The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1907-12-20
BY ANDREW DUNCAN.

Is du cuuCdllOl
in juvenile dcpravity, lesson in
tabloided iiendishness.
For very good reasons | wished to
secure freedom from Albert Sidney's
attentions on the evening III question.
felt, somehow, that the task Of
asking his sister Nellie a certain little
question would not be made easier in
any way by having her young broth
er buz2ing round offering to regulate
my watch or exhibiting some home
made marvel in the cIockWork mouse
line. Master Putlow. may tell you,
is prodigy in q mechanical direction.
9TH have none of him. thought I.
and during the afternoon | sent round,
with my best wishes for a happy
Christmas, book calculated to keep
any other nine.year.old boy as quiet
as an oyster till each of its 240 pages
In the evening | called round. Mel
lies father and mother We're, as |
expected, cut on a Santa Clans, eX-
cursion to their married daughters.
"Albert's at his book, ] SUPPOSE re-
marked, when | was asked into the
front room.
No said Nellie; hes doing some
thing to a Waterbury watch in the
back Been busy all day Look there"
pointing to an oldfashioned clock
fixed to the wall lie unearthed that
from the lumber room three days ago.
1t hasn't been going for ten years,
and he's cleaned it, put it in order,
and fixed it up as a surprise for dad.
It's going splendidly,'
OF course, | didn't mind little bit
about the book not claiming the boys
attention. So long as he was occu-
pied elsewhere | was perfectly salts
fled. We talEc' hout nothing in par
ticular for five mnutes; then | braced
myself for the O ii. Nellie was in
the rocker, and | IN the saddlebag
lounge by her side. 1t was then or
never.
Nellie" whispered glancng at
my cuff, on which had penciled my
headings. Nellie, | have long"
"Whirr!"
She looked up, not at me- but at |
the clock. ITS going to strike" she
said.
Bong"
| decided to wait until the awful
thing had finished Bong bong!
bong! bong bong" AT the eighth
stroke | gave a sigh of relief and
started again.
Il have long
"Bong!"' That's one too many"
said Nellie. What were you say
lng?'
Bong"
was losing patience with that, lum-
Der room find. 1t occasioned me no
surprise that the clock was somewhat
cratic after Master Putlow's atten-
tons, but that is should seize just
that particular time to exhibit its
,agaries annoyed me. Never mind"
thought, ut can't strike more than
r."
| had altogether underestimate its
When ] had counted q
Ehirrs and bongs, Nellie started
aughing. | walked to the door and
,alled to Albert Sidney.
He came, bringing an odor of clock
ill into the room.
Something's the matter with that
locks striking gear" said, with
orced calmness.
"Been strikin' long," he asked.
That's the thirty'ninth time" / an
wered, as another Bong" set all
he mantel shelf ornaments dancing.
Albert Sidney whistled. Thought
t might go like that" he grinned.
Good clocks often do. It hasn't struck
or ten years, you see, and now it
Won't stop till it's done all it's back
triking."
Great Jupiter A lightning calcu-
alton told me that, roughly speaking,
&C, 900 bongs were overdue. AT four
D the minute it would be some time
4 April before that awful clock was
p-to-date. Id the choice of yelling
ut my proposal, lodging it in be.
ween the strokes, or of waiting for
lore favorable opportunity.
II think I'll be going" gasped.
eciding on a postponement, and on
he seventy-eighth stroke. / shook I
ands with Nellie, glared murder at
er brother, and hurried off.
At the bottom Of the stairs ] stop.
ed to shake my fist in the mechani-
al prodigy's direction. {
you horrid boy" | heard Nellie '
ny.
A howl came from Albert Sidney.
You're as big chump as he was to 5
Ike in that tale about the thing I
orkin' off its back strikes" he said;
only fixed it to 30 like that for a
.rk. There! I've stopped 1t now.
o and call him back II you want
I'M"
l ned. The prospect of Master Put I
" % q brother.in.law was too awful. 4