Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1906-01-17

lence the clock stood at the head OF
the stairway; and there in gloom and
silence 1t would be standing now,
had not Herbert-that is my beloved's
name-dont you Ike 1t Through,
back its life while searching for the
lost document, which he always held
had been hidden, or the secret Of its
whereabouts, somewhere within Its
case. AS both grandma and mamma
were very fond of him, he had only
to intimate his wish to overhaul the
clock; and SO one E.orning, erect like
mummy in its wooden shroud, Its
wondrous mechanism was revealed to
View. Herbert peered in long and
earnestly.
Hand me that stiff steel wire, will
you, DEAR" said he, as he set the
pendulum once more to swinging
Then he poked and peered, and peer
ed and poked with the wire among
the wheels, and soon heard the sound
of something falling. At the same
moment there doomed forth deep
cathedral-like tones as six notes were
struck-the six that failed to sound
when the old man died. The hour
of twelve had come. was again by
grandpa's side; the whole past was as
II it had never been. To the old
clock time was not. What change in
fate or fortune did this pretend2
Solemnly the pendulum ticket its
tireless knick-knock. The old clock
was running.
"Oh, my husband, my husband,
have you come back to me? The old
clock is calling to you'll" we heard as
joyful cry from the head of the
stairway and looking up beheld grand
ma standing there, TRANSPORTED, glori.
fed, the look of an angel upon her
face. Then she sank slowly to the
floor as mamma and l rushed to her.
Fortunately, she was, poor dear, not
long unconscious; and when l return
ed to Herbert found that he had not
only stopped the clock but had taken
of the great wooden pendulum-bot
and was examining it most critically
"Oh, you bad boy" said reprov
ingly; what will grandma say?"
His only reply was to show me a
small steel key.
Found 1t at the bottom of the
clockcase. Dislodged it when l was
polaing around with steel wire. Oh
| know what was up to. Jared,
suppose, from its resting place, ant
falling, lodged between the wheels
All this just when your grandfather
was dying; and it stopped the docl
forever, too. The first stroke recall
ed to him, undoubtedly, where he had
hidden that document; his actions
and speech proved that; but he dice
before he could reveal the secret. III
wager anything that in the clock-case
is Its key; perhaps even the docu
ment itself" said he, taking my cheek.
lovingly between his hands. why
they are as red as posies. They'd
tell the secret if you were its keeper
Well, well shall have to trust to this
little key, since you will not or can't
help me. After all, it may unlock the
secret. A clock-case is not the usua
storehouse for keys like this"
While Herbert was saying this he
slipped the wooden sunfower-blos
som from its place, but nothing was
revealed save layer of smooth paper
"The mystery deepens. Why this
paper? Something must be conceal
ed beneath" he said as he ran his
forefinger over 1t. Here" he said
excitedly, hand me that stick-pir
from your throat, Alice dear; ani
with the pin he jabbed fiercely at a
particular spot, The pin entered
about half an inch. 81 though as
much" he sair, tearing away the pa
per and revealing small lock-plate
This little key fitted the key hole per.
fectly, turning easily and something
clicking as it turned, although moth.
ing fell apart or opened, as 1t should
have done, according to all orthodox
fairy tales.
That's strange again." muttereo
Herbert, pondering. This bob IL
very light for its size. Something
must be concealed somewhere, al
though can see no mark of point OF
anything. What a curious idea fol
a pendulum, anyhow; What did he
have in mind then? He was no fool
A thousand dollars, Alice, against an
old battered penny that it's hollow
| Listen. Don't 1t sound hollow when
strike it with my knuckle? Oh, for
the strength of Samson and the hand
and grip of Goliath! There must be
a joint somewhere that l can teal
apart" he continued, rising and grasp.
ing the upper part of the cylinder with
his left hand gripped between mis-
thighs.
l saw him put forth his utmost
strength as he stroye to twist the bot
to the left. The knotted cords stood
out upon his hands; the perspiratior
ran down his face, but nothing gave
Suddenly heard tearing sound;
the lower three inches of the Dol
was separated from the rest by an
appreciate space. Again a mighty
twist, now right, now left, and the
bottom came off completely; and
standing forth from the cylinder, fol
it was indeed hollow, was a roll Of
something carefully wrapped up Ii
paper.
Run to earth and captured, al
last" Herbert shouted triumphantly
as he drew forth the roll and spread
it open before me. 1t was the long
lost document, indeed!
Herbert's eyes gazed lovingly into
mine as he murmured SOFTLY
Fate has at last been good unto
you"
"Oh, am so glad that it is not as
pauper shat come to you on oul
wedding day, my love-" said 1, nestl
Ing closely to him and resting my
head upon his shoulder.
His only reply was kiss, as he
whispered lovingly and tendelry into
my ear
For your sake, and your mother.
| sake for yoUr ORR N dim 1T hor,c colya