The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1910-07-07
Cupid and the
Alarm Clock
By BELLE MANDATES

Copyright. 1909 by Associated Literary
Press.)
The policeman ascended the steps
of one of the many duplicated brown.
stone fronts at little past two O'Clock
In the morning. The door opened to
his ring and an excited head of the
house explained that burglars had car
ried away the family plate and his
daughters Jewels.
Il awoke suddenly" .corroborated
the daughter. "at two o'clock. and
found that my jewels had been taken
and also little gold alarm clock"
There has been lot of burglari-
cling in this neighborhood," observed
the officer. What awakened you?"
Il don't know. The big clock on
the stairs struck two as I opened my
eyes,"
The officer called up police head
quarters and asked for a couple Of
policemen. Then he went outside to
find the policeman on the beat.
IAN alarm clock seems an unusual
thing to take" he remarked as he was
leaving.
This wasn't usual clock. The
alarm is the reveille-the bugle call,
you know. 1t is gilt. and in the shape
of soldier"
The officers first glance outside
showed the policeman on duty ap
preaching with man in custody. The
man wore dark trousers, coat but
toned up to the chin. with no evil
dences of linen underneath, and a
cap pulled over his eyes. His next
glance revealed glimmer from the
mans coat pocket. In a second the
officer held in his hand a gilt clock
In the shape Of soldier.
Caught with the goods!" he ex-
claimed. where did you find him,
Kelly?"
"He was watching this house and
grabbed him on suspicion"
"You did well. I'll take him inside
and identify the clock"
He escorted the prisoner up the
steps and rang the bell. AS they were
entering the unlighted hall, the man
In custody suddenly snatched the
clock from the officer, deity tripped
him up. lodged past the frightened
head of the house and went into the
reception room where the lights also
had been extinguished. The room was
dimly lighted from the library. AS
the man rushed through the room
strain of the reveille rang out from
the clock. Then suddenly the library
was in darkness.
In the meantime. the officer had
picked himself up, and with the head
of the house CROPPED his way through
the rooms until the lights were turned
on again.
(Which way did he go?" demanded
the officer of the startled girl.
Through the library and out into
the back hail." she answered.
AS they continued the chase to the
servants quarters, figure glided
from behind a screen in the library
and passed through the reception
room into the hall After a thorough
search of the house. the crestfallen
officer had to admit that he had been
outdone.
Il found him." he explained. Gin the
custody of the policeman on this beat.
saw the gilt clock sticking out of
his pocket and l brought him in to
have you identify It,"
The telephone rang, summoning the
officer After a brief colloquy with
headquarters he turned to the father
and daughter.
Its all right. The two policemen
I called caught a couple of men enter.
ing basement. They found your sill.
yer and the Jewels all right. but no
clock. There must have been three
thieves"
make another search, Silvia" said
her father. Maybe you were mis-
taken about the clock"
She went upstairs and returned
carrying the clock.
1T was there, after all. In my ex.
element had overlooked It,"
Its a dead ringer for the one the
fellow had" said the officer.
"Only In form, doubtless. This was
made toeorder."
She slipped bank note into the of.
f1cer's hand, and he departed we'll sat.
isfied with his nights achievement.
The Owen house returned to dark.
ness and quiet save in Silvia's apart.
ments. She paced the floor, vainly
seeking solution to the mystery.
The alarm clock had been given to
her by her lover. Valentine Lorme.
They had been wont to take early
morning rides, and her fiance had sug.
gested an alarm clock for Silvia's use,
Being Of an inventive turn of mind he
had devised clock with rich,
musical alarm. Mindful of his days
In the Spanish-American war he had
chosen the reveille. Two long months
ago had come their first quarrel.
Y-lA