
lglock stopped during the lifetime o
~ possessbr and any other Mayhev
Appens6 10 ct It Ucing the propert
ioeesss n eoeA II ha6 70 b dome Z