Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1906-11-28

take to pieces the clock. He approach
ed the great clock case before break
fast on that day and tried to open the
door. He found it locked. He made in
quiry for the key.
"Albert must have It," said Mis-
Oyerfeld. HE will be back from
town in the course of the forenoon.
He's gone to market with quinces"
The clock cleaner tapped on the case
Of the clock, and a queer look came
Into his face.
at sounds hollow" said he. "as hol-
low as an empty chest None of the
family has been meddling with 1t,
hope Hear that?"
He struck the bulging part Of tho
great case.
"There don't seem to be any works
In there"
He struck the case again and dropped
his hand and was silent
Toward noon Albert returned. The
clock cleaner went out to meet him as
the team drove into the yard.
"Here." said he, 81 have been waiting
for you for hours. l cannot find the
key to the clock"
The young man turned red and shook
the reins nervously.
"Clean the other clock first" said he,
"and we will regulate the old one after
the folks have gone to bed. There are
times when one needs a friend. That
Is my case now. Trust me now. and
will tell you more tonight when the
house Is still.''
II heard you."
The voice seemed to come out of the
air. The words were spoken by bent
little woman gathering sticks
"There are times when that clock
turns human. I've seen Tiny rheuma-
tism all left me then-I flew and land
ed on my bed in my chamber There
are some things no mortal can stand
snakes and haunts and things If you
are going to clean that clock tonight
after the people go to bed I'll go to bed
early and shut my eyes under the bed
clothes, for there are times when that
clock comes to life"
The woman's familiar name was Lid
dy-"Little Lddy" she was called-a
doer of all work. She filed her apron
with chips and gave curious glance at
the clock cleaner, who was standing
where he had met Albert after the lat
ter had gone to the barn.
"Saints and sinners!" said she. "If
you don't see sights tonight to make
your hair come off before morning, then
Little Liddy is no prophet. Mum is the
word. | have never told Mis- Overfield
what | have seen-sights that might
scare the dead Some folks think that
Liddy doesn't sense things right, and
guess they are not much mistaken"
They smiled at the way she had
used the words, when Albert turned
to the clock cleaner.
"She is superstitious," said he. He
lifted his finger and continued:
"But the clock is hollow | made ii
so and keep it so. Don't ask me an
thing more about it now. ! will tell
you when you come around next year"
The little old woman approached the
clock cleaner.
"See here" said she, what l have
got to tell YOU Don't 1 look peaked?
Well, have good reason for it. Now
l am going to give you my candid
opinion. | saw soldier one night.
He was dead. He was taking the in
sides out of that clock. Why was he
dead? Because, as put things togeth-
er, he was one of those regulars that
were shot from the bullets made out
of the old lead weights. l can see
double.
"And now," she continued, 'they are
going to have all the folks come home
on Thanksgiving evening-all but An
nie-and it is my opinion that she has
as good right to come as any, for
she was the best heart of all the fami-
ly. She ran away and married sailor
boy. Well, her mother married Farm
er Overfield against her folks. Annie
only did what she inherited. But my
eyes, I wouldn't set the table in the
room where the clock is. That's where
they generally do set the table on
Thanksgiving days. They haven't had
any Thanksgiving for the last two
years. And / do think that the old
clock would fall right over on its face
for shame and grief to see the people
all sit down to eat and Annie not
there What has anybody to be thank
full for whose heart is as hard as
stone? That's Mis- Overfeld's heart
now"
The clock cleaner fixed the other
clock and regulated 1t, wondering. He
left the place in the afternoon, saying:
'.,The old clock is locked and q storm
is coming on. 1 will clean that anoth-
er year."
"Why don't you do it now and not go
away in the storm?' asked Mis- Over
field.
81 will be able to tell you more about
the matter when I come again." said
the clock cleaner doubtfully.