Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-01-08

only the Daron IalleQ TO discuss I'd
cause of the old clock suddenly re-
Stunning the strokes that 1t had given
for 200 years and had ceased to give
for nearly sixty But 1t was noticed
that from that memorable night he.
who had appeared youthful and Wig
orous for his years, began to show
signs of decay. A cold storm in De-
cember brought on a chill. from which
he emerged much weakened. In Feb
ruary he received a shock from which
it was evident he would not recover.
One day his son entered the room
where he lay with news that he hoped
might rouse his father to rally. He
announced that a child would be born
to the house OF Wertheim.
THAT is not news to me- said the
old man. and, turning over. fell into
sleep. Hours after this his daughter
in-law approached the old mans bed
to receive his congratulations He was
still sleeping and so still that she be-
came alarmed and called her husband.
The baron was dead.
A great concourse OF people attend
ed the funeral of the man they loved
so well. 1t was held in the chapel of
the castle. and after the ceremony the
body was lowered into a vault under
the chapel floor Then the throng.
having left many garland on the re-
placed marble slab, withdrew.
That night-it was rather in the
small hours Of the morning-those
sleeping in the castle were awakened
by a crash so loud that 1t was heard,
like the mysterious sounds of the bell,
for miles around. No one got out of
bed to learn the cause Of the noise; all
lay shivering with an unaccountable
dread. But with the first light of day
many jumped out of bed and, putting
on their clothes, went out into the
court yard with view to learning
what had disturbed their slumbers.
They huddled together exchanging re-
marks and looking about them to see
IL there was any evidence that any
part of the old walls had fallen. But
the walls were the same as the night
before Then one man went to the
| clock tower and looked inside. He saw
! a heap of old rusty iron and rotten
wood. 1t was the clock.
J
! the baron's funeral, strengthened the
! position of those who had averred that
there was something more than human
in the mysterious strokes which had
been heard at the close of the previous
| year. Might not they have foretold
the baron's death?
'How could that be-" protested the
doubters, "since there were but three
strokes and the baron did not die for
four months?"
Granted" was the reply. "But he
died In the third month Of the year
And, as to the clock, surely 1t gave
notice of its own as well as the baron's
DEATH
One thing puzzled all-the fact that
the old man when his son announced
to him that a grandchild would be
born to him not only replied that II
was not news to him, but manifested
no interest that it might be a boy
Most of them believed that, whatever
the message the clock had given, the
baron alone was accorded a power to
understand 1t.
In time 1t was announced that the
child would be born in October. Then
some one remembered that October
was the tenth month in the year and
, that the number of the second series OF
strokes that had been given by the old
clock had been ten.
AT this discovery nearly every one
who had doubted the supernatural be
hayior of the clock gave in. and those
cd Do
On Ludwig's grandchild should be a
boy they, too, would be converted. On
the 10th day Of October a baby boy
came into the world, and not soul
!, within the castle Enclosure or among
! the retainers living roundabout but
believed that the baron's brother
had foretold the day of his death, OF
, its own destruction, and that he would
be blessed by the birth Of a male
child to perpetuate the family namt
, OF which he was so proud
, The establishment at this prophetic
announcement was nothing to that OF
, one who was in the secret of the mys
! FERROUS strokes. A young man will
+ a mania for climbing, by throwing 6
? loOped rope over a projection of the
tower, had succeeded in getting up Il
the clock and had made three sounds
a with piece of iron, which he follow
! ed by ten more with piece of wood
= So astounded was he with the coin
, cidences which subsequently occurred
| that he almost believed he had beer
, sent to the tower by some guardian
+ spirit Of the baron TO make the an
nouncement to him Of events that aft
I erward occurred. When the FRS
flush Of wonder had died out the climb
\ er confessed that be had done thu
striking. Only few believed him
D and they accused him OF witchcraft.
+ He left the place to save himsel
. from being burned alive and never re
a turned.
e The child born at the time becam,
G the father Of many children. most O.
them boys, and the title is still In ex
istence.
n