The Spanish Fork press. [volume] (Spanish Fork, Utah) 1902-current, 1910-09-29
Guarding Their
SAUNDERS

sVunB mhn. Ills consideration for
others has always been a dominant
trait of his character. So naturally
at the first insane whir of the alarm
clock he was plunged into dreadful
panic, even before he was really
awake.
In the first place, Moffit was visiting
at lrene's house. 1t was the first
time her family had ever, so to speak,
collectively recognized that he was on
earth, and II behooved him to proceed
carefully and make good impression
nj any cost When he had got that
weekend invitation from her mother
written by Irene, to be sure-Moflt
had thrilled with qualification. Great
possibilities seemed to be implied. Had
not haif dozen other young men
been as assiduous as himself all win.
ter in paying attentions to Irene? And.
behold. the invitation came to him!
lie took the alarm clock because It
occurred to him that he might want
TO arise early and go fishing and he
did not want to bother any one to call
him. The clock was one of these
I'll they are turned Off by a lever,
Mofit thought he had set II for
o'clock, but he must have been dream.
Ing OF Irene at the time and so made
mistake, for now the clock was
Whlrring somewhere In the middle
OF the night in pitch darkness!
AS he grabbed for the clock he was
full of the recollection of how Irene's
mother had said the evening before
that she had bad headache and hoped
that she could sleep 1t off. He also
recalled how lrene's father had said
almost boastfully that when he went
he slept well unless something woke
MN up, but that ii anything woke him
up he never slept another wink all
night. He was choleric-looking
man, too. In these circumstances the
densest person can understand why
Moillt made a lunge for his alarm
clock. In doing so he knocked II off
on the floor
Something snapped metallically. but
the alarm still kept on ringing. So
Mofit fell bodily upon the clock with
all the bedclothes dragging after him
and clasped it in his arms
He stumbled across the room
switched on the light and looked for
the lever. Evidently 1t had been tho
lever breaking off which had made the
metallic sound for now there wasn't
any lever!
Moftit blinked in horror, then shook
the little clock wildly, but 1t steadily |
continued its chief business life. He
grabbed shoe with the mad thought
OF breaking the clock to pieces, but |
he quickly realized that the assault. |
would only increase the noise eman. |
ating from his room Thrusting his
fingers desperately over and around
the clock, he found small hole where
the lever had been and discovered
that by inserting a niger he pressed
spring which stopped the alarm.
Thank heaven" Motif breathed.
1t was 2:30 by the face of the clock.
Moitit, staring at 1t In growing con.
sternation, figured that he would have
to Sit there holding his finger on the
spring a number of hours The pros.
pect was not pleasant. Possibly a
match would do as well as his finger
but the room was lighted by cleo.
tricity! Still tightly clutching the
clock, which clucked threateningly in.
side it whenever he relaxed in the
least the pressure of his finger,
Motif hunted up his vest The matches
ne found therein were the small safe.
y kind which were useless for his
purpose.
lie found buttonhook on the dress.
'r and the clock let out thrill peal as
he withdrew his finger and inserted
he bit of metal, which bobbed about
bit and then fell out with a clang.
citing the alarm ring forth in all its
,lory Thereupon he fell upon tho
lock again and put his finger upon
he spring. He realized that he was
erribly. horribly sleepy
Once he considered hurting the
hing from the window-but there
vas an immovable screen there and
e had but one hand at liberty. He
pened bureau drawers, hoping to
III Will MllltD 10 bIHOlncT
he clock, but the guestroom bureau
'as empty. He thrust the clock I'M
er his pillow with a quick jump and
ried sleeping on 1t, but it sounded
Ike huge humble bee.
Then he put his finger in the clock
gain and dragged 1t out and sat and
cid his head. Birds were beginning
} cheep outside and there was
lint rustic of dawn. Suddenly il oc-
lrred to him to remove the extra
How case, throttle the clock in its
lids, thrust the bundle into his suit. ;
ise and shut the suitcase in the
oset.
Having thus disposed of the clock,
oft went back to bed. At any rate.
2 had protected the slumbers of
ene's parents, which was the main ]
ling. He never could have faced
em If he had ruthlessly disturbed
EN- in the middle of the night with
e clamor of his foolish alarm clock. /