The Cairo bulletin., 1908-02-26
WHEN ALBERT
PROPOSED
He Tried II at tho Wrong Time.

est brother-Albert Sidney Putlow---
is a boy who viii one Of these days
come 10 bad end.
To know Albert Sidney--to know
him thoroughly-is an education in ju-
venile deprayity. lesson in tabloided
/ fiendishness, He's right enough super
| ficially, mind you. but when You get at
the soul Of the boy your faith In the
I innocence and harmlessness Of juve-
nifty generally is gone forever. Il
was last Christmas eve when ! probed
the depths of Master Putlow III tell
you in what circumstances.
For very good reasons | wished 10
secure freedom from Albert Sidneys
attentions on the evening III question.
! felt. somehow, that the task Of ask
ing his sister Nellie certain little.
question would not be made easier in
any way by having her young brother
buzzing around Offering To regulate my
watch or exhibiting some homemade
marvel In the clocltwork mouse line.
Master Putlow, | may tell you. Is a
prodigy In a mechanical direction.
When other small boys are learning
to play football he is ndding about
with spur wheels, when they are
dreaming Of getting their international
caps Albert Sidneys sleep Is punctu
ated with visions OF cogs, ratehets and
perpetual motion.
I'm have none of him" thought |
and during the afternoon sent around
with my best wishes for a happy
Christmas. book calculated to keep
any other nine-year-old boy us quiet
as an oyster till each Of its 24o pages
had been dogs cared as black as coal
In the evening / called round. Mel
lies father and mother were as
expected, out on a Santa Claus excur-
sion 10 their married daughters, cal.
berts at his book, suppose?" | re-
marked, when | was asked into the
front parlor
NO" said Nellie; hes doing some
thing to Waterbury watch I'm the
back Been busy all day. Look here"
pointing 10 an old-fashioned clock
fixed to the wall ale unearthed that
from the lumber room three days ago
It hasn't been going for ten years
and he's cleaned IT. put II in order
and fixed II MP ais 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 occupied
aiaamhnpa xrup
We talked about nothing In particu-
lar for Ave minutes, then braced my
self UP for the ordeal Nellie was in
the rocker and was ON the saddlebag
lounge by her side. 1t was then or
never.
Nellie" | whispered. glancing at
my cuff, on which had peneiled my
headings. Nellie. have long"
"Whirr,"
She looked up. not at me. but at the /
clock. TITS going to strike" she said. |
Bong" The thing had a note like
Big Ben.
Il have long"
Bong" Better jump In Mt the in
teryals. thought l, for anybody would |
have needed a megaphone TO make
himself heard above that din long
felt that life"
BONG" Isn't It splendid" Nellie
smiled
decided to wait till the awful thing
had finished Bong! bong. bongl (
bong. bong" At the eighth stroke
gave sigh OF relief and started again.
Il have long"
Bong" That's too many said
Nellie. What are you saying?"
Bong"
Bong"
] was losing patience with that lum-
ber-room find. 1t @ccasloned me no
that the clock was somewhat
cratic after master Putlow's atten-
lions. but that IT should seize Just that
particular time TO exhibit It's vagaries
me. Never mind" thought.
1t can't strike more than 10"
I had altos her und -rs mated its
capabilities When I had counted q
Shirrs and bongs. Nellie started laugh.
ng. ! walked to the door and called to
ALBERT Sidney.
He came, bringing an odor Of clock
,il into the room.
Something's the matter with that
,lock's striking gear" said, with
'orced calmness.
Been strikin' long," he asked.
That's the 39th time" answered
Is another "Bongl" set all the man.
el-shelf ornaments dancing.
Albert Sidney whistled. Thought It
night 20 like that" ne grlnnei. Good .
locks often do. II hasn't struck for
en- years. you see and now II won't
top It'll it's done all its back striking"
Great Jupiter, A lightning calculation
old me that, roughly speaking, 100000
,ongs were overdue. At four to The
minute il would be some time in April
'efore that awful clock was up-to-date.
IL think I'll be going" | gasped.
eciding on a postponement. and on
he 18th stroke. shook hands with :
Sellie. glsred murder at her brother. !
nd hurried on
At the bottom Of the steps
topped to shake my FIST in the me- ,
hanical prodigy's direction.
You horrid boy" 1 heard Nellie Z
ay.
a howl came from Albert Sidney.