The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-12-01
has been at st. Helena himself. guar.

has been at st. Helena himself. guar
antees"-
E%cesntrieity Of Timepieee.
The clock began to tick in the most
solemn manner and the hands to move.
In two minutes the hands had Travelled
twice around the face. and then they
came to Il sudden stop. like u street
car hitting a fat
was that Napoleon's way?" whis-
per1ngly asked Mrs. Bowser.
Mr.. Bowser stepped forward and
o the key and began winding. Aft
er he had wound sufficiently to keep
seven Waterbury watches going for a
month he laid down the key. and the
sacred souvenir went at it and struck
211 times without a halt to rush the
GROWER.
"The auctioneer had been at st, He
lena himself. you were saying" whis-
pered Mrs. Bowser.
woman. retire - slope get out!
Haven't you the sense to realize that
this clock is a stranger in our midst?
The boy may have jumped up and
down on the box. His wagon may
have been bumped on the way up,
Give the clock time to get a little used
to us. It was running all right in the
auction ROOM"
Perhaps it will here, but l wish
you had bought something else in
place of 1t. 1t Is said that Napoleon
used to wheel a barrow loaded with
rocks for exercise. Didn't you see the
barrow about the auction room?"
mo, ma'am. l didn't, and l want no
more nonsense from you.
II have bought a clock.
1T once belonged to Napoleon.
1T is a sacred and priceless SOU
venir.
Il have got it home. and If you can't
appreciate it l and others can. It is a
bond between Bowser and Napoleon"
AS If felicitating itself over the idea,
the hands OH the dial turned the wrong
way four times. and the striker went
at it and struck $40 times. Mr.. Bow
ser stood there with bowed head and
clasped hands and thought Of Water
loo aud st. Helena. and Mrs. Bowser
went and sat down and thought Of
a%uctioneers and what soft marks they
found.
From 8 to half past 10 the clock
gained five hours.
In the mex hour and a half it lost
ten.
During the first interval it struck
$50 times. during the second 1867
times. Mr.. Bowser walked up and
down with his hands behind his back,
as he imagined Napoleon must have
done at st. Helena. and Mrs. Bowser
read a family almanac. At length she
felt it her duty to inquire:
MI. Bowser. was Napoleon a man
who was always on time"
ITO the minute"
"And did he go by this clocky"
"He did"
"Then he must have had a hard time
Of it. 1t is pa o'clock by it now. If
you had got that wheelbarrow"-
Reduces Relic to kindling.
He wheeled to face her, and she saw
apopleSy in his face. He was flushed
up and g!nring. He carried his hand
" ulS lulbHt as II lily. LIS eyes
had begun t" roll. and she was about
to spring up when he uttered q Co.
manche warWhoOp and dashed down
the hall. Crash went the priceless
relic on the door. Bang. bang. went
his foot against it.
"Mr. Bowscr. have you gone mad?"
The regulator Of Napoleon's move
ments was picked up and hurled
against the wall. Then It was picked
up aud slammed down on the floor.
The hands spun round ninety-four
times. and it struck 1900 times, but
there was no mercy in his SOUL. When
case and "innards" were reduced to a
wreck he gathered up the
pieces and flung them outdoors and
turned and said:
"1ts too late to reach our respective
lawyers tonight. but tomorrow. wom-
an-tomorrow"