The Prescott daily news., 1908-02-28
WIFI EN ALBERT
 PROPOSED
He Tried IL at the Wrong Time.

is boy who will one of these days come to bad end.
 To know Albert Sidney-to know him thoroushly-is an education in ju- venile depravity, lesson in tabioided fiendtshness. He's right enough super ficially, mind you. but when you get at the soul of the boy your faith in the innocence and harmlessness of tuve- nility generally is gone forever. It was last Christmas eve when probed the depths of Master Putlow. I'll tell you in what circumstances.
 For very good reasons I 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 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, I may tell you, is prodigy In mechanical direction. When other small boys are learning to play football he is Adding 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.
 "rn have none os him" thought and during the afternoon sent around with my best wishes for a happy Christmas. a book calculated to keep any other nine-yearold boy as quiet as an oyster till each of its 240 pages had been dogs cared as black as coal
 In the evening 1 called round Nel- lies father and mother were. as expected, out on a Santa Claus excur- sion to their married daughters. Al bert's at his book. I suppose?" I re- marked. when l was asked into the front parlor.
 "No," said Nellie; he's doing some thing to a Waterbury watch in the back. Been busy all day Look here" pointing to an oldfashioned 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 1t. put 1t in order. and fixed 1t up as a surprise for dad. It's going splendidly."
 Of course I didn't mind a little bit about the book not claiming the boys attention. So long as he was occupied elsewhere 1 was perfectly satisfied We talked about nothing in particu- lar for five minutes. then braced my self up for the ordeal Nellie was in the rocker and I was on the saddlebag lounge by her side. It was then or never.
 Nellie" l whispered. glancing at my cuff, on which I 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!" The thing had a note like Big Ben.
 'l have long"
 "Bong!" Better jump in at the in- tervals. thought I, 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.
 I decided to wait till the awful thing had finished Bong bong, bong bong, bong!" At the eighth stroke I gave a sigh of relief and started again
 Il have long"
 Bong" That's too many" said Nellie. What are you saying?"
 "Bong!"
 "Bongl"
 was losing patience with that lum- ber-room find. It occasioned me no surprise that the clock was somewhat cratic after master Putlow's atten- tions. but that 1t should seize just that particular time to exhibit its vagaries annoyed me. Never mind" thought. 'it cant strike more than 12."
 had altogether underestimated it's capabilities. When l had counted 27 whirrs and bongs, Nellie started laugh ing I walked to the door and called to Albert Sidney,
 He came, bringing an odor of clock oil Into the room.
 Something's the matter with that clocks striking gear" said, with forced calmness.
 Been strikin long?" he asked.
 That's the 39th time" answered as another Bong" set all the man. tel-sheif ornaments dancing.
 Albert Sidney whistled, Thought 1t might go like that" he grinned. Good clocks often do. It hasn't struck for ten years, you see, and now it won't ston fill it's done all its hack strikinum