The new era. (Walden, Colo.) 1906-19??, 1908-03-05
WHEN ALBERT
PROPOSED
he Tried II at tho Wrong Time.

thoughts, truth compels me to the
statement that Nellie Putlows young.
est brother-Albert Sidney Putlow-
is a boy who will one Of these days
come to a bad end.
To know Albert Sidney-to know
him thoroughly-is an education In jul.
yenile depravity. 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
innocence and harmlessness OF juve-
nifty generally is gone forever 1t
was last Christmas eve when probed
the depths OF Master Putlow. I'll tell
you in what circumstances.
For very good reasons l 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 IL
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
prodigy in a mechanical direction.
When other small boys are learning
to play football he is fiddling about
with spur wheels: when they are
dreaming of getting their international
caps Albert Sidneys sleep is punctu-
ated with visions of cogs. ratchets and
perpetual motion.
I'll have none of him." thought l
and during the afternoon l sent around
with my best wishes for happy
Christmas, 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 a Santa Claus excur-
sion to their married daughters. t"AI-
bert's at his book. l suppose?" I re-
marked, when l was asked into the
front parlor.
NO" said Nellie; hes doing some
thing to 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.
1t hasn't been going for ten years
and he's cleaned 1t, put it in order,
and fixed it up as surprise for dad.
It's going splendidly."
or course | didn't mind a little bit
about the book not claiming the boys
attention. So long as he was occupied
elsewhere / was perfectly satisfied.
We talked about nothing in particu.
lar for five minutes. then l braced N.Y.
II ~ for no Inol 10
the rocker and was on the saddlebag
lounge by her side. 1t was then or
never.
Nellie" I, whispered. glancing 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" The thing had note like
Big Ben.
Il have long"
Bong" Better jump in at the in
tervals,' thought l, for anybody would
have needed 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! bong.
bong! bong" AT the eighth stroke |
gave sigh of relief and started again.
II have long"
Bong" "Tha ats too many" SAFE
Nellie. What are you saying?"
"Bong!"
Bong"
was losing patience with that Iur>--
ber-room find. 1t occasioned me ~,
surprise that the clock was somewhat
erratic after master Putlows atter-
tons. but that it should seize just that
particular time to exhibit its vagaries
annoyed me. Never mind" | thought.
ut can't strike more than 12.''
l had altogether underestimated itv>
capabilities. When l Had counted q
whirrs and bongs. Nellie started laugh
ing. / walked to the door and called tn
Albert Sidney.
He came, bringing an odor OF clock
oil into the room
Something's the matter with thHs
clocks striking gear" l said, with
forced calmness.
Been strikin' long," he asked.
That's the 39th time" | answered.
as another Bong" set all the man.
tel-shelf ornaments dancing.
Albert Sidney whistled. Thought II
might go like that" he grinned. Good
clocks often do. 1t hasn't struck for
ten years. you see. and now it won't
stop till it's done all its back striking"
Great Jupiter! A lightning calculation
told me that. roughly speaking. 100000
bongs were overdue. At four to the
minute 1t would be some time, in April
before that awful clock was up-to-date.
Il think I'll be going" gasped,