The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-04-30
WHEN ALBERT
PROPOSED
He Tiled ltat tho Wrong Time.

IN my language and charitable in my
thoughts, truth compels me to the
statement that Nellie Putlow's young
est brother-Albert Sidney Putlow-
is boy who will one Of these days
come to bad end.
To know Albert Sidney-to know
him thoroughly-is an education in ju-
venile depravity, lesson in tabloided
hendishness. He's right enough super
ncially, mind you, but when you get at
the soul Of the boy your faith in the
innocence and harmlessness Of juve-
nifty generally is gone forever II
was last Christmas eve when probed
the depths Of Master Putlow. III tell
you in what circumstances
For very good reasons ! wished to
secure freedom from Albert Sidney's
attentions ON the evening in question
! felt, somehow, that the task Of ask
Ing his sister Nellie a 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 clockwork mouse line.
Master Putlow l may tell you, is a
prodigy in a mechanical direction.
When other small boys are learning
to play football he is fddling about
with spur Wheels when they are
dreaming Of getting their international
caps Albert sidney's sleep is punctu-
ated with visions Of cogs, ratchets and
perpetual motion.
"Pll have none Of him." thought
and during the afternoon l sent around
with my best wishes for a happy
Christmas, a book calculated to keep
any other nine-year-old boy as quiet
as an oyster till each Of its 240 pages
had been dogs cared as black as coal.
In the evening / called round. Mel.
lies father and mother were, as
expected. out on Santa Claus excur-
sion to their married daughters. "Al-
berts at his book, supposed" l re-
marked. when / was asked into the
front parlor.
NO" said Nellie; hes doing some
thing TO a Waterbury watch in the
back. Been busy all day. Look here"
pointing TO an old.fashioned clock
fixed to the wall. HE unearthed that
from the lumber room three days ago.
It hasn't been going for ten years
and he's cleaned it, put 1t in order,
and fixed II up as 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 occupieS
elsewhere was perfectly satisfied
We talked about nothing In particu.
lar for FIVE minutes, then I braced my
self up for the ordeal. Nellie was in
the rocker and was on the saddlebag
lounge by her side II was then OF
never.
Nellie" / whispered, glancing al
my cuff, on which / had penciled my
headings. Nellie, / hare long"
"Whirrl"
She looked up. not at me, but at the
clock TITS going to strike" she said
Bong" The thing had q note like
Big Ben.
Il have long"
"BOngl" Better Jump in at the in
tervals." thought !, for anybody would
have needed a megaphone to make
himself heard above that din "lonG
felt that He"
"Bongl" Isn't It splendid?" Nellie
smiled
decided to walt til the awful thing
had finished. Bong! bong! bong
bong bongl" At the eighth stroke
gave a sigh Of relief and started again
81 have long"
Bong" That's too many" said
Nellie What are yca saying?"
"Bongl"
"Bongi"
was losing patience with that lum
berroom find. It occasloned me NJ
surprise that the clock was somewha
errauo after master Putlow's atten
tons, but that It should seize just tina
particular time to exhibit It's yagariei
/ annoyed me- Never mind, / thought
1T can't strike more than r."
had altogether underestimated it
capabilities When / had counted 2
whirrs and bongs, Nellie started lau-h
ing | walked to the door and called Il
Albert Sidney
He came, bringing an odor Of clocl
oil into the room
Something's the matter with tina
clocks striking gear" said, wit
forced calmness.
Been strikin' long?" he asked
That's the 39th time" | answere
as another "Bong" set all the mar
tel.sheif ornaments dancing.
Albert Sidney whistled Thought
might 20 Ike that" he grinned. Goo
clocks often do. 1t hasn't struck 70
ten years, you see, and now It won